The Red Scorpion, Chapter 3

2021
The new Orphanage
France

A shrill alarm sounded, forcing Nicolette awake. “Fuck,” she muttered. Sitting up and glancing around, she sighed as the bitter reality of her whereabouts hit her. “I’m back at the orphanage. Great.”
“Talking to your self, again, Nic? You know, that’s a sign of insanity. Wow… insane at seventeen.”
She jumped at the voice and clutched the flimsy blanket close to her body. Realizing who it was, she grabbed her pillow and threw it across the room to the bed opposite hers, “You idiot! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
A soft thump followed by a string of colorful words was heard as the pillow hit the intended target. Giggles followed suit as the other two occupants of the room started to rise but was quickly cut short as another alarm sounded.
Nicolette made a disgusted sound at the wake-up call, “I swear to the gods above that woman got a banshee for an alarm.” She pulled on a sweater and climbed down the bunk beds, repulsed as the thought of the orphanage resembling a barrack ran across her head.
“So, what do you think we get for breakfast?” asked her cheery blue-eyed roommate.
“Us,” she replied seriously, starting out the door. “…If we don’t get our asses there in time.”

“Nicolette!!”
The annoyingly loud command made her wince and added to her already gloomy mood. Her hands were already hurting from sweeping the debris left by the fire almost a year ago and the heat of the sun, unbearable. “What?” She snapped, earning her a sharp whack on the head followed by a slap to the face. “Fuck!” she cursed, rubbing at the sore spot on her cheek.
“Don’t you use that language on me, little girl.” the big lady looming over her boomed.
She scowled at being called a ‘little’ girl and glared at the caretaker. “What do you want now?”
“Alaistaire called for you, little girl.” she answered, a smirk full of malice in place.
She rolled her eyes, stomping off towards the orphanage.

A sense of foreboding ran down her spine as she walked the length of the hall. The imposing oak doors came into view, adding up to her uneasiness. She took slow and deliberate steps, delaying whatever it was that awaits her beyond those doors. She breathed in deeply as she prepared to push the doors open, bracing herself.
“One would think you’re afraid of me with that look on your face, mon cher.”
The dark room and the fire casting eerie shadows made her scoff, “Now all you need is background music and your setup would be perfect.”
A slow languid laugh resounded as Alaistaire turned on the swivel chair to face her. “Sarcastic as ever eh, Nicolette?” He said her name in almost a purr.
She raised her eyebrow at him but said nothing.
A momentary silence enveloped the room before she decided to cut through it, “What do you want, Alaistaire?” she asked, spitting out his name.
A smile formed on his lips, making the atmosphere melodramatic in her opinion.
“Do you want to leave, mon cher?”
His question caught her off-guard. She opened her mouth to reply but he beat her at it.
“No, don’t answer that. I know you do.”
She gaped at him, struck speechless by his new-found bluntness.
“How about this, love? We leave tonight. Together.”
Together. The word echoed through her brain, snapping her out from her shock. “What?!”

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