Dreya

Silence filled the air tonight, a thick, heavy silence that made all within it feel a need to hide each footstep they took. Foxes made their way from one tree to the next, anxious to reach their dens before the sun rose and this wonderful silence was broken.1

The clock of some nearby village chimed, 6am Sunday morning. This seemed to be the sign, the silence was broken by a flurry of activity - animals waking up, birds singing, the sound of animals everywhere. But amongst this suddenly new noise, another, more unfamiliar noise joined them. The screams of a child.2

Dreya didn't know much about her childhood, she had been told by the orphanage where she grew up that they had found her, abandoned in a nearby forest. If it hadn't been for a local camping group passing by she probably would have died, or that's what they said anyway. Dreya had her own ideas. Her first memories were of animals, animals everywhere and such wonderful plants and trees - the sort that would make you forget about the cold grey walls of the orphanage or the sting of Ms Cartwright's cane. She was sure she was from something better, something far more magical than some camping group just coming across her.3

Suddenly reality came flooding back in again, Dreya heard her name being shouted across the classroom, except it wasn't the name her mother had given her, crudely scrawled on a piece of scrap paper, it was 'Hope' a far more common name, given to her by Ms Cartwright. She was in trouble again, what had she missed this time, some stupid comment on how worthless they all were? Maybe something else, about how they would all have to fit into society some day, and at 16 they really should know how by now. Yes that was it, it gave Ms Cartwright an excuse to play her favorite game.4

Dreya watched as the robust woman approached her, the stench of sweat and coffee filling up her nostrils until she felt she may wretch.
"Hope, do you understand?"
That decided it, it was definitely they fitting into society part she had missed, she tried to think of ways to make this pass quicker. Dreya gave a small nod and smiled up at Ms Cartwright.
"Don't you smirk at me young lady, I want words!"
Dreya sighed, Ms Cartwright had been playing this game ever since the other children her age had started to talk. Dreya on the other hand, had not. Perhaps it was the unhappy atmosphere she was being raised in, or maybe it was the lack of beautiful words to try to learn. Either way, Dreya had not spoken a word since the day she was born, and she wasn't about to change to keep that cow happy.
"Still nothing? Or maybe you're deaf as well as dumb now?"
Dreya kept her eyes fixed on her desk, there was no escaping this unless she spoke, and so the abuse continued on and on until Ms Cartwright decided she was bored.
"Fine, please return to your dorm Hope, we do not wish to see you again until tomorrows meal"
Tomorrow's meal? That wasn't right, it was only just noon! Ms Cartwright must have seen the look on her face as an ugly smile had passed across her pig-like features. Dreya knew there was no use in trying to argue this, Ms Cartwright often just ignored her way of talking using paper. Instead she rose to her feet and slowly made her way out into the corridor.5

As she walked down the grey alleys her footsteps echoed around her, she loved this silence, even in a place so filled with people it was amazing how quiet it could get. After a few minutes walking Dreya looked up, she had made her way towards the kitchens, the sweet smell of food drawing her in. Not that any of the children would get to even taste the food that smell came from. Oh no they had a very strict diet of only the cheapest foods, and meat only when needed.
As her pale blue eyes glanced cautiously around the door frame, she saw the most amazing sight, on the table were around 50 cupcakes, each one marvellously decorated in the most fantastic colours of icing. Thinking only of the next 24 hours without food, Dreya made up her mind.
Quick as a hawk she dived into the kitchen, grabbing two of the wondrous cakes then turning to make her escape, one step, two steps, one more and she'd be out there and ready to run to her dorm. The elation was rudely interrupted by a heavy hand on her shoulder.
"Stealing too now are we?"
How had she missed it? How hadn't she known? She should know better than to think she could do this and not have rotten Cartwright know about it. Dreya turned and looked up with a sigh, only to be met by a hard knock to the side of her head, everything went black, the lights were dimmed on her terrible stage.