Part 1

Into the Crimson Kingdom:

Arin twiddled her fingers, staring at her covered knees as she recovered from the intensity of her dream. It already began to fade, the familiar message only a whisper now. The clattering whir of the fan kept her attention rooted to the empty bedroom around her. Everyone else had left Arin trapped in her mind, starting their morning in the cafeteria as always. She decided to think more about the nightmare she experienced.

What did it mean? She often trembled before it, but today she wanted to change that. It was too bad that she lost her opportunity. Could a silly dream actually have some significance or was she just imaginative? Her caretakers always said she had the most amazing and spontaneous ideas. Arin sighed, folding her arms under her head, pondering what its significance might be, if it had any. There was no use wasting her energy on her overactive imagination.

Arin pushed the covers back, sitting up. As her feet stepped onto the cold tile, she kicked something with her heel. It was her backpack. Realization struck, she forgot what day it was: her family was coming to finally take her home.

Oh, how stupid of me to forget! I need to hurry!

Rushing her morning rituals, Arin threw her red blanket over the antique bed. There were three beds next to her own, all empty. She overslept again. Arin yawned and rubbed her eyes with her palms groggily. Her gaze shifted to the mirror in front of her. Arin continued rubbing at her eyes, looking for her brush in the blurry room. She found it, immediately facing the closet mirror, and tugging at her greasy blonde hair. She focused on her innocent features. Thin cheeks matched with a prominent chin. Slightly pale eyes rested evenly under thin eyebrows. Everyone’s favorite feature about Arin was her inadequately-sized nose.

Arin finished addressing her long wavy hair, stopping her self-examination. Something new caught her attention lying next to the mirror. A family photo. Her family. The smiling people shared very few traits with Arin. Tall, had more muscle and flesh than her. Pale gold skin, dark eyes. She barely fit in around them. Regardless, there was so much happiness crammed into one picture. Her shoulders hunched as she continued to stare at the photograph. A warm smile crept across her face. Everything was going to change today. Sure she wasn’t legally part of her new family yet, that would take a little more time, but today she was moving in with them. She pulled the picture away from the mirror, sitting on her bed. There were solid creases across the middle. The picture went everywhere with her, at night, she kept it by the mirror.

Family . . . today I will officially have a family. Arin hugged the photo tightly. I’ll have a mommy, a daddy, a sister, and two brothers! But . . . what if they don’t accept me after all? What if they bring me back here? What if I’m not good enough . . .? What if they found out about my bizarre dreams . . .?

If her new family didn’t turn out to be perfect she would have to come back to the orphanage and wait for someone else. But what if no one else came? She could be alone forever. Her eyes stung, it was too early for crying.

“Arin . . .” There was a soft knock on the door and her councilor Ms. Holt entered her room. “Please tell me that you remembered that today was the big day?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Arin replied delicately as she stood. Perhaps she moved too quickly as everything began to spin and she lost her sight.

“Good, Mr. Lightfoot will be here in about ten minutes. Have you eaten yet?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Well, please do so. Try not to be tardy.”

“Y—yes, ma’am.” Ms. Holt smiled, closing the door to give Arin privacy.

Today I am going home. Today I will have a family. She thought of the memories she already had with the Lightfoots. There weren’t a lot, but the few forever remained present in her thoughts.

Once Arin finished preparing herself she folded the photo and placed it in her pocket. Leaving her room, Arin entered a bright empty hallway. Drawings made by the other children hung on the hallways, promoting their artistic skills. Apparently, Ms. Holt was not waiting for her.

She probably went to prepare everything. Perhaps she should wait for Ms. Holt in the cafeteria. While Ms. Holt began to finalize everything, Arin marched to the cafeteria, singing, humming, skipping, I get to have a family! I get to have a family!

Arin pulled the infamous screeching door open, entering the cafeteria. She winced every time as her ears rang from the inhuman sound. A few orphans looked at her while the rest continued to eat. Her friend Addie waved Arin over. She saved Arin a seat in the middle of the long tables again. Arin hurried over, taking her usual seat next to her limited friends, head low. Sweat covered her hands.

“I guess I overslept again!” Arin laughed, looking away a bit embarrassed.

“Well, today is a big day! You get to go to your new home; wouldn’t it be funny if it was your real family?” Addie asked, and Arin shook her head.

“Oh I hope it isn’t my real family. They dumped me on the side of the road and only left me with the name Emily, ew. The Lightfoots can’t be my family anyways, I look nothing like them. They are Italian I think . . . and I’m blonde and they all have dark brown hair and they are really really tall!” Arin explained visualizing the photo.

“Fun,” someone grumbled nearby, stabbing their eggs violently.

“I will visit you guys as much as possible!” Arin's voice cracked, she focused on her food to avoid further mistakes.

“Look, Arin, you don’t have to visit. Just go and enjoy your new family. Hopefully we can have one of our own soon anyways!” Addie comforted, patting Arin’s shoulder gently. “After all, we're on the cusps of puberty! We have a lot of time left, I'm sure someone will come along!”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” another sneered. “We were placed here for a reason. Abandoned by the ones who we thought loved us. What makes you think that you will be loved by these people?”

“Don’t pay him any mind, Arin.”

She nodded, smiling at her friends.

“Hey, Arin. Can you please help us and pass those napkins? Josh spilled his drink.”

