1 Chapter 1......To find her

!........................When I think of paradise,

I remember something bright.

But when I give a thought to the hell,

I loose all my light.

Today we'll go to a place with a big hidden vice,

It isn't called for nothing the hellish paradise.

But as we need a stick to light up the hearth.

So we need to begin where it all took birth.

Therefore I start my story in one of the billion towns,

dotting the map of earth........................!

"Zella!Zella! Breakfast will be served in 5"

No answer.

"Leave the bed girl, or else I will throw you out of it."

No reply.

Mrs. Emily, the orphanage keeper, was burning like fire. Her face was inflated like a large balloon ,which was ready to burst. She was most probably the most beautiful lady in the town but alas! A shrew with the worst temper. There was a rumor that she shouted at an old man once for stepping on her toe and he died of heart attack at that very moment. She had been calling Zella for half an hour then but got no reply at all. Zella was not a naughty girl and neither a punctual one but she was very careful about not making Mrs. Emily angry for she hated her a lot because she loved to break the rules of the orphanage and was usually seen revolting against the short tempered lady.

"Kevin! Is that brat still sleeping?"

"I guess....." he murmured and nodded.

She threw the crockery on the dining table with a bang and stomped towards the staircase, shouldering anyone who stood in the path. She went up the stairs like a roaring steam engine; her eyes bulging out wide and she made everything around rumble. Every child of the orphanage was shaking like a leaf at the sight of her. She furiously rotated the door knob and entered the room, shouting," Zella! I have seen enough of you, now!"

There was no reply this time either. She could see a round figure on the bed; all wrapped in the blanket and as still as a cat in a gutter. The rays of the sun were peeping into the room from the nearby window; the beams came dancing into the cabin and rested on that figure making the cover a bit hot. The curtains were fluttering in the mild wind and the birds could be seen chirping and flying and playing around with full energy. Mooing of cows from the nearby farm could also be heard. This mesmerizing environment could not mesmerize Mrs. Emily, who advanced towards the figure and pulling the blanket, yelled," Zella! Get up already girl, It's sunday but it doesn't mean that you can sleep in today"

But to her horrors, she found a large pile of dirty clothes, all huddled up together and molded in the shape of a body. There was no sign of Zella anywhere in the room, which made Mrs. Emily explode like a volcano. Everyone was gathered on the door to see her scold Zella or make her do some real hard work as a punishment but this made them disappointed for one part and scared for the other. Each one of them raced towards the dining table before she could say anything else.

She came down with an unusual silence and started serving the food. Everything was going on smoothly but the atmosphere was filled with a lot of doubts and suspicions. It was not like her to leave the matter like that; without any yelling or chaos. Suddenly, she left the work in the middle and said," Roy ,you were sleeping in the bed next to Zella's. Didn't you see her sneak out last night?"

"No, but you know her quite well. She does not like to be trapped in the four walls of this old building."

She remained silent. She knew that she must have gone out to have some fresh air and moreover, this was not her first escape from the weariness of the orphanage.

"She will return by herself when she will feel hungry, but if you insist, I can go out to search for her."

"Oh yes! I insist. Last night she quarreled with me and said that she will go somewhere far away from here and never return."

He starred at her with a questioning look. Finding it a little uncomfortable, she continued, "It's not like I want her to return or I am worried about her, but it was my responsibility to take care of her till she finds a good home or some family. It is so for all of you, who are here in this orphanage. We cannot just report to the committee that one of those annoying creatures ran away because of a fight with me."

"Yes, that would put you in a biiiiiig trouble."

"Not that big... but I care for my reputation in the society and for the reputation of this orphanage."

He gave her a wierd look because it was nothing like that. She had not a penny's name in the society and she cared nothing about the orphanage or the kids there. What she cared for was money, money and ...what was the third thing? Oh yes! money.

The clock struck 9 and the table was deserted. She gathered all the scattered things and said," I am taking the rest to the farm to make them work for the farmer. He is a good one at paying fat for work. You go and find that miscreant....but don't think you'll be saved from the work by this. You will wash the evening dishes."

He nodded and left for his quest.

It was a fantastic day in spring. The town was recently white washed and was shining brightly in the sun. It was garnished with blooming flowers and the air was filled with unique fragrances. Roy went through the streets and found people rushing here and there. Women had gathered at the coffee shop door to discuss the hot topics of the town. All the shops were open and the farmers were going to the fields for work with their tools. Everyone greeted Roy because he was the one who came out of the orphanage very often for works and was the liveliest guy around. He replied to each one of those sounds with the most appropriate words and in the most elegant manner. Each face in the town was decorated with a spring smile and glow of a thousand red roses.

He raced through the town and soon he was out of there and had entered the forest. It was one of the densest forest of the country but a small one in size. It was the forest to paradise. Now, for the name, it was not known why it was called so but it was so without any contradiction. However, it was indeed a place very near to heaven.