Chapter 2

CHIARA: It confuses the medical staff. I should heal quicker with the Alpha’s blood because I’m human, but they haven’t caught on, or at least not caught me switching it out. I’ve been doing it ever since I was 10 and ended up here.

IESHA: I knew that Valen was going to get retribution on Chiara. I did go tell the principal, but he didn’t do a thing to help her. He just let it happen, then, when they were done, that’s when he called the medical team in. Jerk. I’m not an orphan, but I am an omega, so I have to keep my distance from the ranked wolves as well. I just wish she would stop antagonizing them; her life would go more easily if she did. I linked my dad. “Chi is in the clinic again; I am going to go see her after school if that’s ok?” “What happened this time?” “Same as last time, Valen and the Ranked squad.” “Just don’t stay long.” “Thank you, Daddy.” “Welcome, just be careful.” “I will.” I closed the link. And headed for the clinic. I found her in a room with two other patients; she looked pale and fragile. “Hey,” I said softly as I sat down by her bed. “Hey, yourself. So, what did I miss in 6th hour?” “Ms. Marsh gave us a book report that has to be done before the end of the year, and with that being two and a half months away, it has to be at least 500 words, on top of everything else that we have to do.” “What book?” she asked. “Your favorite, Dracula.” “Yes.” That was the first time that I actually saw her smile; she was genuinely happy about something. “Do you know how long you will be in here this time?” I asked her. “No, they haven’t said anything to me yet.” “Why do you antagonize them?” “I just say the truth; everybody knows how much the Luna hates us, “How we are “A WASTE OF SPACE AND RESOURCES.” She used finger quotes. “But yet if it weren’t for us, her new solarium would never have gotten built.” She says. And it’s true, without the help of the orphans, the solarium wouldn’t have gotten built. They cleared the space. Moved any rocks or boulders. Marked out the dimensions. So, the rest could be done by the contractors. They saved the Alpha family time and money. But the Luna doesn’t see it that way; she uses the orphans as slave labor.

CHIARA: “And we all know that the Ranked Squad are her enforcers, so I just speak the truth. Esha, can you bring me my copy of Dracula?” I asked her. “Sure, where will I find it?” She asked me. “Go to my room and in the bottom drawer of the nightstand that's on my side of the room.” I tell her. “Do you need me to bring you anything else?” She asked me. “No, they sent my backpack with all my schoolwork with me this time.” I say. She nods. “I will be back soon.” “Ok.” We don’t get much space to ourselves in the orphanage; each person gets half the wardrobe, and a bedside 3-drawer stand. A twin-size bed. That’s it. The wardrobe has two full-size drawers beneath the hanging part; we can either have one or split them in half. My roommate and I opted to each take one, but the hanging part has to be split. That’s ok because all I have to hang up are my three temple dresses. And the rest of my belongings are split between the drawers, so my personal toiletries are in the second drawer of the stand, my underthings are in the top drawer, and the rest of my clothes are folded and in the wardrobe drawer. That bottom drawer is my trinket drawer, it’s where I keep the things that mean the most to me. I have two of my best friend’s shirts in there, along with everything he ever gave me. And some things I gave him, that I took from his room after he died. Including the money that we would find just lying in the streets or parking lots.

IESHA: I went straight to the orphanage and to Chi’s room. I opened the bottom drawer of her nightstand and found her copy of Dracula. I noticed the two shirts and a small pocketknife; it had a pearly blue handle with the initials J.C. carved into it. I just shook my head. I grabbed the book and closed the drawer. As I was turning to leave, Chi’s roommate came in. “What are you doing in here?” she asked me. “I came to get Chiara’s book. We have a book report that we have to do before school is out on Dracula.” I tell her. “With as many times as she has read that book, she should be able to write that report blind.” She says. “I agree.” I say, and head out and go back to the clinic. When I get back, Chiara is looking only slightly better. “They came and told me that I will have to be here for at least two weeks, maybe more, if I don’t heal.” “Chi, you will miss the Prom/Party again. I swear you do it on purpose just to get out of  going to those things.” I say to her. “No, I don’t. I can’t help it if the Lunas’ enforcers are a bunch of hot heads and can’t control their temper or their strength.” She says. “What did they say was wrong this time?” “Pretty much the same as last time, bruised and cracked ribs, and a bruised spine. But hey, at least they aren’t broken. And a concussion.” “Oh, Chi!” “Hey, it’s fine, ok, just please bring me my schoolwork, that’s all I ask.” “I will. But I've got to get home.” She nods, and I leave.

CHIARA: After Iesha left, I made myself comfortable, opened my book, and started reading. I hadn’t been reading long when the nurse came to check on me. “Chiara, you shouldn’t be reading with your concussion.” She said. “Sorry, Nurse Baker, but I have a book report due at the end of the year, 500 words, so I have to do it sometime.” I say to her. “Plus, I have other homework that I have to do too.” I say. “Well, you can only work on it until dinner, then you will have to wait until morning to do any more. She tells me. “After dinner, you will get another blood bag as well.” She says. I just nod, not saying anything. Once she leaves, I take my notebook out and start taking down my notes and my thoughts, piecing my report together, before I actually write it. This is going to be the easiest assignment I’ve done. The rest of my homework will get done in the morning. After dinner, the night nurse brings another blood bag to hook up to my IV. And she also gives me something to make me sleep. She checked my vitals and left. I watched the clock, and 15 minutes after she left, I went and switched it out again. I climbed back into my bed and fell asleep. {Jace, please don’t go; they don’t want you there! I don’t care if they did ask you to come. It’s a setup; the Ranked squad will hurt you, or worse! Please, please don’t go!} I pleaded over and over with tears in my eyes.