For a second, Arin was stunned. Her nightmare resurfaced, just when it was suppressed as well. That was almost exactly what the ominous voice said. “Help us, please.”

Arin pulled out of the daze, passing the napkin dispenser across the table, leaning on the wood to reach. As they cleaned up, Arin thought more about her dream. A sinking darkness and then a white light blinding her eyes, reaching out for her, crying out. Sometimes the repetitive dream caused a headache to blossom.

Don’t mind it. It’s just my imagination.

As Arin enjoyed her last breakfast, there were whispers. All of the orphans knew Arin. She tried to be friends with everyone. Some appreciated it. Others did not.

“She is so lucky,” someone whispered. Arin cast a quick glance to the right, trying to see who was gossiping.

Leg bouncing anxiously, Arin continued to eat. It was common for others to whisper about days like this. Arin understood their envy and didn’t mind it. She was the same once.

“And her dad is such an amazing person. I hope my future family is just as awesome.”

Arin used her long sleeve to wipe the growing beads of sweat off her forehead. Addie gave Arin a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about us, Arin. We’ll all be adopted soon.”

“I do hope.” What if they don’t accept me?

Finishing her breakfast, Arin remained seated with her friends. Even though Ms. Holt wanted her to hurry, Arin desired to spend her morning with those she had been surrounded by her whole life.

And that’s what she did. While waiting for Ms. Holt to come, Arin and Addie reminisced about their childhood. They talked as if it was a normal day. She appreciated her friend’s effort.

The doors opened, silencing the children. It was Ms. Holt. Arin hugged her friends wishing them wonderful lives before approaching her social worker. She noticed that Arin was still bare foot and shook her head.

Arin shuffled to Ms. Holt, preparing for a lecture.

“Why aren’t you ready?” Ms. Holt whispered, exiting the cafeteria. “C’mon, Arin, I thought you could be a bit faster at eating.”

Standing by the cafeteria entrance was Mr. Lightfoot, dressed in a black suit. A warm smile to greet her, hands behind him. “Ms. Holt, there is no need to berate her. I’m sure Arin is taking her time to say farewells.”

“I just didn’t want to keep you waiting, that’s all.” She turned her attention to Arin. “You should go grab everything.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Arin jogged back to her room, sweating from embarrassment, adrenaline fading. Ms. Holt must be so disappointed in her. While preparing for her final departure, memories swarmed her thoughts. The nights of laughter and sadness. So many memories made here.

Trying to move on, Arin made her way to the door, backpack in hand. For months, this day was more important than any birthday. Now, it was almost too good to be real. Arin grabbed her last frozen memories from her nightstand. A few pictures of her friends. Her favorite one was a picture of herself and Addie. They were at the park smiling, hugging.

There was a knock on the door and Ms. Holt entered the room. Her short black hair seemed hidden in the darkness. Arin stood, holding her bag nervously.

“Do you want me to carry that?” Ms. Holt asked, holding a hand out to Arin who backed away.

She shook her head, exiting the room. Ms. Holt followed Arin to the front entrance. So many memories. Most of them was with her friends. This was a time of joy and despair. Questions stirred in her mind again.

“Arin!” Mr. Lightfoot exclaimed as she approached him.

“Hello, sir,” Arin greeted, barely audible. He used Arin, not Emily. Even on this formal day.

“Are you ready?” he asked and she nodded.

No. “Yes, sir.”

“Fantastic, oh everyone is so excited!” Mr. Lightfoot exclaimed clapping his hands together.

Together the three made their way to the front doors. Everything was going to change for the better as of today. Even with optimism swelling in her chest, Arin shuffled. Mr. Lightfoot opened the door for the two. A cold wind swept through the hallways, reminding everyone how cold the north was during December. Arin left, entering the great world before her. So much unexplored, but now with the Lightfoots she could possibly see it all.

They carefully walked down the icy stairs, Arin kept looking back at the main entrance. Mr. Lightfoot placed his hand on her shoulder, making sure Arin wouldn’t slip on the fresh ice. He was always protective of her.

On the frosted grass, he released her and pulled out his car keys. Mr. Lightfoot unlocked his car, hurrying ahead to open the door for Arin. She grinned at her father, trying to forget her dream, trying to adjust to her new life.

A sharp melody ruined the moment.

“Hello?” Mr. Lightfoot asked answering his phone. “What? Now?” Ms. Holt listened, concerned as Mr. Lightfoot’s cheerful expression disappeared. “I can’t do that. Today is the day, you know this is my top priority!”

What is going on now?

“Is this call—” he cut himself off and listened intently. “I understand; I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Wait what?” Arin asked as he hung up.

“Arin, I’m so sorry for having this happen. I have an important job and I have to—”

“He’s a police officer, remember?” Ms. Holt summarized. Arin nodded pretending to understand the situation. She was aware of his dangerous and important job, but didn’t think such a task would be relative on this day.

“Well if he has to go do his job . . . I understand,” Arin swayed in her cold seat. On such an important day you choose your job over a young, timid girl?

“Thank you so much!” Mr. Lightfoot cheered kissing Arin’s forehead. “I’m hoping this will be quick. I promise that as soon as this finishes the rest of the day will be about you!”

Arin silently nodded as Mr. Lightfoot closed her car door and ran to his side. Whispering, the voice returned to her conscious. What if they found out that she was a freak? Would they still love her or get rid of her?