Unknown

Did they finish the paperwork beforehand? Had they already decided?

Akena thought to herself as she stared at the passing scenery from the open window as the wind brushed against her face.The father drove the car with the mother on his side. Akena occupied the left window seat while the twins sat together on the right.The young boy stuck in between.

Oh! by the way we're heading to hotel right now because apparently they live in Germany. I had guessed they were German by their accents by hadn't thought that they lived in Germany. It's kind of exciting..going to a new place for the first time? like an adventure?you know what i'm saying?.... Should i ask him ? about "my"new home?

Akena clears her throat before asking with a tad bit of hesitation- "U-uh hey??" she says in a quiet tone.

"Yes?"

"Where in Germany do you live..?"

"....", The boy sat in silence for a while before Akena gave up on getting answers and turned her attention back to the scenery.

Jeez is it that hard to open his mouth? does he ever speak? 

"The black forest..", he murmured in a rough voice as if he had just recovered from a cold.

"What? a bit louder please?"

The boy sighed and increased his volume as he repeated his words -"We live on the outskirts of the black forest"

What? The black forest? Isn't that place supposed to be like a hub for ghosts and witches or something? Well since he said outskirts..i'm sure it'll be alright.. Akena sighs and continues to stare out the window. 

The indifferent woman's eyes fall on her boy staring at the young girl sitting beside him. Through the rear view mirror she senses...pity emanating from the boys expression but it had been so scant that it had gone unnoticed by Akena.

YAWN i feel so sleepy... i feel like i shouldn't sleep but...oh well.. Akena couldn't keep her eyes open anymore and drifts off to sleep as she lays her head against the outline of the window. Soon her body relaxed and her lips parted slightly , heartbeat stable as she dreamt of her past. The days when her grandmother used to cook her a meal once a day and the bliss she felt at the sight of the bare minimum of her grandmother's effort.

Why did she leave me at the orphanage? It was clear she didn't love me..as clear as day but..if she hadn't even cared about me ..why had she not done it sooner? why did she let me stay with her even if it was just a few months? I used to wait for her when she would come home tired from selling flowers.. did she know that? i used to act like i had slept expecting her to check on me if i had slept just like in the movies but she never did. She used to forget her medication but i was the one who used to place it in front of her as a gesture to remind her, did she know that..? If she had..would she had never left me at the orphanage? ...I miss her..THUD

Her eyes snap open at the sharp sound, she looks around realization slowly come to her about where she was. She felt a tear running down her cheek.

Ah...i guess i was crying in my sleep..

"Come child, do you wish to stay in the car forever?", the "Mother" spoke as she opened her door, her being the last one exiting the car except Akena of course.

Oh..we're here already? CAR DOOR OPENS woah ..so huge...we'll be staying here? my goodness the priest didn't lie when he said "the rich family" hehe.

Akena smiles to herself before shutting the door behind her. The hotel looked like a Victorian castle, vast and ancient. Though Italy was Akena's homeland she had never been to a place like this. A feeling of gratefulness tingles in her heart. She notices the elderly woman making her way into the hotel and decides to follow her steps.

The woman's eyes laid on the girl beside her, the awe in her eyes and her excited expression made a smile tug at the woman's lips. "Beautiful isn't it?" , Akena's head turned towards the woman in surprise at her voluntary interaction. 

"Yes indeed..very much at that"

"It has a story of it's own, that's why i like the place. Not for it's beauty neither for it's people or staff. The most intriguing thing about this place is it's story."

"Story? what kind of story?"

"Not a very pleasant one i'm afraid.."

"Oh..is it that bad?"

The woman's face turns serious at Akena's attempt at confirmation as she pauses in her steps and takes her time to turn towards Akena with an unreadable expression.

"Everything..beautiful or ugly has a story to them child..the ugly things seem ugly because their stories have been told and the beautiful remain beautiful in our eyes until their stories are told."

Akena furrows her eyebrows at the vague implication sensing a strange.... intent.

"We're late for dinner. Let's go"