1. Sophie Walworth
A girl came out of the classroom in a hurry. It was late afternoon. She had to go home immediately if she didn't want to get scolded by her uncle and aunt.
"Hey, Weird Girl!" Someone called her. Yeah, too rough. But almost everyone in the class called her that.
Sophie Walworth. A seventeen-year-old girl at one of the high schools in Arcade City. Around the Southern Ocean. She was very innocent and quiet. Her overly reserved attitude made Sophie often bullied by her friends, who thought she was weird.
On the way home, she approached the voices of her friends whispering about Sophie.
"Her mother died after giving birth to her. And the father is unknown. Maybe her mother used to be a prostitute. Only women like that give birth to babies without a husband," said one high school girl still in the classroom.
It was quite a distance from where Sophie was walking, but her mind could hear it clearly. She can also know what's on other people's minds. Strange? Yes, it's weird. Sophie has been like this since she was little. No one knows why she is like this. Sophie had never told anyone about this either.
Something hit Sophie's head, and the girl groaned. She glanced at her friends who had called her. But not really friends. They just study in the same class.
"I'm calling you, Weird Girl!" A man with a round face and eyes with hatred towards Sophie repeated the same.
Daniel, the man's name. Disgusting man. And also Sophie friends. They love to round Shopie that way.
Sophie was late for home. She did not want to ignore Daniel and his friends. She had to go home soon. She just ran away from the school environment. Daniel looked annoyed, but it didn't matter.
Stupidly, when Sophie just got off the bus, it was raining. She looked up at the sky. She wondered why it rained in the summer? It's July now. But that's not important. Sophie has to get home soon.
Sophie ran, trying to brave the rain. She didn't care if her body was wet. She'd rather be cold than listen to her uncle and aunt's anger.
In less than ten minutes, Sophie arrived in front of a simple house, but very fit for human habitation. She didn't come right in. She stood for a moment and sighed as if preparing for whatever was to come.
"Okay, just do it," Sophie said, pulling the door lever.
Once inside the house, no one was there. Nora and Smith weren't there. Sophie felt safe because she came home earlier than she should have.
Sophie immediately went up to the room on the second floor. But when she was only two steps away, she heard the voices of Nora and Smith arguing behind her. Sophie could hear clearly because of her ability. Sophie stopped because their words were so piercing.
"Just put her in an orphanage! I can't stand taking care of your weird nephew any longer!" Nora's voice was so clear. And it wasn't the first time Sophie had heard her harsh words.
"I can't. Christine asked me to look after her," said Smith.
"Are you crazy? We have to pay for her schooling. Feed her. Whereas you can't get money. Hey, did you forget that you have a wife and children? You forgot me and Nick about taking care of your stupid nephew!" Nora complained.
Sophie sighed. She knew she was a burden to them. She has been with them since they were babies. But Nora and Smith didn't really love Sophie. Smith was forced to take care of it because of a will from her mother, Christine Walworth. Weird, Shopie goes by the name Walwroth. Indeed, her father is unknown. That's what made Smith dislike Sophie. Smith didn't know who Sophie's father was. Indeed, if he had known, he would have left Sophie to her father instead of taking care of it himself.
Sophie chose to head upstairs, but her feet tripped and fell. The sound of her body hitting the floor was so clear. Until Nora and Smith came out to find out what happened.
"Oh!" Nora shouted. "You could ruin the floor! Why don't you just go with your mother? You always have to be your uncle's burden!"
Sophie was in pain, but she couldn't complain. No one will care about her in this house except for Nick, her cousin. That's because Nick has an interest in Sophie.
"I'm sorry," Sophie said as she tried to get up. She grabbed her aching leg and walked to the second floor.
"Today, there is no food!" said Nora as she turned back.
Sophie was silent as she walked. Even though she was starving. She hasn't eaten since yesterday. Nora is cruel. She only fed Sophie once a day. Especially now that Smith has just left his job.
Arriving in the room, Sophie threw herself on the bed. She did not immediately change her clothes, even though all her clothes were wet. She looked at the photo of her mother hanging in her room. Her mother is lovely. But Sophie never knew what it was like to have one. Smith said Christine died after giving birth to Sophie, and at that time, the man who became her father was not there to accompany Christine.
Christine Walwroth has been away from home for several years, citing a desire to find work. When she returned, she was pregnant. She didn't say who the baby's father was until Nora and Smith didn't even know who Sophie's father was.
"Why did you leave me with them, Mom? They hate me," Sophie said tearfully. Gradually, the girl fell asleep wet and hungry.
A few hours after sleeping, Sophie woke up hearing a noise outside. Sophie forgot to close the window so she could hear voices from outside.
The girl immediately stood up, but her head felt dizzy. She forgot to take off her clothes. Maybe she has a fever right now. Sophie moved to close the window. But when she looked outside, she saw a dog sitting in her room. Wait, is that a dog? But more like a wolf, and that body is enormous. Sophie had no idea that in this neighborhood, there was a dog that big. It may be as tall as a human.
"I think I'm dreaming," Sophie muttered.
Sophie grabbed the window handle and quickly closed it, but her nose suddenly caught a whiff of meat. She had not eaten for two days, and the smell was very delicious. The smell of meat roasted with sesame oil made Sophie's stomach ache even more.
"Uh." Sophie clutched her stomach. She looked down again to find the direction the scent was coming from. Besides the dog was a package of food. Sophie knew the package from the burger joint Nick used to bring her all too well. Nick was quite friendly to Sophie indeed.
"For me?" Sophie asked the wolf-like dog. Of course, the wolf-like dog didn't talk. The animal just went behind the bushes, leaving the food.
Sophie immediately went downstairs. She didn't want to waste the opportunity. Of course, she had to ensure no one saw her leaving the house at night. Her aching legs slowed Sophie's steps, but that was okay. It's for food.
Sophie came out and didn't see the dog. She searched the bushes but still couldn't find the big dog.
"Where's the dog? Or the wolf?" Sophie muttered.