"Mmgh..."
She shifts once again. Poor thing... It is unfortunate that we have the foreign medicines outlawed due to their "magical" properties. I'm not really fond of magicians and their tech myself, but we can't just simply deny the progress like that - especially if we have ZERO resources that would allow us to catch up at least by the tiniest of margin.
"Yawn..." She begins to rise and I walk up to her immediately to check up.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
"... Mmgh... Weak..."
Checking her pulse, it seems fairly normal, if a tiny bit erratic due to the sickness as a result of her compromised immune system. Her body is now warm, perhaps a bit much warm.
"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I'll go grab some food from cafeteria."
"... Anything is fine... Miss..."
"Okay. Stay here in bed, alright? You better keep your skin covered up."
"M'kay..."
Chicken soup should be good. It should be easy to eat for someone like her, not to mention quite healthy. Just hoping it's fresh, or else microwaving the bowl would be a pain and a half.
I'll go grab a couple of sausages in dough...
"Here. There's your spoon. You can eat by yourself, right?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Her hands stopped shaking, but there is still fatigue present in her movements. She blows on her food for a little bit before taking a bite.
So cute... I wanna smoosh my face into her hair.
Eventually she finished the bowl and I can see some of her energy coming back to her.
"Thank you, miss... Um... Can I have tea, please?..."
"Of course! I'll prepare it right away!"
I feel so fuzzy inside! Taking care of someone is such a guilty pleasure of mine, like I'm actually helping someone! It makes me feel so warm!
"Syrup or no?"
"No. Just make it light."
"Okie."
I serve tea to the girl and she drinks it, now with more vigor than before. Surprised she asked for no syrup (I wouldn't allow sugar because it'll only feed the bacteria); what a refined kid... Way more refined than me *sob* I drink it with light amount of sugar...
"Thank you."
"Remember to drink water. It'll keep you more hydrated."
"Okay."
Yeah it's better for her to take in to her surroundings before interrogating her. She is still pretty dazed from that whole incident and I don't want to scare kids unnecessarily.
"So many shelves..."
"Yeah that's where I keep all the documents and records. Unfortunately they don't have any books in them, or at the very least - the children's books."
"Hmm..."
"Say... What's with your hands? Who did this to you?"
"Um... I don't know when I discovered this... But... When I think of the fire, my hands lit up like this."
?!
White flame?!
So she is a witch?!
"Put them down!"
Her flames immediately put themselves out and I rush to her side. For an odd reason, her hands were *cold* as opposed to hot.
"These flames do not offer warmth; but they're pretty to look at..."
"Um... Could you light them up again? I want to verify something."
"Okay..."
The flames on her hands lit up once more and I touch them. As opposed to being burned by heat, I was burned by sheer cold. It's a frost burn.
I told her to put them down again and looking closely... Perhaps this isn't charred skin, but *dead* skin. No, perhaps it's both. Her hands are a nightmare to look at; and if it wasn't for my prior training and experience - I would've thrown up at the mere sight of them.
"Does it hurt when I touch them?"
She nods.
I hesitantly let go off of her hands and look inside my first aid kit.
"It'll hurt a lot; but please bear with me, sweetie. I'll try to fix your hands - but you must give me an oath to NEVER light up your hands ever again, okay? It's for your sake, you know."
"But... What if I'm cold...?"
"Then I'll make sure that you'll never feel chilly coldness ever again. Only tender warmth and safety."
{The following scene has dubious depictions of medical practices that are not accurate to how you treat a person who had suffered through frostbites and burns; so do not take the following scene as accurate depiction of what you should do in said situation. Author is not claiming to be a medical specialist}
Making a lukewarm tub with some disinfectant solution poured in; I put both of the girl's hands inside the tub and set the clock.
"Let's wait for 30 minutes. That should help your hands to heal. I'll go buy fresh towels and some medicinal salve with some bandages. Don't remove your hands from the tub, okay? I'll be back."
"M'kay..."
While normally I should definitely be consulting a medic; since she is technically a criminal - I would be put through so much scrutiny over sheltering one - not to mention the fact that she is also a confirmed witch.
