One: Moving In

Nelda lived in a community that was rather run down from the last war. War was a horrid time, but she made it through. Unfortunately her parents had not, leaving her with her well-to-do aunt. Nelda had no clue how she was related to this women seeing as neither of her parents were from money and she didn't even act like either of her parents. Sitting in her old living room or what was left of it she waited for the caretaker to come. Her caretaker was something like an agent except for the fact that he would leave with in seconds of saying his farewells never to return until she was pawned off to someone else.

The dull smell of gunpowder and gas lingered in the ruins of her house making it seem as though she did not ever live there. It was still her house, the remains of some of her families possessions still sat there in piles of rubble to haunt her. Thinking of when it had all been normal and when she was able to go outside and not be gunned down just because she was of a certain class, she lost track of time. It had been an hour since she first placed herself there dressed in her cream coloured bloomers and leather corset over a light green blouse. The man dressed in slacks and a suit jacket climbed up the broken concrete steps to her ruins. "Nelda?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"Right, I'm Brody you're uh…caretaker for the time being, I shall be escorting you to your next home. A young girl such as you can't possibly live on her own in a house such as this," he said with a disgusted look at his surroundings. Already Nelda had the impression that she wasn't going to get much help out of him. Following him out of the house she was greeted with the most hideous of luxuries, a jet black limo. Nelda waited by one of the doors as Brody opened it for her to climb inside. Chivalry, nice touch but she still didn't care much for it. Sitting down on the leather seat in silence she pulled out her tablet. The small brass rectangle folded out at the touch of a small green button on the front into a larger rectangular screen. This devise was a common thing around there. It held absolutely anything and everything anyone ever needed (except of course food and a rest room). Whether you were an accountant or a student you had one of these. It held every textbook or note book needed. In fact there was no longer a need for paper. Saving many trees, meaning there was a better environment.

Sitting back against the squeaky leather she ran her finger over the notebooks that were displayed and tapped on her journal. Scrolling over the pages she found an empty one and started typing.

April 2/40

I no longer wait in the ruins of my house. Sitting on this polished leather, driving in a ridiculous accommodation along the street I once knew. I begin to wonder if where I'm going isn't so bad. Then again I've been told to not judge a book by its cover… meaning this could be a very bad thing indeed. I honestly wonder.

Today I read the note my mother had written for me. It was touching. However I'm worried that this academy that she said was moving into my aunt's community is something I really want to go to. She said it was some sort of art school. The way she described it doesn't make it sound too appealing. There's a dress code and you can't play certain types of music either.

I don't want to be a clone. I mean if we have some freedom then that's good. But I had better have a choice as to where she sends me to school. I'm sixteen going on seventeen I have a right. Let's just say I'm a little worried about this woman.

"What are you writing?" Brody asked at one point.

"None of your business is it?" she asked.

"No, I just wondered is all. You know that academy that's moving in around the area your aunt lives? I hear is something to be questioned," he shook his head.

"Oh?" she answered. Nelda grew a little interested with what he had to say now by this statement.

"Yeah, I hear it's some sort of boarding school that rich families send their kids when they aren't acting "proper" it's horrid really, apparently they take in these kids and force them to do stuff a certain way, getting rid of any individuality that the children had," he answered sighing.

"Why do you sound so worried?" Nelda asked.

"Your aunt will most likely send you there just because of the way you dress. Not that I have anything against it… but trust me she will," he said. She wandered for a moment.

"Do you know my aunt?" she asked.

"Yes in fact I do have the uh… for give me misfortune to know her. Sorry I shouldn't say that seeing as you'll be going to live with her shortly," he answered. Nelda began to worry; what if her aunt was a real prude?

"Is she really that bad?" she asked.

"Bad…well no not really she's just overly strict and well, let's just say her nose is in her money most of the time," he answered.

"Oh?" she answered the rest of the drive was in silence. Closing her tablet she watched the scenery outside gradually go by slower as they came along a small doll house like street. It was sickening, pink flowers in the front gardens white houses with picket fences. It was as though all of the little girls' dreams had incarnated in this neighbourhood. They drove past a block that had the nearly finished product of a large school.

"You're aunt lives just up here," her caretaker said. They finally pulled into a long driveway of the pristine white house. It almost looked as though it had some sort of dirt repellent. Nothing was out of place there was no dirt on the doorstep or drive.

