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?”

Cora’s voice is so low I almost can’t hear her speak.

shoulders slumped in defeat. “They called me a worthless

that keeps us going is the hope

“Ella no.

know how it is. Parents only ever want the babies. I mean you might have a chance –

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

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 our peers under my wing, but it’s not as if I can just stand by and let them

“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

to let them off them hook?” She

in this together.” I answer reasonably, trying to calm

a pearly grin.

them in the pants.” I sniff, turning on my heels to march up to the bullies

this is. I don’t listen,

anyone ever teach you to pick on someone your own size?” I

laugh when they see I’m the one who spoke. The

I bite back. “You shouldn’t be mean to Cora just

and she doesn’t

and what are you gonna do about it, brat?” He stalks forward, looming over my small body with malicious intent.

me, both of his hands

the older boy’s body and attacking

Hands grab for me, but I dig my nails into his flesh, biting and scratching

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

the corners of his

take on the big kids. When it was over I tended his wounds, and from then on they were all loyal to me. My own

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