Remnya
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Despite the kids running past her, the corridors felt empty, the noise reduced to a distant whisper. Remnya chewed on her decision, knowing regret would likely follow. But if it meant protecting her only chance at a real family, she would go through with it.
Instead of heading to her bedroom, she turned toward the boys' dorms. Time slowed. Her heart hammered against her ribs, palms slick with sweat.
I have to do it.
At the end of the corridor, the stench of the boys’ bathroom hit her — a smell that dragged her back to that terrible night. She stood in front of the door and gritted her teeth. After looking left and right, not a single soul was in sight. She was on her own to face whatever lay behind those walls.
Silence. Ominous, heavy silence.
Remnya closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
...
The bathroom was empty, save for the faint drip of leaking pipes and the distant sound of running water.
She scanned every corner and stall, searching for the boy—until a whisper coming from behind made her turn.
Santi walked into the bathroom with a smirk. Remnya's heart calmed down after seeing he was alone, but disgust burned in her glare.
“I am here. Now what?” Remnya said, clenching her fists.
“I just wanted to talk.” He circled her like a hyena stalking her prey.
“Don't waste my time.” She folded her arms. “If this is about what I think it is, the answer is NO!”
Santi giggled. “You say that, but we're not as different as you think, Rem.” He walked closer, and Remnya flinched away.
“What do you mean?”
“See for yourself.” He leaned forward, putting his head in front of her. “Touch me.”
Remnya winced at his words but quickly noticed something strange. Reluctantly, she reached out for his greasy hair.
Her fingers touched two bumps similar to Amy's sticking out.
“No way...” Her jaw dropped in disbelief. “You are...”
“It seems like we have something in common, after all.” He smirked.
Remnya took a moment to assimilate her discovery. “Why did you choose to tell me of all people?”
“You already know why.” He stepped closer. “You and me, Rem… we’re the same.”
Remnya put her hands in front of her, keeping him at a distance. “I'm glad you shared this with me, but I'm not sure I understand what you want from me.”
“You know.”
“I really don’t…” He glanced at the door. “And I’d better get going.”
Before she could turn to leave, Santi stomped toward her and grabbed her wrists, moving her arms out of the way.
“What are you doing?!” Remnya shouted and tried to shove him away. But she realized his strength was way beyond his scrawny appearance and cowardly behavior.
Santi squeezed her wrists and pushed her against the wall, but Remnya freed one hand and smashed a fist against his mouth.
He stepped backward, but a smile spread across his face. “You underestimate me, Rem.” He lifted his gaze at her; his pupils had turned into two red dots stinging her skin. “You think I hang with Liam out of fear?” He giggled. “That fool gets me what I want; they do the dirty job for me.”
“Why…?” Remnya shook her head, unable to recognize him. “I always thought you were better than them.”
“Bullshit.” Santi spat with a mocking smile. “You never saw me differently.” He lunged toward her and slammed her body against the wall, holding her arms with unnatural force. Unlike Liam or Butter, his hands felt like a press, crushing her wrists.
He leaned forward, trying to kiss her, but she ducked and smashed her head against his.
Blood spurted from his nose as he winced in pain. Remnya kicked his groin until he loosened his grip, and she freed herself.
Santi curled up in pain, allowing Remnya to escape.
From behind, she overheard a roar of anger and unintelligible curses, but that didn't matter anymore.
Even though her blood boiled with anger, her legs didn't stop. She bolted down the corridor, breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She didn’t stop until she burst into her room, dove under the blankets, and curled into a tight ball.
Not even her roommates' nasty comments could reach her.
She lay in bed, paralyzed, her mind racing with cruel possibilities. Would Santi reveal her secret? What could she do to stop him? Her dream of a family seemed to vanish once again.
Unable to find answers, Remnya closed her eyes and allowed exhaustion to shut her mind down, pushing the nightmare away for one more night.
* * *
The violent wind tore screeches from the building’s weakened structure. Remnya tossed in her bed, half-asleep, half-awake, the thin blanket twisted tight around her legs.
Dreams and nightmares crashed into each other—a whirlwind of contradictions.
At some point, the relentless sequence loosened its grip, and a familiar figure appeared.
Remnya saw her cat—the one she had lost. That year had been harder without him, and ever since that incident, she had refused to shed a single tear. She played with her kitty, petted him, and allowed him to purr under her blanket.
That was her ideal world, a world where death didn't exist, and neither did Orena, Liam, or Santi.
But it wasn't real. It was stupid.
The monster of reality reminded her of it every morning when it devoured her dreams.
Before sunrise, the door burst open, and Orena stomped into her room. She walked up to Remnya and shook her violently.
“Wake up, brat!” she yelled, but Remnya barely noticed her. The old lady grabbed a glass of water from a nightstand and splashed it on her face.
Remnya flinched at the cold water and covered herself with the blankets. “What's going on?”
