<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: teal">Sunlight filtered in through the old windows, casting a dusty light onto the wooden floors. Not a soul seemed to be <br/>alive in the small run-down building, which resided quietly down an old street that was left untouched. An odd humming came from the pipes which ran throughout the building's walls. It was cold inside as well- neglected by the owner who hadn't bothered to fix the heaters. It was unbearable in the winter. But even more so in the summer, since the air conditioning didn't work either, and the walls seemed to close in on you until you went insane from the heat which you thought would melt you. The residents of the building had grown used to the odd temperature shifts. Within the structure everything was either messed up or broken in one way or another. It truly was the one building on the block that just didn't fit in. <br/><br/>The floorboards creaked awkwardly under Isra's feet as she crept quietly across the room towards her dresser. Her hair was a sleep-induced mess of tangles and stray bits that just seemed to poke out here and there. Her icy orbs were seemingly glazed over from being tried and nonstop thinking throughout the night. For in truth, she hadn't slept that long. After falling asleep with Julie, she'd only begun to have flashbacks- bad nightmares, which usually showed up whenever she slept. It was why she'd woken up only an hour later. It was why she usually never slept, and constantly had dark impressions under her eyes. She was always restless. So much for peaceful slumber.<br/><br/>She approached the dresser and pried open the stubborn top drawer, casting a quick glance over the clothes she had. It wasn't much of a variety. But hey, it was something. Lazily her hands reached in and pulled out a black hoodie and dark tan jeans, which had small patterns sewed into the bottoms. Just keep it simple. Her gaze traveled over to Julie, making sure the girl was still asleep, before switching from her previous jeans to the new ones and removing her jacket and tank top. There was nothing to hide under that tank top. For her entire torso and chest was wrapped in a firm bandage of sorts. A white wrapping, almost like gauze, which she used to destroy her feminine form. It flattered her chest and made her sides less skinny like the average female. For she hated female aspects. It made her feel weak, and less able to protect herself. This wrapping made her feel stronger. Although she was sure there were medical consequences- on hot days, it was suffocating. And though sometimes her breathing was painful, none of it mattered to her. <br/><br/>After slipping on the hoodie, she pulled out a brush and made quick work of her hair, the sides naturally straight without need for a straightener. They had naturally grown to stay that way, luckily enough, although sometimes the wind objected to its obedience. Sometimes it flipped out, and she felt like a girl who would be named Lucy. It was embarrassing. But today it seemed to be obliging to her wishes. Satisfied with her appearance, she turned to go air out the room by opening the window. As her head turned with her body her eye caught a glimpse of something she hadn't quite thought about yet today- and she wished just then that it hadn't crossed her mind. The contract marking on her hand. It was still there.<br/><br/>Of course, she hadn't expected it to disappear. But she had hoped that she was dreaming, and that all of last night had been some terrible nightmare. That when she got up the next day, it would be no more. Yet there it was- mocking her first thing in the morning. Scowling in distaste, she fumbled around in another drawer and soon found her pair of black fingerless gloves, pulling the cloth over her hand to hide the marking from view. He had said no one else could see it. Even so- it bothered her to see it herself. Once the marking was concealed she proceeded to lift open the window, feeling a light breeze brush past her face along with the sunlight nearly glaring into her eyes. It almost hurt. <br/><br/>Isra's head recoiled from the intense brightness and turned instead to watch as Julie sat up in bed, murmuring a 'goodmorning' before slipping out of the room like a mouse. That girl never really spoke much unless she had to, almost like Isra. But the two had a silent understanding nonetheless- which was how it was with all the kids. No one liked to speak. Most were afraid to. However, the kids knew Isra despised the Warden, and that she was there to help them. And she was determined to always be there to help them, until she could figure out a way to bring the Devil to its knees and rescue them from this place. Speaking of devils and demons... what had Lancier said to her yesterday? She remembered him mentioning that someone new would be showing up today. She sincerely hoped not. Usually when having a thought like that she was wrong anyway, naturally, but it didn't hurt to hope. As she made her way out of the room and towards the stairs, she found herself wondering when he-who-shall-not-be-named would show up at the orphanage gates. <br/><br/>"Greetings from hell," She muttered in a mocking tone. Although it was less meant in the way one might think.<br/>In fact, it was aimed at the Warden. From the Warden, to all who entered this orphanage. <br/><br/></span></div>