"I hope they don't have plastic on the furniture," she murmured as she climbed out of the limo with Brody.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Oh nothing, just saying how wonderful this place is," she rolled her eyes.

"Good stay positive, it helps the best of us get through hard times," he answered leading her up to the door. Brody knocked on the door and waited for a reply. Nelda turned away and was looking around at the happy yard. Hearing the door click open she turned her attention back to the door. An elderly lady in a maid's outfit stood in the door way wringing her hands in a towel.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Brody, the caretaker escorting Ms. Nelda Cladwell," he answered.

"How am I supposed to help you?" she asked.

"Ah right, is Madam Isabel Shard here?" he asked.

"My mistress is busy what would she want with…you two?" she said with a snotty look at them both.

"Her niece is being given too her after some unfortunate events, my I speak with her?" he asked.

"She'll be out in a moment. Please don't move or touch anything," she said letting them step inside onto the welcome mat. Despite the welcoming entry way Nelda didn't feel welcome at all. Everything in the house from what she could tell was white, pink or sky blue. Everything about the entry way screamed go away to someone like Nelda, who didn't own a pink thing in her wardrobe. That was the next thing that shocked her. When her aunt came into sight it was as though they had stepped into the 18th century where women wore hoop skirts and corsets that held… well everything down.

"Brody I presume… and you …filthy child must be Nelda," she snorted.

"What?" Nelda questioned slightly irritated by the way she was treating them.

"Speaking out of turn I see, I'll fix that," she growled.

"Right well Madam I do believe your niece has been delivered save and sound, enjoy your stay here Nelda," he bid her farewell with sympathy and left. Nelda was now left with this horrid lady. Once Brody was out of sight she latched on to the top of Nelda's ear and dragged her into the front room.

"You filthy child, speaking out of turn and in my house, nice first impression young lady," she scolded her.

"What did I do?" Nelda demanded.

"Speaking out of terms young lady is not polite not only is it that… It's disobedient and if you are to live here with me you will not speak until spoken too. Understand?" she asked.

"Whatever, you're just lucky that I didn't spit on you nice clean welcome mat," Nelda growled back.

"Uh! To your room!" she yelled.

"Nice, and where is that exactly?" she asked.

"Maryann! Show this…disobedient…thing to her room," she demanded. Nelda crossed her arms and scowled as the maid came into the room and nodded to her and lead the way up a large staircase. Once they were out of earshot Maryann spoke to her.

"You'll notice that Isabel doesn't take kindly to children. You see she's never had any…never wanted any. Kind of sad if you asked me, but I do suggest that you don't speak in front of her unless she's directly talking to you," she seemed nice enough however after that first incident she wasn't going to take kindly to this place.

If what Brody had said about her aunt sending her to Glamoura Academy once it was open then she almost welcomed it. Though if it had anything to do with frilly dresses and pink she might as well just dig a hole and live there. It would have at least been a bit more pleasant than the pink frilly disgusting place she now lived. Unfortunately the only thing she had from home was the clothing on her back and her tablet. "This is the room you will stay in. I hope you enjoy it, though by the way you are dress I can tell that pink or blue isn't in your uh…. Style," she answered.

"No it's not, thanks I guess, is it okay if I change a few things?" she asked.

"Heavens no! Your aunt and my mistress will be very cross if you did," she replied. So that wasn't going to happen.

"Oh. Well I'll guess it will do," Nelda answered.

"If you need anything just let me know. I won't be…well as crude as your aunt. Sorry to hear about your parents dear," she left Nelda alone in the smallish room. The bedroom she now stood in wasn't overly small but it also wasn't the largest thing you'll see. The bed took up half of the one wall, across the room was a small vanity with frilly pink doilies all over it and underneath the window was a desk and chair.

Nelda walked across the hardwood floor to the bed and examined the pink flowers on the bedspread before she sat down. Pulling her tablet out of her pocket she turned it on and set it next to her as she pulled off her boots and leant back against the wall. Picking up her tablet once again she flipped through the programs till she found the messenger. She had a few messages that were unread. Thinking that it would keep her mind off of the overly happy surroundings she decided she would read them.

Tapping over the mail icon she found that all of the messages had been from the same person. Charlie, her best friend had messaged her wondering if she was okay and how she liked her new place. This caused her to laugh because she didn't like it where she was at all. So proceeding to answer she told him the truth. It was pretty bad there.