“Get up!” Orena roared, pulling the blankets off her and yanking her off the bed. Remnya sat back on the bed half-asleep, trying to understand the situation, but Orena forced her to stand and leave the room.
Remnya's head felt like falling apart, and her soul threatened to escape her body as the memory of last night’s event began to materialize in her mind. What had Santi done? Had he told anyone about her fire?
“I can explain!” Remnya shouted desperately, but Orena kept on dragging her through the cold corridors.
The old lady pushed Remnya into an empty, dark bedroom.
Remnya had begun to think of an escape plan when Orena turned the light on, and Ellyn entered the room with a sleepy face.
“What's going on, Ellyn?” Remnya asked, scanning every corner with wide-open eyes. The room looked normal, and she couldn't find any belts or sticks to beat her body.
“We gotta get you ready. Your new family is coming today,” Ellyn said, trying to untangle hair out of a brush.
“What?” Remnya's jaw dropped as she blinked with confusion. “Now? For real?”
Ellyn bobbed her head. Remnya scanned her gray eyes for lies or hidden intentions, but there were none. It was the truth, a truth she had been longing for since she was a toddler.
The time slowed in that gloomy room, and a bittersweet sensation wrapped around her heart. Perhaps her everlasting dream of having a family had become a reality.
A hurricane of emotions was unleashed in her head. The idea of a family was an alien concept because nobody wanted to adopt a devil with horns.
It had to be a dream or a joke.
Orena yanked Remnya's arm and forced her to sit in front of a mirror. “Now, stay still!” she roared, pulling at her hair roughly with a brush.
The pain brought her back to reality. It was real.
“That hurts, old hag!” Remnya yelled, pushing Orena's hand away, causing her to drop the brush. The old lady roared and slapped Remnya across the face. Her head barely moved; she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing her in pain.
“Orena, please,” Ellyn said, holding Orena's fist before it landed on Remnya's face again. “Remember what he said.”
Orena clenched her teeth and bent over to pick up the brush. Remnya looked at her through the mirror and stuck out her tongue. The old lady held back to avoid hitting her again. She ordered Ellyn to finish combing Remnya's hair and then stormed out of the room.
Ellyn finished and went to retrieve several bags with clothes she had dropped on the bed. A blue dress caught Remnya's attention. She picked it up and sniffed it.
“It smells like new,” she said, holding it up to look at it.
“Do you like it?” Ellyn asked. “Sarah picked that for you.”
Remnya gave Ellyn a sidelong glance and put the dress back on the bed. “It's cute, I guess... But why?”
“Just a last gift for you.” Ellyn forced a smile. “Now, please change into your new clothes. The socks and shoes are in the other bags,” Ellyn said as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Remnya wondered if they had gone crazy overnight; they had never given her new clothes in her life.
I can't trust them. It has to be a trap.
Remnya finished changing and looked in the mirror, barely recognizing herself without her tomboyish clothes. Sometimes, Remnya forgot she was a girl, so the sight staggered her. Why did everyone call her an ugly witch?
Her eyes widened when she noticed something. Her collar was gone. “What?” she shouted, inspecting her neck. I bet they took it when I was asleep! That sneaky old hag! Her neck looked naked without it, but it was a pleasant feeling.
Tired of looking at herself, Remnya tried to open the door and go to Zeo's room to say goodbye, but they had locked it from the other side. “Stupid old hag!” Remnya roared, kicking and punching the door several times. But no matter how hard she hit it, no one came.
Sleepy and furious, Remnya sat on the bed, crossing her arms, and waited for the witches to return.
The silence allowed her to rethink the events from last night.
Santi’s face kept flashing in her mind — his bulging eyes, that disgusting giggle, the way he had grabbed her. Her skin still crawled at the memory.
But then she remembered the two small bumps under his greasy hair. He’s like me… like Amy.
Her eyes drifted to the old, broken clock in the corner, its hands frozen under a layer of dust. It no longer marked time, but right now it gave her hope.
They’re coming for me soon. In just a few hours — or less — she would be gone from this place. By the time Santi woke up and tried to tell anyone, she would already be far away with her new family. And if he opened his mouth earlier… she could always tell everyone about his horns, too.
She clung to that thought like a shield. It didn’t erase the memory of his creepy behavior, but for now, it was enough.
Remnya let herself fall back onto the mattress, the springs creaking beneath her.
“I’ll be gone today,” she whispered, frowning. “It’s finally over.”
The words felt fragile, but they were all she had. Exhaustion finally dragged her under before the doubts could swallow her whole.
* * *
A heavy hand landed on Remnya's face.
“Look at your hair!” Orena yelled, shaking her violently. Remnya had messed up her hairstyle and felt how the old lady brushed her bangs roughly. She was still half-asleep when Orena forced her to walk out of the room.
While Orena dragged her, Remnya noticed the hallway felt emptier than usual, and heard a caregiver whispering “...keep the brats away from the west wing...”
