Looking back, it is genuinely shocking that a full year has passed since my mind awoke in the body of a young Black Dahlia. Of course, it took some time before I acclimated to the changes, particularly being an older mind in a younger body. For instance, it felt incredible awkward to bath myself since it felt morally wrong to intrude upon the privacy of a younger individual, but eventually I had to toughen up in order to maintain both hygiene and to dissuade possible suspicious of unusual behavioral changes. It also took me a while before I responded to the name Dahlia, but I eventually began to respond to it like my original name back in the "real world." Overall, I got comfortable in my new body with few difficulties and proceeded to befriend my fellow peers within the orphanage.
There were four children, me included, housed within the Trinity Orphanage of which I was the oldest at twelve years of age. The youngest was a young human boy named Charles at seven years of age, who was a kind soft-spoken boy who liked to help his friends in their daily chores. The second youngest was Kane at 9 years of age; he was a dagonian with characteristics similar to that of shrimp with two pairs of antennae and was very skittish, finding it difficult to remain still if he wasn't actively doing something. The oldest of the other children was a human girl named Vannisa, who acted something between a smug little twerp and a lighthearted jokester that tried her hardest to make the younger boys laugh at either her or my expense.
To be frank, at first, I tried to distance myself from the other children by staying in the library to learn all I could about the history of the Skullgirl world or preoccupy myself with chores. However, Charles constant cuteness and caring personality eventually melted the icy barriers I created and began to play with the other orphans. I suppose that even thou my mind is that of an adult, my body was that of a prepubescent and influenced my actions. We four formed a strange sort of kinship with Vannisa and I being the protective big sisters. I would be lying if I said that after seven months that I didn't begin considering them my siblings and love them as such. I grew especially attached to Vannisa since we could relate to one another as we were both similar in age and the same gender. As such, we found it much easier to confide our feelings with each other better than we could with the others in the orphanage.
The Trinity Orphanage itself was a moderately sized building ran by Markus Agustus in the countryside near the three-way border between the Canopy Kingdom, Gigan Nation, and Chess Kingdom. It was outside a small town named Noxton, which was an agricultural town that grew produce to sell to the larger cities in the Canopy Kingdom like New Meridian. The best word I could use to describe Noxton is tranquil, mellow, and filled with some of the kindest folk you could hope to meet. I would always come across the farmers at the local market when I went to purchase groceries for dinner, always happy to give extra produce. The land around Noxton was green and fertile, with vast fields of spring green grass between the freshly plowed patches of earth. It was the definition of the rustic small-town, which is why I couldn't help feeling sad whenever I gazed upon the town; knowing that it would eventually be destroyed. For in the Skullgirls video game, the area between the three countries was known as "No Man's Land," an area so devastated by the Grand War that no life could be sustained there. I remember the stage based of No Man's Land; filled with rusting war machines, skeletal remains, a bleak orange tinted sky, and dust being carried on the wind.
During these thoughts of what this fertile land would become, the better I understood Cerebella's hatred towards the Renoir Noble family. These people, Noxton, and the land surrounding the quaint town was beautiful inside and out. Yet what did Franz Renoir care? He went to war to protect his kingdom and for what? Broken alliances, destroyed land, murdered innocents, a broken family, and a wife that became the most powerful skullgirl in history. Even thou I knew Franz would come to regret his campaigns later as shown in the webtoon. I couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit of hatred for the man. Thou I doubt I could change the future to such a dramatic extent, yet a part of me wish I could.
However, even with these grim thoughts swirling around like disturbed mist in my head; I was happy. The orphanage had a little bit of everything that we could ever possibly need. A sizeable kitchen with a dining room attached, a small sitting room that contain several shelves of books ranging from mathematics to history, a bathroom containing a walk-in shower, three bedrooms for the four orphans (Charles and Kane shared a room), a master bedroom where Markus slept, and a living room. Markus homeschooled us in the living room where he would cover subjects befitting of our grade level (where I actively struggled to stay awake in due to all the subjects being things I covered already in my previous life). Vannisa and I would also often help Markus with cleaning since he was in his golden years and suffered an injury to his spine that required a spinal fusion. When it was time to clean the bathroom, me and Vannisa would engage in competitions typically involving row-sham-bow or minor wrestling scuffles.
