*Chapter 10: The Orphan*
483 Words
The Orphan*
Nina sat in the dimly lit office, her eyes fixed on the adoption papers in front of her. The words swam on the page, a jumble of legalese and officialdom that meant nothing to her. She was 18 now, officially an adult, and the system had finally released her from the foster care system.
The social worker, a kind-faced woman with a warm smile, patted her hand. "You're a lucky girl, Nina. You've got a clean slate now. A fresh start."
Lucky. The word echoed in her mind, a hollow refrain. She didn't feel lucky. She felt alone.
As she signed the papers, her mind wandered to the strange dreams she'd been having. Vivid, Technicolor nightmares that left her waking in the dead of night, heart racing. She'd had them since she was a kid, but they'd intensified lately.
The social worker handed her a small box containing her few belongings. A faded photograph of a woman she didn't recognize, a silver necklace with a small, intricately carved stone, and a cryptic letter.
Nina's eyes lingered on the necklace. It felt...familiar.
The social worker noticed her gaze. "Your mother's...the woman who gave you that necklace. She left it for you. Said it was important."
Nina's fingers closed around the stone, a spark of electricity running through her body.
As she left the office, the world stretched out before her like an uncharted sea. She had no idea where she was going or what she was looking for, but she knew she couldn't stay here.
The city was a blur of sounds and smells, a cacophony that overwhelmed her senses. She wandered for hours, lost in the crowd, until she stumbled upon a small café. The sign above the door read "Moonlight".
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy, the scent of coffee and baked goods enveloping her like a warm hug. She slid into a booth, ordering a coffee and staring out the window at the night sky.
A figure slid into the booth across from her, a tall, dark-haired man with piercing green eyes. "Mind if I join you?"
Nina shook her head, unsure what to say.
The man smiled, his eyes cr crling at the corners. "I'm looking for someone. A woman with a necklace just like that."
He nodded at the stone in her hand, his eyes locked on hers. Nina felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The man's smile grew wider. "My name is Lucas. And you are...?"
The café door swung open, a cold breeze sweeping in. A woman, her eyes scanning the room, locked gazes with Nina. Her eyes widened, a look of shock and recognition crossing her face.
"Nina," she whispered. "Oh, Nina."
The room tilted, the world spinning out of control. Nina's heart racing, she knew her life was about to change forever.
- Writer
