Guardian

Orphanage

MIA'S P.O.V

"Shit" I think to myself a I sit in Father Duffy's office. I got busted because one of the nuns saw me trying to escape the orphanage's walls. I've tried it several times, and sometimes I succeed, but get busted anyway as I jump back into the orphanage.

"Mia how many times have we told you to stay out of trouble?" Father Duffy says as he leans his elbows on the desk, giving me a stare that sends shivers down my spine. I just look down on my feet.

"Mia?" He almost whispers, causing me to look up at him in guilt. They don't understand. They're supposed to help aren't they? They don't. At least not here.

"I'm sorry." I stutter as I feel my hands shaking.

Father Duffy sighs.

"You know, you remind me of a boy who was here many years ago." He looks at me. We get eye contact. I give him a confused look.

"His name was Sam Morgan. He was just like you. A real troublemaker" he pauses. I scoff. "You don't want to end up like him. He got kicked out." He finishes. Whatever? Why would I care?

I would actually love to get kicked out. Anything's better than being here in this hellhole.

"Go to bed Mia. Well take this up tomorrow. It's late." Father Duffy smiles at me. I stand up from my seat and start walking.

Father Duffy isn't that bad. He's probably the only decent person in here.

"Goodnight Father." I say before opening the door.

"Goodnight Mia." He says. I close the door and start walking down the hallway.

I head into my room, which I'm sharing with 11 other girls. Another thing I hate about this orphanage. You have zero privacy here. Even though I've been here for 3 years I've still not accepted the fact that this is how it is now. God I just wanna get out.

But there's no way. There's no one to take care of me. My dad died and my mom abused me. I'm pretty sure I don't have any other family members that are able to take care of me.

I change into my pajamas and head to bed. I play with the necklace I've had since I was a little kid. My dad gave it to me. He was a treasure hunter. He said he found it in some cave and wanted me to have it. He changed it into a necklace and gave it to me. I've never taken it off since that day. I'm also really interested in treasure hunting and history and all that, but thanks to this orphanage, I can't live out my dreams. God I miss my dad.

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

SAM'S P.O.V

"Absolutely not." I protest.

"Sam, do you want this treasure or not?" Victor looks at me. I'm looking for a treasure and I've got some very solid leads, but I need one thing before I can continue, a key. It's not really a KEY but I need it to resume my hunt. And unfortunately, that key, belongs to a girl. And even more unfortunate, she's in the orphanage Nathan and I was in.

Which means, that if I want that key, I have to be her guardian. Or else there no way I'm gonna get my hands on it. But if Father Duffy recognizes me, I'm dead.

"You have to. I mean there's no other way—" Victor says. I cut him off.

"Victor I can't take care of a kid." I say quietly.

"You sure as hell took care of Nathan when you were 18." Victor takes a puff of his cigar. Second thoughts. That is right I guess.

"But what am I gonna do with her afterwards? I just need the key, I can't keep her." I say lighting a cigarette.