Moonlark Turned Evil

32: Moonlark Abandoned

Sophie Foster stared up at the theatre, sitting down on a bench across from it to rest her legs.

It stood grandly in the center of the town, and small pocket of the old era among modern houses. The windows were stained glass, tall panes depicting scenes from famous operas.

She didn't know why she came here.

Or maybe she did.

But whether or not she knew why her feet had carried her here, she was too tired to run any further.

There was only so much her tiny four year old body could handle.

People passed by on the sidewalk, casting her curious glances, but no one stopped to ask her where her parents were, or if she was alright.

She was glad.

She didn't know the answer to either of those questions.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the man watching her from the corner of the street, staring at her intently from behind a magazine.

When the sun began to set, she got to her feet.

One step forward.

She was cold.

Two.

She was hungry.

Three.

Her parents and sister were dead.

She knew she couldn't go home. Someone would come to find her after realizing her parents were dead, and send her to a different family, or an orphanage.

Sophie didn't want that,

Foster families and orphanages weren't friendly in books. She didn't think they'd be any better in real life.

Finding a deserted alley, she curled up in a ball against the wall.

"The Moonlark is not coping well with her loss," Mr. Forkle said emotionlessly. His current disguise was the one he always wore during meetings, a bloated body with greasy hair. "What should we do?"

"What do you mean, 'what should we do?'?" Squall said. She was entirely encased in ice, resembling a beautiful statue. "We have to bring her in to headquarters!"

The smudge standing beside Forkle spoke up. "We don't necessarily have to. We have enough data to make another Moonlark if this one dies. Wouldn't it be good to use this one's pitiful struggles to survive as a base for the new one's emotions?"

Squall stared a Blur, horrified. "She's four years old!"

"The Moonlark's age has nothing to do with how we will move," Wraith said. The cape in the corner rustled as he moved his invisible hands. "We're not moving for her benefit. We must think about how she will change the Lost Cities, and how to raise her in order for her to make the right impact."

Granite got to his feet. "Why did we even give Sophie emotions if all you three are going to do is use her for a tool to get what you need?"

Stares were turned in his direction.

"I'm sorry, when did you begin to think she was anything other than a tool?" Wraith laughed cruelly. "She's just a pawn, Granite. Don't get too attached to her."

Footsteps echoed through the alley, and Sophie raised her head.

A pair of heeled boots came into view. She followed the legs that were wearing them up an elaborate dark blue dress until her eyes reached a face.

The woman had long blonde hair that ran down her back in soft waves. Her eyes were ice blue, her lips curved in a gentle smile as she extended her hand to the girl on the ground.

Sophie stared up at her.

The sun began to rise over the city, casting a warm glow over the buildings.

The woman's hair shone in the light. "I'm Gisela Sencen."

"I . . . have been told not to tell my name to strangers."

Gisela chuckled softly. "You're a very smart girl. Let me strike you a deal."

She knelt down on the ground in front of Sophie.

"A deal?"

"Come with me, and I'll teach you to fight. I'll give you a place where you belong, with a family who will always have your back. If you don't like it there, you can leave whenever you want to. What do you say?"

Yes, I wrote a cliffhanger and didn't give you a continuation.

Ehehe.