1 A new place

[ Angels eyes homes]

Inside the room, Ariana was busy packing her stuff. This was the last night, she would be spending with the people whom she had grown up watching. Her friends, and her guardian, she would be leaving everyone and moving to a new place where she would start her new life.

"Sigh... I am going to miss sleeping on my cozy bed" Done with her packing, Ariana placed her luggage aside and jumped on her bouncy bed.

Lying with her back facing the ceiling above, Ariana heaved out a sigh. She never thought one day, she would be stepping out of this place where she had spent her sweet twenty years of life. But that is what it has to be, she couldn't change her warden's mind.

Closing her eyes, her mind started recalling the time she spent in this place when she heard a knock on the door and her eyes snapped open.

Pulling up herself, she watched the door getting open and watched her warden Martha step in.

"Have you finished packing your stuff Ari?" Martha asked and her eyes fell on the bags which were arranged next to her bedside table. "I think you have," she said with a gleam of sadness in her voice.

Martha Evangelina, the owner of Angel's Eyes Homes was a lady with a pure and kind heart. She wasn't just a warden but the mother of all those children whom she had taken under her wings providing them with a good life and education.

Ariana noticed her sad eyes and climbed down from the bed. "You can still stop me from leaving Martha. I told you I am happy with whatever we have here" she said and watched her shake her head.

"You know I can't do that. It's against the rules Ari" Martha's wrinkled eyes stared at the young girl whom she had found across the streets next to a trash barrel wrapped with a thin white cloth around her.

She still wonders how can someone be this heartless to abandon a one-year-old child and leave her to die in the cold.

"But I don't want to go" Martha heard her whisper as she lowered her head and pursed her lips into a thin line.

Reaching her hand Martha caressed her head like a loving mother. She knew Ariana wasn't used to stepping out of Angel's home as she always took care of the children here helping Martha with minor stuff. But she couldn't let her waste her life serving them for her entire life. She can't be selfish.

"But you have to, I have given them my words Ari" Martha was helpless.

Ariana bobbed her head as she fought back her tears stopping them from flowing down her eyes. She knew there was nothing that could change Martha's decision and she too had to agree with it.

"They will come to take you in the morning. You should take a rest now" saying Martha left from there and closed the door.

Once everything was back to silence, Ariana finally raised her head and let her tears roll down her eyes. She is going to miss her home, she said to herself.

Martha patrolled around the whole orphanage, making sure the kids were sleeping and then reached her office. Taking the head chair, she then opened the drawer to her right and took out a letter.

She didn't remember how many times she had gone through the words written in the letter and now finally she was fulfilling them.

"I can't always keep you with me, Ari, someone is waiting for you" she mumbled sadly and placed the letter back into the drawer.

*****

The next morning, Ariana met the kids with whom she had been living all this time. Everyone was sad about her departure and kept asking her to stay.

"Sister Ari will you come to meet us," Betty a young girl who was very much fond of Ariana asked hugging her legs.

"Yes, I will," she said even though deep inside her heart she felt there was no returning, yet she kept assuring herself.

Ariana was taking her time to meet each and every one and bid goodbye and when she was done, she heard Martha say," They are here" The word itself made Ariana freeze in her spot.

Her eyes turned to look at Martha and she found her pursing her lips into a thin line. She said they were her extended family and they were here to take her with them.

Ariana wondered what made Martha believe them. She had been growing up as an orphan, then how come she had an extended family, and why after all these years they remember to come after her?

There were so many questions in her mind but she chose silence watching Martha. The old lady would never do anything wrong, she trusted her. If she happens to believe them then it must be true.

Bobbing her head, Ariana turned around and picked up her luggage before she walked out of the orphanage along with Martha.

******

Outside the orphanage, a luxurious car was already waiting for Ariana's arrival and the moment she stepped out the man standing next to it quickly approached her.

"Miss Ariana, I am Fret your driver. I'll be taking you to your destination" he said and reached his hand to take the luggage Ariana had been carrying with her and placed them into the trunk.

Ari gulped at the sight of the man who didn't even pass a polite smile while introducing him and made her wonder if the man wanted to come to pick her up or if he was forced.

Once her luggage was placed inside the car, Fret walked around and opened the backseat door for her.

Martha who had her eyes on Ariana shook her shoulder lightly, and she snapped out of her thoughts. "It's time for you to leave" she heard Martha whisper and a lump formed in her throat.

Turning her head to the right, Ariana watched Martha bob her head with an assuring smile. Though it wasn't able to calm her entirely still, it somewhat soothed her heart.

She was going to miss her and hoped one day, she would be able to come back to this place that she called her home.

With that thought in her mind, Ariana hugged Martha for the last time walked towards the car, and stepped in.

Closing the door Fret then walked to the other side and hopped into the driver seat before he started the car and they slowly drove out from the orphanage gates.

Ariana watched Martha and Betty waving their hands standing on the porch and watching the car disappear from their sight.

"She was lying, I know she won't be coming back" little Betty murmured stopping Martha from stepping in and she looked at the girl with a sad smile.

She was right, Ariana was never going to return because she didn't belong to them but to him.

*****

Inside the silent car, Ariana kept fidgeting with her fingers. She was getting anxious with each passing second wondering where she was going.

Martha told her the people she would be living with from now on were good people but still, her heart wasn't able to grab hold of it.

She raised her head and peeked at the man in the driver's seat. She wanted to ask him where he was taking her but she was too scared to even utter a word.

His blank face would stop her from doing so and she thought to keep her words back to herself.

She then turned her head and once again looked out of the window. A frown marred her face when she watched their car drive away from the city.

Ariana wondered where they were heading when suddenly her eyes caught the sight of a huge gate and the car slowed down.

Her eyes widened looking at the gigantic mansion in front of her eyes and gasped.

'Is this the place I will be staying' she thought.

She was yet to absorb everything when she saw the gates open and Fret drove the car inside.

Ariana had only read about the mansion in a storybook but this was the first time she was witnessing it. She felt her heart thump inside her chest when suddenly the door to her seat opened and she heard Fret, "Miss Ariana this way"

Her thoughts broke and she turned her eyes to Fret staring at him in a daze. His blank face snapped her dumbstruck thoughts and she bobbed her head quickly hopping out of the car.

Standing in front of the vast entrance Ariana wondered to whom this place belonged and how the servant around here was able to manage such a big house.

Thud

Fret closed the trunk after taking out Ariana's luggage and then walked toward the entrance.

Ariana silently followed the man as he was the only one she knew for now.

Entering, she was welcomed by silence with no one around and she wondered where the people living with her go.

'They aren't jobless like you Ari' she thought slapping her head in mind and followed Fret to the long living room.

The two-floor mansion with authentic decor made Ariana look around the place like a small kid who was surprised to see such a beautiful place.

Though the vibes around were dull, still she felt safe as she found the house cozy, just like her orphanage. The only difference was, that this place seemed to be quieter during the day while the orphanage would be silent at night or it was just her assumption.