Nowhere to Belong

The rain poured mercilessly, drenching Reign to the bone as she sat curled up against the wooden door of her home. The night was cold, but she hardly noticed it. The weight pressing down on her chest was far heavier than the cold chill slipping into her skin.

She hugged her knees tightly, her soaked dress clinging uncomfortably to her small frame. Her teeth chattered, but she refused to move. Her eyes gazed into the empty night, full of hope and unnoticeable fear.

"They must be coming back," she told herself over and over again.

The large padlocks securing the door made mafe clicking sounds time to time, due to the accompanying wind, as if mocking her. She had knocked earlier, pounded even, but no one answered. There was no sign of people but she was still holding onto the little thread of hope.

"They wouldn't leave me." She would continue whispering to herself, bitting her lip to keep the tears threatening to fall in place.

Her uncle may have disliked her, but he wouldn't abandon her like this. Right? She convinced herself. Saif the words out loud, and then chanted them into her heart and mind, making them stick into herself.

Hours passed. The rain softened to a drizzle, yet the night only grew darker and darker, and there was no sign of her relatives. Reign struggled to stay awake, even though her body exhausted and cold. She wanted to wait until morning was just a few hours away.

Unfortunately, eyelids drooped, and her body swayed, then she fell into unconsciousness.

***

"Poor girl. She's been here all night."

"Why didn't she go inside?"

"Are you blind? The door is locked!"

Reign stirred at the sound of voices. Her fingers twitched against the damp ground before her lashes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was the gray sky above, clear and not raining anymore.

Then, different faces blocked her view. A few people stood around her, their eyes filled with concern and curiosity. She somehow found them familiar but distant. They were their neighbours across this street they have been living in.

"Child, why are you sleeping out here?" one of the older women asked, crouching beside her. "What happened?"

Reign blinked, her sluggish mind struggling to grasp reality. She sat up, feeling the soreness in her limbs, and glanced at the locked door behind her.

"I was waiting for my uncle," she murmured, her voice hoarse. "He should be back soon."

Silence took over as a few exchanged glances. Then, someone spoke, their tone hesitant.

"Reign… your uncle and aunt moved out yesterday. Didn't you know?"

Reign froze for a moment, then her gaze snapped up, searching for any sign that they were joking.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's impossible. They wouldn't just…" The words died in her throat. Everything was clear as the daylight. The looks on most of the people's faces told her everything. Pity, most of them pitied her.

"They left," another neighbor confirmed. "Packed up everything. The house has been empty since."

Reign wobbled to her feet, her damp dress feeling even heavier than before. Her mouth was dry, and her throat burned as she forced out the question she didn't want to ask.

"Do you… do you know where they went?"

A series of slow, regretful shakes of the head followed from the people.

"Sorry, child."

One by one, the neighbors began to leave, offering her pitiful glances before turning away. Soon, she was left alone once more, standing in front of a locked home that no longer belonged to her.

She had no one, no place to go. The realization sent a cold shiver down her spine. Her feet, still bare from stepping in the mud the night before, took a slow, hesitant step away from the door, and another. Then, without thinking, she walked further away, until she could not see her home anymore.

The streets blurred past her as she moved aimlessly, and she bumped to several people on her way, who would give her wierd galnces. Her mind empty drifting between disbelief and numbness. She was still in deep denial. She needed answers.

She didn't know where she was going, until she remembered something.

Mr. Vale. The man would surely know where her uncle was.

Swallowing down the emptiness creeping into her chest, she turned around and started running.

***

By the time she reached the man's estate, her legs were trembling from exhaustion.

She had never truly seen the place last night, her mind too muddled with fear to register her surroundings. Now, standing before the black gates, she finally took it in.

She took a step forward and knocked. A minute passed before a small panel slid open, revealing the sharp gaze of a guard.

"What do you want?" he asked, his tone cold and indifferent.

Reign swallowed hard, her hands twisting the fabric of her dress. "I… I need to see Mr. Vale."

The guard's eyes flickered over her from head to toe. His expression was unreadable, but his disinterest was clear.

"Leave."

Reign's stomach dropped. "I was here last night. Please, I need to—"

The gate shut in her face before she could finish.

Her breath came in shallow gasps as she stared at the cold metal before her. There was no way he would let her in.

The hopelessness she had felt earlier returned, pressing down on her chest leaving her breathless, but she didn't move.

Reign clenched her dress into her tiny fists. If she couldn't get in through the front, she had to find another way.

She turned her head, scanning the high walls, searching for an alternative. But before she could act, the rumble of an approaching engine made her freeze.

A black sports car slowed to a stop in front of the gate, precisely in front of her.