Date: 5/4/1999 12:55 PM Central Daylight Time
From: KailyneWnd
Tap-tap-taptaptap.
Tap-tap-taptap-tap.
The young girl's eyes slowly forced open, groggy and not all to happy about being awoken from a sound slumber. She winced slightly as the sunlight stung at her eyes.
Tap-taptaptap-tap.
Kai sat up slowly and quietly, careful not to awaken Deuce. When her eyes had adjusted to the sudden burst of bright light and she first shot a glance around the room, then over towards the alarm clock resting next to her on the table. The big red numbers were screaming to her the time- 8:03 A.M. She furrowed her brows and shot a look to the door. Who in God's name would be here so early? Probably something for Deuce.. Perhaps if shes quiet..
maybe if she lays down again... they'll just go away.. come back later. Yea, thats what she'd do.
The pillow felt so soft as her head lay back against it again and she found herself drifting off again in a matter of seconds. She slept well, lying in the arms of the man she loved. And that was good, because it might've been the last sound sleep she'd have there for quite a while.
A few hours later she awoke again, voluntarily this time. She just lay a few minutes, watching the still sleeping Deuce with a quiet smile. She was truly happy; for once in her life she'd found something good in the world. The same world that tortured and warped her childhood. Ruined everything she'd ever found joy in. The term, 'Cold, cruel world', always seemed oh-so-true... untill now, for she'd found love in this world and was determind to
be happy, at last.
Birds were twittering and flitting past the windows as she slid her legs out from under the covers and over the side of the bed. She pushed up, off the bed, and stood stretching out, her senses slowly returning to her as she became more and more awake. As she started past the door, towards the bathroom for a long, hot shower, something caught her eye. A peice of paper on the floor..
Kai's brows furrowed as she bent over and lifted the envelope up from the floor. Someone had slipped it under the door. Her slender fingers nimbly made a tear at the top of the envelope and she pulled it open, the letter inside sliding into her hands. She didn't even need to unfold the peice of paper. Her heart sunk the moment she saw the heading, the return address: The RhyDin Orphanage.
She was gone from that place.. it was in her past.. a place she swore never to look back at again. What could they possibly want from her now? She caustiously unfolded it and looked it over.. it was stationary paper, The title "The RhyDin Orphanage" printed in bold letters across the top. The following notice was scribbled down the paper-
"Dear Kayline Wind," -They had always spelt her name wrong..
"As you may or may not know, the laws in they city Rhydin clearly state, Any person(s) under 18 years of age are minors. Aslo stated, all minors must be accounted for. Stated in the laws of the Orphanage, all minors must stay in our care until the age of 18, or until they are legally adopted and passed onto the care of another guardian. The files in the orphanage show that you, Kayline, are a minor. 17 years of age on 9/7/98. It is our duty to
make sure you are safe and in the care of a legal gaurdian, be it the orphanage or a foster family. We at the orphange have spent a long time searching for you, as we do for all of our lost wards. You are required to return to the orphanage by Thursday, the 6th of May by 4:00 P.M. or else someone will be sent to fetch you, if need be. It would be in your best judgement to return as quickly as possible. Thank you for your co-operaton.
-The Staff"
Kai's heart stoped. She had vowed never to return there, she couldn't go back.. Why couldn't they just leave her be..? She was safer here than she'd ever been there.. It was all lies. And she was 17! Four months from being 18..
Four months.. It wasn't long.. She could survive there for that little time.. no? But that wasn't the point anymore.. she swore she'd never go back... But what was there to do?
What to do? She knew.. She'd have to hide out.. stay low until September came around and she was free from this place. But now it would be impossible to stay here.. They found her, and they'd be back to look.. in two days. Two days could be just enough time for her to get her far enough away from here.. find someplace remote enough and far enough that she'll be safe.
Deuce shifted in his sleep the moment Kai had turned her eyes to him. She knew that she couldn't ask him to go with her. He had a job here. But.. he'd never let her leave if she was to tell him about this now. She knew that too.