The wait is of course extremely tedious. If I want to build a decent rapport with civilians, I need to be put in their shoes. One old lady seemingly bought an entire kit worth of medicine, before the line started moving at a much faster pace.
"Yes, thank you."
Returning back, I see the girl still sitting here, keeping her hands in the tub. Luckily the tub hasn't gone cold. The time remaining is 7 minutes.
"What's your name, sweetheart?"
"I... I don't. I don't have a name. My mom didn't give me a name..."
"Ohh, she must've been cruel then. How does anyone refer to you as then?"
"... By my number."
"Figures; but I feel like calling people by numbers is pretty dehumanising."
"...
I don't want to go back here."
"To the orphanage?"
"Yeah... They bully me here..."
"Aww, who's bullying you?"
"The boys... They keep harassing me because of my looks... They keep pulling on my hair, trying to rip it off..."
"Poor thing... I think your hair is striking, if I say so myself!"
My hands starts petting her head and she closes her eyes. I swear I'm hearing quiet purring just now.
"Ahh..."
"You look pretty cute! I can't imagine your bullies would pick on you for that."
"Well... They did... And they turned my life hell..."
"Oh? And how's that?"
The things I heard made my heart drop. All those listed "offenses" on her database... Were framed.
Sure some ARE true, she did have a pet and she did escape... And she did end up burning her bully. But the bullies killed her cat and framed her as some kind of monster.
And her tales of trying to survive on the streets are pretty harrowing to hear.
I still remember the time when I was forced to survive on the streets, and it was horrible.
And this is a child.
"Please... I don't want to go back here..."
I will not forsake my heart again.
"?!"
"I'm sorry for you."
I hugged her lightly before retreating, and the girl blushed.
"Umm... The clock..."
"Ah yeah. Let me apply some pantenol..."
"Ow..."
"And to wrap it up..."
"Ahh..."
After finishing up wrapping her hands, I put away all the medical supplies back into their cabinet. Poor thing...
Though that gives me a rather... Horrifying realization.
I can't bring her back there.
And given her oddities, finding a legal guardian for her is nigh impossible. Even if I find the sweetest and compassionate couple in this rotten country, they could be endangered by association with a witch...
~
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! FLAUNTING AROUND WITH SOME DARNED MAN?!?! HOW COME YOU CARRY HIS SPAWN?!?!?!"
"POL, PLEASE!!!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT, YOU TREACHEROUS WHORE!!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
~
What I did back then... Was inexcusable. I... Lashed out on her. Never bothered to even understand why that happened. I guess, I just felt betrayed by all this, since she was the person I ever loved. The person... I'll ever love in this world.
That child... Her ginger hair reminds me of her.
Would that be... A right thing?
Can I... Even provide for this child?... Give her the love she needs?
I'm not even sure even if it is her... Could be just a wishful thinking.
Still. That child deserves a home.
Coming back to her, I gently hold her bandaged hands and look into her twilight eyes.
"Listen up.
From this point onward, you'll be my daughter.
It'll be scary. The line of work that I have... Is tumultuous. And we still have to go that evil place. It'll be quick, just to make the fact that we're family official!"
"Official?"
"Y-You know, so I wouldn't be seen as a kidnapper!"
"Ahh..."
"But once we do: you'll never know solitude ever again. Even if I'm far away, I'm with you - here. I will not let you wilt away."
Something in her gaze changed. She's terrified and distrustful, yet there is a note curiosity in those eyes.
Could it be another chance?
"You... You won't leave me?..."
"Never. No matter what, I'll always return to you."
It's odd, pledging an oath to a child that is so foreign to me. She is a witch, she is a nobody to me... And yet.
Even if duty calls, I can't simply just throw the child up to fate. Not to mention, I don't exactly agree with the "equalising" process. No one can control what they are born as after all.
Perhaps... It is because we're both an oddities in our own right.
"I'll go buy new clothes for you, okay? These old ones... Are very much ruined. Just so you could go outside all comfy."
"M'kay."
"We'll go shopping together later, promise."
Caring for a child... It's a rather unique feeling...