T h e • O u t s i d e

whoa, why is there a google bot on?

Carter: "Alas, it seems as though our fight will have to be taken up at a later date then. Sir Jacob the Big, Sir William the Strong, Charles of the elfen folk, and Lord Peter, stay here and guard the princesses with your lives. If we do not return, I leave the castle to you, Sir Jacob. You are sturdiest of men, certainly capable of protecting Claudiesk, from the Vally of Hell all the way to the garden of Plias!" I put my umbrella in my back and grab Maryanne's arm. "C'mon, I think the dragon is down there too."

Maryanne
I stifle a laugh when he goes through the names....though admittedly, it sounded cool. Really cool. I would die before I told him that, though. Taking his hand off my arm, we run side by side to go see the visitor. Heck, maybe somebody was going to be adopted. That happened a few weeks back, there was cake and everything...but we haven't heard from her sense.

Carter: "Sh," I say as we hide behind the banister. I bend down and watch as a woman walks in with the Devou. She really does look like a ghost- she's pretty, all blonde hair nd flawless skin. She's pretty young too. But she clutches her arms as though she were permanently afraid of something and her skin is almost deathly white. The Devou shows her around and the girl says things like "Yes, I remember." Her voice is thin and whisper like. It's hardly there at all.

Maryanne
"It's like she's been here before" I whispered back, almost inaudibly "Who is the chick?" Then I continued watching, closely studying the ghost like girl

Carter: Seeing this girl only makes me frown more. Is she even really human? Or just a figment of our imaginations. I didn't know people like her could even exist. The woman turns suddenly as though sensing us and gives us a thin smile. The Devou looks pissed as always, but I'mlre afriad of the woman as she walks over. "Hello," she says in her tiny whisper voice. "My name is Cassandra Memphis. What are your names?"

Maryanne
I gave Carter and elbow to the ribs, messaging him he better use his real name "Nice to meet you ma'am" I said politely "I'm Maryanne"

Carter: I bite bavk the need to stick out my tongue and elbow her back as I look up at the woman. "And I'm Carter Jenks, ma'm," I say. She shakes our hands and I try not to pull away. It's like touching nothing. "It is nice to meet you as well."

Maryanne
Her touch makes me flinch, but I keep a small smile fixed to my face "What brings you to the Orphanage?" I ask, hoping I sounded polite and not totally crazed for information like I felt.

Carter: The woman is about to answer when the Devou's shadow comes over us. "Children," she says. "What gave you the audacity to ask my guest such meaningless questions? Return to your rooms immediately. I will deal with you all momentarily." I frown and stand up as the woman lowers her eyes to the ground. She obviously wasn't adopting. She told us her name, and I yet I still don't know just who she is.

Maryanne
Dang it, so close! But...she didn't even tell us to do our chores, just go to our room. That only happened when a very Important Guest arrived, usually adopting. And if she wasn't doing that...? Glancing at Carter, we quickly scaled the staircase, questions swirling in my mind like a blizzard

Carter: "Crap, I say when we get a good distance away from Devou and the guest. "If that wasn't the wierdest thing I've ever seen...and I've seen some crazy things." I look in the direction of Devou's voice as my frown deepens. "What do you think that was about?"

Maryanne
"That would mean I would know what's going on in the hag's head" I pointed out, running my hand through my thick curls with a sigh "Which means I have no idea. Not an adopter...and she looked almost scared of Devou."

Carter: "Maybe an old orphan?" I say and then wrinkle my nose. "But that's disgusting. Why would you come back here?"

Maryanne
I looked thoughtful for a second, having actually thought of that briefly myself "To burn it down?" I suggested with a grin

Carter: "Meh, I don't think she's got the balls." I lean bavk and but my hands behind my head. "She's too frail."

Maryanne
"To bad" I laughed "She could make a few friends" Leaning beside him, I sighed "So what is she doing here?"

Carter: "I don't know. Maybe she's actually feeling kinda nostalgic?" The bell rings and I jump. It was the signal for everyone to head downstairs. I stand up and help Maryanne as the crowd begins to fill up. "Guess we're about to find out though."

Maryanne
I nod, biting my lip. This was going to be major, and I didn't want to miss a second

Ambrosia - I take Andrea's hand as we go downstairs.

James - I see fear in Ambrosia's eyes and wonder why she is especially frightened.

Andrea: When we come, the room is only half filled. We're told to sit at the beginning of a new row as Mrs. Devou patiently waits. Behind her is a strange, ghost like woman and I frown. Was she a potential foster parent!

Ambrosia - I look at James nervously when I catch eyes with the strange women. I want to know who she is. Why she is there.

James - I try to comfort Ambrosia without saying anything.

Andrea: The crowd quickly settles down and Mrs. Devou steps forward. "Hello, children," she says. "I would like to introduce you all to Ms.Cassandra Memphis."

Ambrosia - I frown. Why was that name familiar to me?

Andrea: We let out a small "Hello, Ms.Memphis" as the woman steps forward, her beige clothes almost making her blend into the wall. "Hello," she says with the thinest of smiles. "It is nice to meet you all. As Mrs. Devou said, my name is Cassandra Memphis, and I was much like yourselves once. You see, I too stayed at St.Claude's. For most of my life, in fact."