As Kai creeped around the room, packing up her clothes and other belongings in the small suitcase that had carried them here months ago, her mind became nothing more than a numb thought- she had to get out of here. She changed quickly from the clothes she had worn for the night into a pair of jeans and a shirt and plucked her jacket out from the closet. In the dresser she found Deuce's stash.. Guilt swept over her as she pulled a few bills from
the envelope and stuffed them in her pocket. She closed the drawer and snatched up her key to this room from atop the dresser. The last thing she took was one of Deuce's shirts and a photo of the two together and stuck both into her suitcase.
Once packed, Kai took one more glance around the room. She had to leave Deuce a note, let him know what's happening, if not where she's going. Her hands shakily lifted a pen and she scribbled out a short note, telling him about the notice, about her plan, and what to say when they came for her again. She told him she had to leave, there was no other way. She let him know of the money she took with her.. a small amount, only what's necessary.
Also, she told him she'd be back. Four months and she'd return, she promised him that. Last, she told him she loved him. And with that she left the note on his desk to be found by him later in the day.
Tears clouding her vision, she glanced once more to Deuce. How can she leave..? Quietly she walked to the bedside and looked down at him for a long moment. Finally she bent over and placed a light kiss on his cheek, her heart praying he'd wake up and save her from this, hoping he'd hold her and comfort her, at the same time her mind telling her it couldn't be. He was still and slept on. The young girl turned and stepped from the room she'd
learned to call home. Her suitcase already seemed to grow heavy in her hand. But with her key still in her pocket and the small wad of money beside it, she moved her way out of the Outback and into the world.
A Past Thats Far from Over (Kai)
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Facing Facts (Deuce)
Date: 5/14/1999 7:58 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Deuce Mack
The comfort of sleep, rolling about in a dreamy haze, was a bit lonelier for Deuce that morning. Wearily, the lidded eyes opened, wrested from slumber by his arm's falling to the linen of bedsheets, not the touch of his beloved. With the shower's hiss absent from his groggy ears, the young man's muddled mind scrounged around for a place Kai could have slipped off to.
"Kai... babe.. where you at..." Clumsily, his hands and knees found the mattress, pulling him in a fatigued crawl towards the foot of the bed. The end came sooner than the hands expected; wood proved to be a poor falling point, a fact his shoulder angrily attested to. The curse of consciousness finally beginning to wash over him, Deuce noticed a slip of paper hanging over the edge of the desk. Reaching for it slowly, the ever-present thoughts of
work began to cloud his brain.
"Hell.. which report I fo'get ta turn in dis time.."
The note was easy to read, held so tightly; without a mirror under his nose, he may well have been mistaken for a shadowed statue, placed poorly as decoration. Easily five and ten minutes passed, the words read four times over, before Deuce found even the strength to slump against the cold bed. The birds had found solace in their roof-nests before a single word had been forced to share space with others.
The night had come quickly; so it seemed to one so lost in his own world of desperate fear and denial. Aching from the deepest pains his body could convince him were present, it was all young Deuce could do to crawl back upon the sheets, where the single word found his lips, and whispers of "Why?" carried him to another night of sleepless dreams. Only when the sun rose again, forcing him to wake to tear-stained pillows, could the broken-hearted
find the nerve to take the only path open to him.
From: Deuce Mack
The comfort of sleep, rolling about in a dreamy haze, was a bit lonelier for Deuce that morning. Wearily, the lidded eyes opened, wrested from slumber by his arm's falling to the linen of bedsheets, not the touch of his beloved. With the shower's hiss absent from his groggy ears, the young man's muddled mind scrounged around for a place Kai could have slipped off to.
"Kai... babe.. where you at..." Clumsily, his hands and knees found the mattress, pulling him in a fatigued crawl towards the foot of the bed. The end came sooner than the hands expected; wood proved to be a poor falling point, a fact his shoulder angrily attested to. The curse of consciousness finally beginning to wash over him, Deuce noticed a slip of paper hanging over the edge of the desk. Reaching for it slowly, the ever-present thoughts of
work began to cloud his brain.
"Hell.. which report I fo'get ta turn in dis time.."
The note was easy to read, held so tightly; without a mirror under his nose, he may well have been mistaken for a shadowed statue, placed poorly as decoration. Easily five and ten minutes passed, the words read four times over, before Deuce found even the strength to slump against the cold bed. The birds had found solace in their roof-nests before a single word had been forced to share space with others.
