His Siren

I felt a very cold substance on me and the effect made me jump out of bed. The cold substance was water, and I could see Ma'am Gina's angry face hovering above me.

"You unfortunate child, do you want to scream down this orphanage?"

I had no idea I was screaming out that loud, I was having a dream and in the dream I was screaming out loud, it felt like I was lost in the river with mermaids around me. I was lost in the water and for someone who had never been in a swimming pool, I swam so well. I had a tail and I was surrounded by other mermaids.

We were playing, I was having fun and all of a sudden some mermen came and captured me, despite my cries and please they took me and locked me up and I screamed for help.

Help! Help!..

"I am sorry Ma'am Gina"

"Sorry for yourself and make yourself useful."

After that she stormed out of the room. I don't know the reason why she hated me so much. She had her favorites and I was very far from being one and she was always quick to show it.

I didn't dwell on it so much because Mother Pamela(mama) had always told me to ignore and avoid her. Unlike Ma'am Gina, Mother Pamela mama as I fondly called her was kind and sweet to me. And I loved her.

I left to start my duties so I don't get on the wrong foot with ma'am Gina. My whole day had been a hectic one, I had cleaned the orphanage and still ma'am Gina was still not satisfied with it. I leaned on the wall to take a quick rest, but unfortunately for me Ma'am Gina was quick to scold me.

"I can't see what you have done, and I don't think you need to pause. Continue cleaning this minute." Ma'am Gina shouted

I quickly went back to dusting and cleaning around just so she could get off my back.

I cleaned the other rooms and ensured everything was well arranged. The orphanage had become really scanty. A lot of children here had been taken away by foster parents and we had become few left.

I had always wanted to know what a complete family felt like but unfortunately I was never taken by any of the people who came for adoption.

And the moment I got to 10 years of age my hope of ever being taken away was dashed. Now I am 22 years, it was time I started fending for myself as ma'am Gina would always say.

"Arya!! Arya!!" Bella, Lara and Joe chorused

"Yes darling"

"How are yew?" Lara asked

"I am good Lara and how are you all?"

"We are very fine" they all chorused.

"Hope you haven't forgotten that my birthday is in a few days?" Bella asked

"I haven't forgotten and I promised to get you something nice, but for now go to your room and have a nap before ma'am Gina meets you here."

And at the mention of ma'am Gina they ran off to their rooms. They were so little. Bella was going to be 6 years in a week's time while Lara and Joe are just 4 years of age. I knew just like me they wished for a complete family. I wondered who my parents were and where they were.

The orphanage was not the best place to be at but it was very much better than living in the streets without a roof over your head.

I was grateful for being opportune to have a bed to lay my head and food to eat even though it was never enough.

I had to deal with the constant nags from ma'am grace and chores which were capable of breaking a man's back, but I did them regardless because I was one of  the eldest children there and we had few people to do the chores as the orphanage had no funds and was not capable of employing any helps or workers.

I just finished cleaning the kitchen and was heading over to clean the toilets. When I met Laurie on the way.

"You work too much. You should take your rest now"

Laurie said Laurie was about the same age as me. She was brought in a few minutes after I was brought in so mother Pamela had said and we had taken a liking to each other since we started crawling.

"Ma'am Gina would not like that"

"You should worry over your health and not what that woman thinks"

"You are right, I should worry about my health and ma'am Gina. She makes me sick"

"She is so mean. I have never liked her, and I wish I could smack her each time she speaks to you anyhow"

"I hope she does not hear you say those things. She would be heartbroken since she likes you"

"I don't need her favoritism. Her behavior irks me"

"I just wish she could be a little nicer to me. I can manage that. But I want to leave here soon and start my life properly."

"Me too Arya. I can't wait to leave this place and start fending for myself, meet a handsome man, fall in love, get married and have children of my own."

"I want to explore the city of Salamanca but I also want to find my family"

"I really do not want you to get your hopes up and later crushed."

"I won't."

"What if they are not alive?"

"That I'm not sure if but I know I will find them."

"I hope so too Arya. I wish you all the best"

"I'll join you later but let me finish cleaning before ma'am Gina meets me here"

Laurie left while I continued cleaning, and then I decided to sing. Everyone thought I had a very lovely voice. I sang a lullaby for the little ones at night before they slept and they always wanted me to put them to bed. But just ma'am Gina hated it.