Orena glared at them, and they immediately went silent.
The morning light blinded her sleepy eyes when they arrived at the entrance hall. She glimpsed a familiar face; that elegant man again, Marcus. He was standing at the front door with a frown.
“Him?” Remnya raised her eyebrows, pointing at Marcus.
“Shut up!” Orena yelled, slapping her hand. They stopped in front of him, and the old lady smiled. “She's ready, Mr. Marcus. As promised.”
Marcus scanned Remnya from head to toe. His sharp pupils stopped at her red cheek. He remained silent for a moment and then asked coldly, “Did you hit her again?”
“No, no, sir!” Orena said, shaking her head nervously.
Remnya frowned at Orena and nodded at Marcus. “I should get your hands cut, old woman,” Marcus said, glaring at Orena, who widened her eyes in fear and began apologizing. “Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her.” He gestured at Remnya.
Orena looked at Remnya and back at Marcus. His face emanated a deadly aura. “I'm sorry, Remnya,” she mumbled, swallowing her pride.
Remnya stifled a chuckle, making Orena's face swell with fury. Marcus' serious expression faded as he stared at Remnya. “Are you ready to go, young girl?” he asked in a gentle voice.
She gaped at him, unable to believe he could be polite. “Can I say goodbye to my friends?” she asked, embarrassed.
“Go ahead.” Marcus bobbed his head. Remnya smiled at him and darted toward the dorms.
Amy was first. The little girl slept wrapped in her teddy bear. Remnya hugged her, kissed her forehead, and watched her sleep for long seconds. That's when the realization hit her like a train. Her eyes burned with tears, but she forced them back. Amy will be mad at me, Remnya thought as she ruffled her silky hair for the last time.
After, she headed to the boys’ dorms and stopped by Butter’s room. She leaned on the wall next to the door and let out a deep sigh. “I hope you get well soon,” she murmured.
The silence in their usually noisy bedroom made her skin crawl, but she forced herself to ignore it.
Only one person remained now.
Remnya wandered the corridors, her pace slow as if avoiding the unavoidable, until she finally found her friend. Zeo was already waiting for her near the stairs with a bag in his hands.
They exchanged looks, and she leaned on the wall next to him.
The moment seemed to last forever until Remnya spoke.
“I didn't think it would be so soon,” she said, caressing her tail.
“It's okay, Rem.” Zeo smiled shyly as his eyes seemed to struggle to recognize her. For the first time, she looked like a girl. She noticed, and he forced his gaze to the floor. “I said I would make a present for you, and since there won't be another chance... Here.” Zeo handed her the bag he was holding. “Sorry, though, it's not finished yet.”
Remnya took the bag but didn't look inside. “I'm gonna miss you.”
“Me too,” Zeo's voice finally cracked, and his eyes flooded with tears.
Remnya pulled him toward her and hugged him tightly. His slim body was shaking between her arms. Zeo tried to say something, but his voice was drowned by the rainfall that rolled down his cheeks.
“Be strong, Zeo. I don't care what those jerks say about you. For me, you're brave and strong.” She tightened her grasp around him.
Zeo seemed to want to say something, to express his inner feelings, but words didn't come out. Every time he tried, tears muffled him.
“Remember, you're not a coward, so stop thinking that. I believe in you.” Remnya released him and stared deep into his wet, green eyes.
“Thank you, Rem,” Zeo mumbled, taking off his glasses and wiping his tears. “You... I...” he stuttered, unable to say it.
Remnya's vision blurred with tears, but again, she fought them back. Remnya regarded him with a faint smile, and in a sudden, clumsy movement, she kissed his moist cheek. After that, Remnya didn't dare to look at him anymore and ran away.
Zeo turned red as he watched her disappear at the end of the corridor. He sniffled and rubbed his eyes, trying to get a hold of himself. He caressed his cheek and sobbed. “Rem...” He sat on the floor and buried his face between his knees.
It was over. It was time to go.
Remnya stood next to Marcus in front of the orphanage. Some kids gathered by the windows to witness her departure while Orena and Ellyn stood by the door.
Remnya lifted her eyes to stare at the orphanage, a knot in her throat. That ugly place had been her home ever since she could remember; too many memories and two dear friends.
But the time had come.
She waved at everyone with a smile and walked toward the car. Marcus opened the back door, and she hoped inside. He eased into his seat and adjusted his mirror until Remnya appeared in its reflection.
She grabbed the bag Zeo had given her and drew her gift.
A doll.
But not any doll. It was her doll: black hair, crimson eyes, two tiny horns, a tail, and a smile on its face. It even smelled like her favorite perfume, vanilla lemon. A warm sensation filled her heart as she hugged it. Zeo said it wasn't finished, but when Remnya inspected it, she couldn't find anything wrong with it.
It was perfect.
The car started up. Remnya glanced over her shoulder at the orphanage for the last time, and finally, Marcus drove away.
She was on her way to a new beginning.
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