The night had come quickly; so it seemed to one so lost in his own world of desperate fear and denial. Aching from the deepest pains his body could convince him were present, it was all young Deuce could do to crawl back upon the sheets, where the single word found his lips, and whispers of "Why?" carried him to another night of sleepless dreams. Only when the sun rose again, forcing him to wake to tear-stained pillows, could the broken-hearted
find the nerve to take the only path open to him.
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It Starts With A Step(Kai)
Date: 5/31/1999 6:13 PM Central Daylight Time
From: KailyneWnd
It was in Kai's nature to be dependent on others. She had gone through her childhood alone and instead of turning hard and cold, as many others in her place had, she always remained vulnerable. Being on her own would be tough, but she took refuge in knowing she had a plan, and a place to go. There was, in her childhood, a small inn a few days trek into the woods to the east of RhyDin, along a river that poured slowly into the sea. She had
traveled there many times to get away from her lonely life at the orphanage and visit one of her few close friends. The kindly old woman who kept the inn was always warm towards Kai and insisted on being called grandmother. She took good care of Kai and, if it were not for her poor financial situation, she would have gladly taken the young girl in as her own. The inn wasn't the most successful and the woman struggled to keep herself living
comfortably. Besides, she already had a grandson living with her. He was just about Kai's age, handsome and a rather skilled craftsman. As talented and good-looking as he might have been, he was equally vain and lazy. He and Kai never quite got along, for the boy was constantly taunting the pale, thin, fright of a girl, and Kai took his harsh words to heart. But he was older now and would be off making a life of his own, therefore, the inn would
be a safe haven for the summer.
Things hadn't gone as well as Kai had planned. She kept to the riverbanks and made good time, but seeing how the trip to the inn would take a few days, her first night was spent in the open. The dark night came and she wandered on until she came to a stone bridge leading across the river. The space beneath, a few feet of dry ground, would be a good enough spot to sleep. And so she had found shelter underneath that bridge for the night. She bent
down, setting her suitcase down and after a quick stretch, she too sat down. The contents of her pocket poked at her leg. Her hand slid into her pocket and pulled out the bulk of money and her key. She hesitated a moment, but eventually she popped her suitcase open and stuffed both objects in. Now that she was a bit more comfortable, sleep came easily.
The night passed quickly and she slept soundly until dawn when the rising sun woke her. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat a moment, gathering the strength she would need for the rest of the trip. As she turned her head, her eyes fell upon her open suitcase. Her mind raced, trying to remember if she had left it open, but she already knew she hadn't. A gasp escaped her lips as she reached over and sifted through her things. All of her money was
gone. Her clothes were there, her key, her picture.. Only the money was gone. Kai let out a groan and flopped back against the bridge, moving a hand to her forehead. After a minute or two of worrying over it and growing angry with herself she stood and bent over, closing the suitcase and lifting it up. Not much she could do about it now. She stepped out from under the bridge and started off again, carrying a new weight on her shoulders.
The night came quickly, but Kai had covered a lot of land. The inn wasn't too far away, and if she kept walking she wouldn't need to spend another night in the open. After dark, she continued on, the chilled night breeze at her back edging her on. The familiar aroma of a burning fireplace had welcomed her as she pushed open the door, arriving a little past midnight. All lights were out, except for the dim flicker emulating from the hearth.
Everyone was asleep and all was quiet. Tiredly, Kai dropped her suitcase down and settled down in the big easy-chair nearest the fire, taking down the light quilt draped over the back. It had been a long few days and Kai was worn out. The walk was a long one, and the strain put on her body had left her sore and achy. The weary girl snuggled up in the blanket and sighed, the cozy feeling bringing thoughts of home to flood her mind. As she stared
into the fire, watching the flames dance and the embers glow, she wondered how she would get along on her own for so long. It had only been two days and already she ached inside for Deuce. He had probably found her note by now and she wondered, was he lonely tonight too? The firelight reflecting off her quiet violet eyes caused the formed coat of tears to glint and glimmer, silently expressing her sadness better than any words ever could. So at
first Kai didn't feel at home in the Outback. Maybe she even felt uncomfortable there. But now, after living some of the happiest months of her life there, no other place ever felt so like home to her. Now all she could do was wait for the day when she could return. Such nostalgic thoughts ate at her until she could stay awake no longer and was lulled into a dream-filled sleep by the warmth of the fire and the quiet sounds of the still house at
night.