All in all, things were going swimmingly, and I am genuinely content for the first time in either of my lives.
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I was currently reading a history book titled "The Rise of the Renoirs" in the sitting room, relaxing on one of the two cushy blue armchairs with the home. A glass of apple juice sitting in front of me on a polished oak coffee table.
Vannisa: "Dahlia! Dahlia where are you?!"
Dahlia: "I'm in the sitting room V!"
The doors of the sitting room opened and Vannisa entered, her eyes quickly finding me in my favorite chair.
Vannisa: "There you are. Mark was looking for you. Says he needs help preparing the picnic table."
Dahlia: 'Places bookmark' "Sorry V. You know how I get when I'm reading."
I sat up stretching and saw Vannisa giving me an exasperated look.
Vannisa: "Honestly Dahlia. I don't know why your so fixated on reading such boring books."
Dahlia: 'Looks inquiringly at Vannisa' "I just find it simply fascinating V. Besides, I genuinely think it could be helpful."
Vannisa: "I know it can be helpful, but I fail to see how it'll help orphans such as us."
Dahlia: "Don't be like that V. If we don't learn from history, we'll be destined to repeat it."
Vannisa: "Yeah. Yeah. But right this moment, we need you to help set the up the picnic table."
With that, Vannisa turned on the spot and exited the sitting room. I couldn't help but chuckle at her blunt response. I picked up my glass and proceeded to go outside the orphanage to help prepare the table laying serenely under a large birch tree. I turned to look at the town in the distance and saw a black van that was parked on the street at the end of the orphanage's driveway. I guess whoever was in the vehicle noticed that I was looking at them as the engine revved to life and proceeded to drive down the road. It was then that I had a strong suspicion to whom that vehicle belonged to...
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In New Meridian:
???: Okay, thanks for the info.
I proceeded to place the phone back on the receiver. A feeling of excitement filling my chest. I stood up from my office chair and proceeded to the meeting room. The room was filled with my lackeys, chatting amongst themselves over what their next job was.
???: "Okay! Sit down and shut up!"
As soon as I uttered those words, the chatter died instantly and all of them were sitting back straight looking at me with looks of alertness. But I know why they're like that. They know better than to ignore my orders.
???: "Listen up. I've got a job that I need done. Some of my scouts have found four kids. Three would fetch goods prices as servants or whatever, while the oldest could be a fine candidate for the Pit."
I looked around to see if any of these knuckleheads were going to ask me something stupid. When none of them objected, I continued.
???: "Now. The kids are being held in an orphanage called the Trinity Orphanage outside a country town called Noxton. The only adult individual in the building is an older bloke that shouldn't pose any issues unlike last time."
I turned and looked at a group of four simpletons that couldn't even rob a gas station to save their lives and showed that incompetence in their previous job. I say them shudder and look away like the guilty fools they are.
???: "This is a very simple job and should help get our human trafficking business up off the ground. And should the oldest of the children proves themselves, can be used as a new fighter in our underground fight ring. I want this done by the end of the week no exceptions and..."
I paused as I saw one of the men raising their hand. I closed my eyes and sighed.
???: "Yes. What is it, Lance?"
Lance: "Boss. How do you want us to cover our tracks? I mean... You know..."
???: "If you would've waited a little longer. I would have told you!"
Lance visibly flinched from my shout. Good, I need these idiots to know who's in charge of these operations. I didn't put my blood, sweat, and tears to begin this gang to eventually pave my way into controlling this city's dark businesses.
???: "Burn it. Burn the orphanage to the ground and leave no traces of foul play. Kill the caretaker, he's worthless but don't let a single child escape. If you really must, kill any children making a run for it. But at the very least, get me something that makes us money! Now, a group of four should suffice. We're already stretched a bit thin due to the other gangs trying to wrestle control away from us. So, four people. No more, no less, and no exceptions."
With that I left the meeting room and reentered my office. I walked up to the window that showed me some of the New Meridian skyline.
???: "One day. I'll have this city between my fingers."