The Girl Next Door

ⴵ Prologue ⴵ

May 2nd, 1992

Nobody's POV

         Y/N, is a young 8 year old girl in the red room academy. She's been there ever since she can remember, ever since they picked her up off the streets. She doesn't remember how she ended up on the streets wandering alone as a little 4 year old, but all she knows is that she ended up here. She was grateful, but at the same time wasn't the biggest fan of her supposed 'home'. Yes they gave her a roof over her head, food to eat, education, but along with those very small perks came with a greater consequence. They were training the girls to be killers, assassins. She didn't know much about her greater destiny but she did know she probably wouldn't like it.

Y/N was in her quarters, it wasn't a very private quarters as she shared it with 20 or so other girls, all the beds lined up, the thin mattresses, white sheets, and metal bed frames perfectly lined up in the dimly lit room with only a few windows that were blurred from viewing the outside world.

She was sitting on her bed. Forbiddingly drawing on a piece of paper she found with a pen, when the locks on the door click. Y/N quickly shuffled to hide the paper and pen under her pillow before standing up, as did all the other girls.

"Girls." A woman said followed by 2 guards right behind her.

"Good afternoon." All the children repeated in unison.

"Pack your things student 309, or whatever you have of your belongings and come with me." She said turning around and walking out of the room waiting in the hallway.

Y/N's eyes widened. She was unsure of what was going on, so she just listened. She didn't have much, just a folded piece of her birth certificate she managed to find halfway destroyed, she also had a small music box that she assumed was something her mother gave her before she ended up here, but she was very little when it happened so Y/N doesn't remember much, it did have her mother's initials on it though. The young girl had to keep those precious items hidden from the guards and headmistresses though, otherwise they would take it away.

Y/N stuffed the music box in her pocket and hid the birth certificate in her other pocket. She made her way to where the guards waited for her to take her away. They led her down a hall as she had 2 guards in the front with Headmistress Elmira, everyone just calls her Madam E. though, and 3 guards in the back.

This was to ensure she would not try to escape or do anything out of line. She was put in a small room with 1 window, concrete walls and a concrete floor.

"Once the other girls are here you will be escorted for a special assignment tomorrow morning." Madam E. announced locking the door.

Y/N looked around the small cell, all she saw was another door. She opened the door that led to a small cramped room and in there was a toilet and sink. The room was cold, not breezy, just cold. Y/N shivered before sliding down against the chilled wall and sitting on the floor, hugging her knees close.

She glanced at the door ensuring nobody was there, then looked around checking for security cameras anywhere, none thankfully. She reached in her pocket taking hold on the small square music box that was roughly the size of the palm of her hand. She gently opened it as a soothing tune started playing on the little cylinder caused by the little pins flicking against it. She wasn't sure if it was because she listened to it so many times or because she heard a voice singing it when she was just a baby, but the tune always brought a familiar warmth to the girl.

_ _ _ _ _

Y/N jolted awake hearing footsteps. She quickly tucked the music box away and looked over at the door waiting for them to open it, and sure enough Madam E. opened the door as another girl was pushed in, she looked around Y/N's age. Then the door shut, without another word.