From: KailyneWnd
It was in Kai's nature to be dependent on others. She had gone through her childhood alone and instead of turning hard and cold, as many others in her place had, she always remained vulnerable. Being on her own would be tough, but she took refuge in knowing she had a plan, and a place to go. There was, in her childhood, a small inn a few days trek into the woods to the east of RhyDin, along a river that poured slowly into the sea. She had
traveled there many times to get away from her lonely life at the orphanage and visit one of her few close friends. The kindly old woman who kept the inn was always warm towards Kai and insisted on being called grandmother. She took good care of Kai and, if it were not for her poor financial situation, she would have gladly taken the young girl in as her own. The inn wasn't the most successful and the woman struggled to keep herself living
comfortably. Besides, she already had a grandson living with her. He was just about Kai's age, handsome and a rather skilled craftsman. As talented and good-looking as he might have been, he was equally vain and lazy. He and Kai never quite got along, for the boy was constantly taunting the pale, thin, fright of a girl, and Kai took his harsh words to heart. But he was older now and would be off making a life of his own, therefore, the inn would
be a safe haven for the summer.
Things hadn't gone as well as Kai had planned. She kept to the riverbanks and made good time, but seeing how the trip to the inn would take a few days, her first night was spent in the open. The dark night came and she wandered on until she came to a stone bridge leading across the river. The space beneath, a few feet of dry ground, would be a good enough spot to sleep. And so she had found shelter underneath that bridge for the night. She bent
down, setting her suitcase down and after a quick stretch, she too sat down. The contents of her pocket poked at her leg. Her hand slid into her pocket and pulled out the bulk of money and her key. She hesitated a moment, but eventually she popped her suitcase open and stuffed both objects in. Now that she was a bit more comfortable, sleep came easily.
The night passed quickly and she slept soundly until dawn when the rising sun woke her. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat a moment, gathering the strength she would need for the rest of the trip. As she turned her head, her eyes fell upon her open suitcase. Her mind raced, trying to remember if she had left it open, but she already knew she hadn't. A gasp escaped her lips as she reached over and sifted through her things. All of her money was
gone. Her clothes were there, her key, her picture.. Only the money was gone. Kai let out a groan and flopped back against the bridge, moving a hand to her forehead. After a minute or two of worrying over it and growing angry with herself she stood and bent over, closing the suitcase and lifting it up. Not much she could do about it now. She stepped out from under the bridge and started off again, carrying a new weight on her shoulders.
The night came quickly, but Kai had covered a lot of land. The inn wasn't too far away, and if she kept walking she wouldn't need to spend another night in the open. After dark, she continued on, the chilled night breeze at her back edging her on. The familiar aroma of a burning fireplace had welcomed her as she pushed open the door, arriving a little past midnight. All lights were out, except for the dim flicker emulating from the hearth.
Everyone was asleep and all was quiet. Tiredly, Kai dropped her suitcase down and settled down in the big easy-chair nearest the fire, taking down the light quilt draped over the back. It had been a long few days and Kai was worn out. The walk was a long one, and the strain put on her body had left her sore and achy. The weary girl snuggled up in the blanket and sighed, the cozy feeling bringing thoughts of home to flood her mind. As she stared
into the fire, watching the flames dance and the embers glow, she wondered how she would get along on her own for so long. It had only been two days and already she ached inside for Deuce. He had probably found her note by now and she wondered, was he lonely tonight too? The firelight reflecting off her quiet violet eyes caused the formed coat of tears to glint and glimmer, silently expressing her sadness better than any words ever could. So at
first Kai didn't feel at home in the Outback. Maybe she even felt uncomfortable there. But now, after living some of the happiest months of her life there, no other place ever felt so like home to her. Now all she could do was wait for the day when she could return. Such nostalgic thoughts ate at her until she could stay awake no longer and was lulled into a dream-filled sleep by the warmth of the fire and the quiet sounds of the still house at
night.