The Villages Ch 1: “Neighbors”

Ragged shoes continued down the long path. Maybe it was the trees blocking out the sun, but it felt as if night had fallen. All they could see ahead of them was the pale pink of Mrs. Cream’s reefer coat as she speed walked down the path. They were apparently late. They had spent hours at the bus stop waiting for the rest of the orphans to arrive but when the sun began to set they finally left without them.

The girls weren’t sure what made them tired, the wait or the walk. The walk from the bus stop to the main school building and inside the forest. It was all the size of a city college campus!

“Winter will be arriving soon, make sure you girls be careful especially up these hills.” Mrs. Cream casually added. “Wouldn’t want any accidents again.”

Her hum was cheerful, but it left some of the girls knitting their brows.

Again?

Hidden within the forest of Mary Magdalene’s Home for Young Misfits, a massive building just a fraction of the size of the school stood tall.

“Here we are.” Mrs. Cream led them towards the gate where a lone woman in eggplant purple stood waiting. Her lips stretched at the sight of them. “There you are, I was beginning to worry.”

“Apologies, their bus was late so we’re a bit behind schedule.” Mrs. Cream gestured towards the stranger. “Say hello to Ms. Applace, girls. She’ll be showing you to your dorm rooms.”

The girls simply stared. 

Mrs. Cream huffed. “Well then, I’ll be back… with the rest.”

“Be careful out there.”

“I’ll try.”

She watched her go before facing the girls.

“Welcome to Druscilla’s Village of Little Lost Girls.” The woman smiled in amusement.

Their expressions were always the same, lost and confused. Truly fitting to the dorm’s title.

The campus of Mary Magdalene’s Home for Misfits was so massive, it always took them by surprise. But there was only one girl who stood unimpressed, she scoped the building, her face hidden behind her designer sunglasses, her nose wrinkled.

“You must be Amy Claire.” Ms. Applace spoke.

That child met her gaze finally. 

“…” But she said nothing.

Amy Claire Ee. Unlike the rest of the orphans who had been entered in the system since incredibly young, she was a bit of an exception.

Ms. Applace advanced towards the black double doors. “Please follow me, your new neighbors are very eager to meet you.”

A bespectacled girl with a giant puff billowing out from her head, echoed the word. “Neighbors?”

“In Druscilla’s Village the dorms are separated into blocks, something we refer to as villages, neighbors just a term we used to refer to your fellow roommates. You’ll find that this place is very different from what you’re used to, but don’t worry, your new neighbors will guide you. Periwinkle, yours is the closest so I’ll be dropping you off first.”

A tomboy with pastel blue hair flinched at suddenly being mentioned. She slowly nodded.

“…o-okay.”

Her block was indeed the closest, upon entering Ms. Applace took a sharp right, continuing straight into a hall. The village was the second door there.

“This is Lily Village. Last year many graduated leaving an opening.” Ms. Applace explained before knocking on the door. “Giiiiirls~ Your new neighbor has arrived!”

The door creaked open revealing a stairwell but no one came out.

“…”

Periwinkle looked to Ms.Applace who made no comment and smiled.

“Enjoy your stay at Lily Village, Periwinkle.”

–

Next they went upstairs.

“Cleo-Mona you belong to the Village of Silver Lining. Look, you can see your block through here.” She gestured to the window where a couple of girls were out, one reading, another watering plants. “It’s the smallest block of the upper floors, but you can consider yourself lucky, the Sylvias- ah, that’s what everyone calls them here, will be getting relocated soon to a bigger dorm, the construction is almost complete so I wouldn’t unpack my things just yet.”

Cleo Mona, a bespectacled brunette followed Ms. Applace’s gaze.

The area was completely open, an indoor terrace? True to the label “villages” the block truly was designed to look like a tiny community. But most importantly there were people this time, for a second the girls nearly thought the building to be occupied by ghosts.

She asked. “Is there some kind of criteria into which girl rooms where?”

“Yes, girls with similar hobbies and interests are placed within the same blocks, it creates less drama that way. Of course, if the villages have less openings, we have to compromise. If you don’t like your block you can request for a change usually, but I’m afraid this year, the rest of you will have to bear with it.”

Ms. Applace moved on down the hall and continued. “The school was renovated a couple of years back thanks to the academic achievements of the villagers and contributions from former alumni, you’ll find the upper floor is… different compared to the bottom floors. Ah, these are the sauna and shower rooms.” 

“!” 

“A sauna?!”

It was something they always saw on the tv and internet but never in person. 

The girls craned their necks to get a good look as they stormed the doors but they were misty.

“I’m afraid it’s occupied at the moment. Come along now, it’d be rude to interrupt. Everyone shares the same bathroom facilities with the other villages, Cleo-Mona, your village has its own bathroom, so you’ve been saved from memorizing the shower schedule.”

“Does it have its own sauna too?”

“It doesn’t.”

“Oh…”

They entered a lounge area where a gaggle of girls mingled with one another. The sound and sight of fervent conversation and activity, made the taught nerves of the girls loosen.

A couple of eyes stuck to them as they entered.

“Hello Ms. Applace!”

“Hello!”

Two quickly intercepted her with glittering eyes.

“Hello girls.”

“Are these the new girls?”

“Yes, but none of them are here to join you. Your new neighbor hasn’t arrived yet.”

Their smiles faded.

“What- still? But it’s been weeks now!”

“I know.” Ms. Applace sighed, her smile waning.

They refused to let her pass without an explanation. “She was registered first so why isn’t she here yet?”

“That’s a question I can’t answer. She’s from a foreign country, and the laws binding her are quite strict…to top it off it seemed like she was in the process of getting returned to her biological home…”

“So she’s not coming?”

“That’s up to her. Even if she doesn’t you’ll get a new friend soon, there are many applicants this year.”

The girls looked relieved and backed off.

A bespectacled girl with a puff sprouting from her head took note and asked. “They really look forward to someone new coming that much?”

“There are a lot of older girls in their village who will be graduating next year. The girls simply don’t want to be by themselves.”

“But how will they be alone if it’s the two of them?”

“There’s comfort in community, two people alone can’t make up for a mass absence.” 

“…” She let Ms. Applace’s words soak turning them over in her mind.

“Here we are.”

Before Ms. Applace could even knock on the door, it opened. A petite blonde with caramel skin and green eyes scanned the group.

“Hullo! Hi! Hi! Hi! You’re Cleo Mona right?”

Her sudden appearance and high energy took the blank faced Cleo Mona by surprise.

“Ah! Uhm, y-yes, but how did you-“

“Suuuuper! Come on in!”

The poor child was dragged in at once.

Ms. Applace smiled and turned to the remaining two. Amy Claire and puff girl.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Question signs hung over their heads.

“Amy Claire, you’re dorm is downstairs but it’s to the far west.”

“O-oh.”

Amy Claire’s shoulders sagged, she cast one more look at the bustling activity around her. The upper floors were lively and warm, and even though she had glimpsed the bottom floors for only a minute they felt incredibly… quiet.