• “Brother, wake up. We need to go back to the orphanage.” said Alice as she gently poked her brother in the ribs.
    “Huh,” breathed out Jared.
    “Brother, please wake up.” cried Alice as she tucked her face into his side.
    “Stop crying.” said Jared as he tried to sit up.
    “Be careful brother.”
    “I know, no worries.” said Jared as he sat up and soon tried to stand.
    “Please do be careful.”
    “Yes Alice. What was that, that flash of light?”
    “What do you mean brother?”
    “Oh, nothing.” said Jared as he looked at the setting sun.
    “Come on sis. It’s time to go back to the orphanage.” said Jared as he headed towards the exit.
    Alice looked around the library and soon her eyes fell upon the book. It was sitting on the pile and she could feel that something happened to her brother. She quickly grabbed the book and ran off to her brother’s side. They walked back to the orphanage and climbed up the rope that hung from the branches. They soon were back on the other side and felt that it was time to go to bed.
    “Goodnight brother.” said Alice before she ran down the hall and up the stairs into the girl’s portion of the house.

    The next morning Jared woke up and got dressed for the day slower then normal. Adoption assessment came and he saw the day as a nuisance. This day was the day of splitting brothers and sisters and ruining lives of children that depended upon each other. The only way to get through the day was to hide Alice away from the old bat that they called the adoption mistress. He made it this long and he wasn’t going to let anyone stop him. He quickly walked down the stairs and walked into the dining hall. All the children were sitting and eating peacefully. Jared leaned against the wall and looked around the room for Alice. He soon spotted her and found her chatting with one of the girls sitting by her. He wanted to walk over to the table and quickly hide her away before the lady came, but strained the impulse. He walked over to the other boys and picked up an apple and a couple of eggs. He quickly devoured them and walked out of the dining hall and into the waiting room. He sat on an old antique chair, until he saw Alice walking out of the dining hall. Jared stood up and quickly grabbed his little sister’s arm and ran into one of the old rooms, where he hid her in the ventilator.
    “All right. You stay here, until I come back for you.” said Jared before heading back to the waiting room. Soon after that the whistle blew and all the children knew that it was time to line up for the Adoption Mistress. Jared stood in line knowing that he was too old for any one to want him and waited for the woman to enter.
    “Oh Head Mistress.” said a little girl who seemed to be a little older then Alice.
    “Yes Susan.” said the Head Mistress as she turned to look at her.
    “I believe Alice is missing from here.” said Susan with a large grin on her face.
    “I do believe you’re right. Where’s Alice?” asked the head mistress.
    “She’s in the old guest room, inside the ventilator.”
    “What on earth is she doing there?” said the Head Mistress as she ran to the sight. She soon found Alice and pulled her out. She grabbed her arm and quickly walked back inside the waiting room.
    “I have the right to spank you until you were black and blue, but I will be forgiving and allow you to slip by this time. Now get back in line and fix your dress.” said the head mistress as she walked over to the end of the line.
    Jared glanced at Alice with worried eyes and a harsh scowl on his face. ‘What am I going to do. Most parents want little girls like her. Maybe she’ll think of something go-‘ thought Jared before he heard the doors fling open.
    Two tall men walked inside and was soon followed by a tall woman with spectacles hanging off her nose. She pushed them higher up and was soon greeted by the head mistress.
    “Oh, it is so good to see you Zeala.” said the head mistress as she walked to her side.
    “It is good to be here.” said the woman, before she looked at her list of names and desires of the parents. “Now, let us get down to business. I need a young girl that is five years old and has brown, curly hair.”
    “Here are all the children. Take what is asked.” said the head mistress as she stepped out of the way.
    “That one will do.” said Zeala as she pointed her quill pen at the little girl. One of the men grabbed the little girl and started carrying her out of the building when the girls older brother came at him with his fists. The other man grabbed the boy at the neck and held him in place. Zeala went on with her search, as if nothing happened. She took several other girls and a few boys when her attention was soon drawn to Alice.
    “What is your name child?” asked Zeala, in a demanding tone of voice.
    Alice stared down at her feet and didn’t say a word.
    “Are you deaf child? What is your name?”
    “Alice..” she whispered.
    “Alice is it. You are a shy one, but I think the Kensly’s will be pleased to have such a sweet and handsome child.” she said as she grabbed Alice’s arm. “This one will do nicely.”
    One of the tall men walked over to Alice and grabbed her arm. “This way miss.” he said in a deep voice.
    “No, No! Let go of me! Let go!” screamed Alice as she tried to get her hand from his grasp.
    Jared stared and suddenly felt a great rage boiling his blood. He moved in the tall man’s way and stood there with hatred in his eyes. “Let my sister go.”
    “Jared, make him let me go!” screamed Alice as she dug her nails into the tall mans palm.
    The other tall man quickly grabbed for Jared’s throat. Jared quickly ducked and kicked the man in the stomach. The man hit for Jared’s face, like the other blow was nothing. Jared fell to the ground, but quickly stood back up. He hit the man in the face and was about to punch him for the fourth time when he felt a blow to his back. He fell face down, on the ground. It burned and ached, he felt the blood oozing past his lips and smearing onto the stone ground. The tall man pulled him onto his back and stomped on his leg. It hurt even more, he could feel something in his mind screaming out for justice.
    Alice watched and felt a deep pain in her heart. She looked around her and saw that everyone was acting like nothing was happening. It made her feel sick to her stomach, suddenly, as if by sure impulse, she lunged her teeth into the tall mans palm and bit hard. The tall man yelled out in pain and let go of Alice. She quickly ran to her brothers side, but was caught at the throat, by the other tall man. He laughed as he saw Alice squirming in his hand. “You’re evil! I hate you!” yelled Alice as her hatred rose. The tall man laughed again.
    Jared opened his eyes and started to sit up. “Let my sister go!” yelled Jared as he stood up.
    Zeala looked at him from the corner of her eye. “You are persistent.” She snapped her fingers and the tall man (not holding Alice) grabbed Jared at the neck and squeezed hard.
    Jared felt the pressure at his neck, it started to hurt, but he still felt the hatred boiling his blood to great heat. He grabbed the man’s hands.
    Alice watched as her brother placed his hands on the man’s, and watched as the man’s hands burst into flames.
    The man ran screaming as he watched the fire eating his arms. Everyone started screaming and running around in a panic.
    The man let go of Alice and she ran to her brother.
    Jared stood there keeping his focus on the man and not allowing his eyes from him. Suddenly he felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked away from the man and saw Alice tugging at his sleeve.
    “Brother, we need to run.” cried out Alice as she held onto her brother.
    He looked down at what she was holding in her hand and saw the book that they found the previous day, her stuffed animal, and a small red bundle. “Yes your right. Let’s go.” Jared grabbed his sister’s hand and ran out of the building. They ran pas the gloomy gate and didn’t stop until they were back at the abandoned library.
    “We can rest here for awhile.” said Jared as he plopped himself down on a pile of books.
    “Brother, let me see your hands. They must be burnt while touching that other man’s hands.” said Alice as she sat herself in front of her brother. She stared at them and looked very confused.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Jared, feeling a little worried.
    “Your hands aren’t burned. They don’t even look red.” said Alice as she stared at them.
    Jared pulled them away from her hands and looked away from her.
    Alice walked away to another pile of books and laid there.
    “We’ll rest here for now. Tomorrow we’ll start walking some more.” said Jared, before falling asleep.