Following Natalie’s irreversible decision, she unexpectedly finds herself alone and thrust into a peculiar all female orphanage where her arrival was strangely anticipated by the inhabitants, and greeted by some with ire. Ultimately, young Natalie must quickly learn to fend for herself against bullies, unexplained forces, a male suitor, and something lurking for revenge. Does she have both the strength and resolve, and can she set the past aside, to uncover the secrets necessary in order to fulfill her destiny?
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Natalie swung, but it fell way
short. She reached closer to Melissa and jabbed, but still fell
short of posing any real threat—physically and psychologically. After a
few more swings, she gained confidence and drew even closer. She
swung again, then repeated, but reached a little closer, almost close enough to
land a punch. Then, she drew even closer, and in a blink, it was all
over.
Natalie tried to push herself up to
stand, but stumbled back into the girls, who held her up. “It’s
okay, I can walk,” she claimed as they let her go, and she began to fall again.
“Girls, help her to the mat and give her
a few minutes,” directed Zadie. “Melissa, you may be
excused. In fact, the class is dismissed early.”
Natalie gazed around. “Did I
win?” she asked.
Emma said out loud to the other girls, “I
think she’s still dreaming.”
“What happened?”
Susan helped Natalie sit
up. “Dude, she totally jumped up in the air, wrapped her legs around
your neck, and pulled you down to the ground. We told you to tap out
once she had you in the choke hold, but I don’t think you heard us at all.”
“Are you sure I didn’t land a
punch? I thought I hit something.”
“Just the ground,” replied
Susan. “Come on, there’s no shame. It’s time for some
fun.”
Zadie checked to ensure Natalie was
unharmed; then, she dismissed the remaining girls to enjoy the night.
Back in the dorms, surprisingly, Natalie
had a few girls congratulate her. She found, barring a few girls,
most were impressed with her courage to challenge Melissa rather than making
jokes about her.
A number of girls surrounded Natalie,
more interested in her than in the night’s adventures.
“Natalie, do you want to explore the
lower levels of the arena with us?” asked one girl.
“No,” said another. “We’re
going to Mitzi Forest, aren’t we, Natalie?”
“Calm down,” said
Susan. “She’ll decide in a minute. Give her some time,
alright?”
“Yeah, she’s going to need some time…
after that beating,” added Melissa. “Tell me, Natalie, what were you
thinking before the fight? Oh, that’s right, you don’t
remember. You looked good though… until I decided to fight.”
Melissa, Rebecca, and Isabella all had a
good laugh at Natalie’s expense, but the other girls just mirthlessly stared at
them.
“Leave her alone,
Melissa. You’re an anomaly. It took courage for her to
face you.”
Melissa’s capacity to elicit fear with
nothing more than a stare was enough to make even Ms. Haggle
proud. “If she is indeed courageous, then she’ll have no trouble at
the cemetery tonight.”
The girls gasped collectively, and one
asked, “You… you wouldn’t expect her to go to the cemetery on a full moon
night?”
“Why not?” replied
Melissa. “I’m an anomaly, and she stood up to me. Isn’t
she courageous enough to visit a little cemetery?” Changing her tone from
facetious to hostile, Melissa told Natalie, “You’re going to the cemetery,
Natalie. To the big stone entrance, and you’re going to tell me what it
says above the keystone.”
“Reads,” corrected Toddi.
“Shut up,” snapped Melissa as she
backhanded Toddi. “Or perhaps there’ll be another fight tonight.”
“But everyone knows what it says… uh,
reads,” said Susan. “Here lie the dead, for all to
revere. They are resting now, in peace and still.”
“Not on a full moon
night. Tell me what it reads.”
“I’ll go,” said Natalie.
“No you won’t!” exclaimed
Susan. “There are things up there. Things you don’t
understand. You can’t go!”
“She’s going,” insisted
Melissa. “And you’re going with her.”
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