Chapter 111 – Orphan Gang

Ella

“Cora tell me what happened.” I demand, crossing my skinny arms over my chest. I’m eight years old, glaring down at my surrogate sister with a stern expression. It’s always been this way between us. She’s a year older, but I’ve always had the dominant personality.

“It was nothing.” She insists, averting her gaze from my own.

“You’re lying.” I counter stubbornly. “I can always tell, you know.”

“No, you think you always know.” Cora answers sullenly, though we both know I’m right. I can read my sister like a book.

“Would you just tell me?” I press, sighing with exasperation.

“Fine, it’s not even a big deal, it was just some of the big kids being jerks.” She explains gravely.

“Which ones?” I respond immediately. “Point them out.” It could be anyone, considering the fact that even children our own age tend to be bigger than us. It seems like the orphanage physician labels us undersized and undernourished every year, though nothing ever changes.

Reluctantly, Cora points toward a familiar gang of kids, ranging from age eleven to fourteen. The ringleader is a beefy thirteen year old who always wears a cruel leer, as if he’s ever on the lookout for someone to bully to tears – just for the fun of it. “You see, there’s nothing we can do about it – they run this place.”

“I beg to differ.” I answer, tilting my chin up defiantly. “We don’t have to be bigger than them – just smarter. Now tell me what they said to you?”

low I almost can’t hear her speak. She stares at the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They

to be wanted or unconditionally loved, and the only thing that keeps us going is the hope that we might get

getting old now, and you know how it is. Parents only ever want the babies. I mean you might have a

I vow. I’d like to see any grown up try to take me away from the orphanage without

offers me a hesitant smile.“You adopt all the outcasts.” This isn’t the first time she’s said this to me. I do have a way of taking the most skittish and rejected of

“Why else do you think the big kids are so mean. They’re mad that no one ever picked them and they take it out on us cuz they think we might

going to let them off the hook?” She asks, arching a

we’re in this together.” I answer

teeth flash in a pearly grin. “And

in question. Cora trails along behind me, whispering anxiously about what a bad idea this is. I don’t listen, determined to defend her no matter the

you to pick on someone your own size?”

The ringleader rises to his feet, then scoffs, “Even

account for brains.” I bite back. “You shouldn’t be mean to Cora just

scrawny little thing like you? You’re even more useless than she is.” He reaches out and shoves me, both of his hands slamming into

the older boy’s body and attacking him tooth and nail. He screams and flails his arms. “What – hey! Get her off me! What is this!” I don’t relent. Hands

to the present, I realize how strange my behavior had been that

the corners of his mouth

the day I became the de facto leader of the orphanage, just by being scrappy enough to take on the

recognize the truth in them – not only the wolfish group I formed, but the fact

sure I wouldn’t have been any match for a pup that wasn’t dormant, but the human kids still weren’t as strong. I never understood

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