It was noon; the sun said that so, hovering over the earth. When Scarlett's door was unlocked, so was the ships door. Scarlett was led into a herd of lost mass, compiled of few nerves and bones and a molten brain that had pain receptors everywhere.

The first thing she did was raise her head, searching every worn-out face, nothing matched Zens. The gruel gave her the least energy, but the few seconds of happiness she would find on seeing Zen was worth spending every energy she was left with. She didn't find him, yet. The crowd walked down the huge steps, passing the first deck. About 12-15 teens were marching to face death. All were equally starving and stinking.

They were directed into a dark alley.  She prayed for a miracle; a miracle that would happen in movies: a person manages to tap on the shoulder and it would somehow be Zen.

It got murky every passing second. The alley got wider with every step she kept. The security men opened a small gate, so small that you will never know there was an inlet into the dark world. The underground cellar was revealed. Four of the strangers, including Scarlett, was presently inside. The doors were locked. Everything was digital; codes and thumbprint.
Silent screams rained inside, watering more terror.

Scarlett crouched down. She saw cobwebs and cobwebs.

The basement echoed the soft fall of a girl against the cement floor. Scarlett gently patted her body. She found no help in sight, but few puddles of water from yesterday's rain. The water was particularly sloppy, assuming the organic grey colour of the cement wall. Scarlett scooped the cold water. By the time she reached, of course, she had nothing left but a few drops of muddy liquid. She dabbed on the face of the flattened body. It woke her; the crusty mud on her eyes moved when she flinched gently. Scarlett helped her up.
"Do I look like her? Blood drained and consumed" Scarlett implored her inner self. The answer it gave was "Probably worse". Scarlett perched against the age-old wall,  embellished with bumpy cracks that held each other's tails and heads.

They were given, yet again, some old gruel and pungent beans. It was exactly six scoops for Scarlett -The calories a five-year-old needs.

Scarlett's attention turned towards a girl, whose eyes were adjusted at the ceiling; she appeared to Scarlett as Pablo Picasso's Melancholy women whacked to life. Everybody there looked like a life-size cutout of that painting! What drew her interest was that nose of hers; straight and long, almost like a double-edged sword. That nose reminded her of Dawn.
Every day, even before the dance could end, Dawn would rush out. She would walk towards 5th Avenue, Hailfied, although Scarlett knew her house since they were neighbours. Her spirits were always high! Ultimately, one fine day, Scarlett's curiosity reached maximum pressure. She informed Ayden ( he had come to pick her up) that she will be going home late tonight to which Ayden had replied, "If you are planning to gift me a new Xbox, let me remind you that I hate the colour green." Scarlett punched Ayden on his stomach to which like always he moaned louder than ever!

Scarlett hurried, afraid she might lose Dawn (now she cringes for being such an ugly stalker) she finally found her, walking on the pavement. It was a solid fifteen minutes walk. Dawn entered into a gothic architecture, most of it covered by huge Magnolia trees. The board read: Plethora - an orphanage. "How ironic," she thought. She never knew an orphanage thrived in her neighbourhood. It was an insignificant building and looked low funded too.

That night, Scarlett finally gave a thought about others. When I say others I mean everybody other than Ayden and her. "What does Dawn do there? Was that the reason that kept her essence floating; leaving delights of moon dust everywhere she reached." She was determined to go there, more like invade a secret.

That Friday, along with Dawn another person packed her bags a little early. Scarlett rushed out, "Hey Dawn! Can I come along with you?"

"I'm not going home. I got some work downtown."

"No problem! I will walk you down." She did not want to reveal yesterday's stalking saga of hers

"Ahh.....I'm heading to an orphanage" Dawn expected an instant withdrawal from Scarlett. But for Scarlett things got easier.

"Orphanage!? I've never been there. I will walk with you."

"I'm not sure if you will like there. I teach those kids to dance by the way"

The fifteen minutes walk, what seemed like forever yesterday was now just flashes of time. That was the level of her excitement.
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Continued in the next part***