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?”

hear her speak. She stares at the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They called

boils up inside of me. This is the weak spot for any abandoned child. None of us know what it’s like to be wanted or unconditionally loved, and the only thing that keeps us going is the hope that we might get parents one day.

disheartened. “I mean, maybe they have a point. We’re getting old now, and you know how it is. Parents only ever

leave you for anything.” I vow. I’d like to see any grown up try to take me

to me. I do have a way of taking the most skittish and rejected of our peers under my wing, but it’s not as if I can

do you think the big kids are so mean. They’re mad that no

going to let them

we’re in this together.” I answer reasonably, trying to

in a pearly grin.

heels to march up to the bullies in question. Cora trails along behind me, whispering anxiously about what a bad idea this is. I

your own size?” I call while we’re still

who spoke. The ringleader rises to

brains.” I bite back. “You shouldn’t be mean

do about it, brat?” He stalks forward, looming over my small body with malicious intent. “A scrawny little thing like you? You’re even more useless

screams and flails his arms. “What – hey! Get her off

strange my behavior had been that day. Normal human girls don’t act

asks, the corners of his mouth

became the de facto leader of the orphanage, just by being scrappy enough to take on the big kids. When it was over I tended his wounds, and from then on they were

I gradually recognize the truth in them –

to beat him because I’m a wolf… I mean I’m sure I wouldn’t have been any match for a pup that wasn’t dormant, but the human kids still weren’t

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