Well, this time, let's set this in Skye's past, 'cause ... why not?

~"Don't you ever think about the sky?"~

"Mary?"

I growl, standing up and shuffling to the bedroom door. "What is it, temp?"

My foster mother glowers at me, her blonde hair pulled into a scalp-burning bun and her eyes glittering with an unknown emotion. "It's time for church."

I scoff. "I'm not going."

"Why?"

"If such a being as 'God' existed, I wouldn't be stuck in the foster system like I have." (author's note: I am Christian, and this does not reflect my views, only Skye's. If you're curious about anything, I have a book to answer any questions you have about Christianity. Check it out and comment to get the best answers I can give you.)

a beat, before my foster mother nods. "Okay. Take care."

I turn away, hearing her head down the stairs.

Their whispered conversation catches my attention, as it floats through the thin walls.

"I'm worried about her."

"Me too. She doesn't seem to like us much ..."

"Is it something we're doing wrong?"

"I don't know."

"Should we make her come with us?"

"Honey, it's up to her. Some things, people have to learn for themselves."

"and what do you think she needs to learn?"

"The value of family."

Oh, please. I knew how valuable a family was. Clearly. I wasn't like those ungrateful brats with perfect little lives. I knew how important families were.

Didn't I?

~"Of course I do. I can't think of anything but the sky."~

I sneak out of the window, shimmying down the trellis right outside of it and landing gently on the ground. I had what little belongings I needed in my backpack (a laptop, phone, a few programming books, and some snacks) and I was ready to leave these temps behind.

"What are you doing?"

I whirl around, to see a boy my age.

"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter." He replies. In the dark, I can barely make out his features. In fact, I can barely tell that he's here.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here, 'Mary'?" His fingers twitch into quotation marks around my name.

"Escaping."

"Why?"

"'Cause I'm trapped here." I say, pouting slightly.

"What makes you think that?"

"... I just am, okay?"

"alright." His voice is still calm. "Why don't you come with me? I know somewhere we can hang out."

~"Might I ask why?"~

His hang out was a small, nearby hill. The grass was green and softly illuminated by the moonlight.

"a hill?" I frown, unimpressed

"Yes." He looks up, staring at the moon.

I stare at him for a moment before plopping beside him. "What's so cool about this place?"

"The moon."

"But you can see that anywhere."

"Don't you ever think about the sky?" He asks, instead of answering directly.

"Of course I do." I scowl. "I can't think of anything but the sky."

"Might I ask why?"

I frown, looking up at the moon. The pale orb seems to prompt words out of me. "Because it's free. Powerful. It gives freedom. To itself and those around it. I want that freedom."

"I see." He turns. "My name is Michael. I have a message for you."

"What message?"

He presses his fingers to my forehead, leaving something wet there. I flinch back.

He says, "From this day on, you will be known as Skye."

I gape at him, wondering what was going on. I touch my fingers to the wet spot on my forehead. Sticky and clear, the wet thing didn't look like saliva. It had a tangy, iron-like scent.

Blood? Blood as clear as water?

"Soon," Michael continued. "You'll find a new family. Treat them well. If you're willing to forgive, you can keep this family forever."

"W-What do you mean?"

"You'll see." Michael says, before walking down the hill and disappearing.

After a moment, I turn in the opposite direction. Back to my foster parents.

I'll find a new family, huh?

I nibble at the rich pancakes at my plate.

"Who's ... Michael? I mean ... I heard about some Michael guy at school yesterday."

The temps frown at each other.

"There's no one called Michael around here. are you sure they weren't talking about sports?" Temp-Dad finally says. 

"Really?" I frown.

Weird. Maybe it was a dream.

Yeah, that makes sense. It's not like I'm really going to find a forever family.

Though, I guess there's always hope.

~"Because it's free."~

Next view special will take place in Ward's past and I hope to do it this Saturday! 'Cause I've already got 500 views ... Well, this one was shorter, but whatever. I hope you guys enjoy it.