"Sophia! Sophia, wake up!"

I groaned at the voice.

"Go away, 'Lizabeth." I told my little roommate. The six year old shook me again. "Sophia! We gotta go to school!" My eyes flew open. Elizabeth was sitting on her knees on the edge of my bed, wearing a uniform exactly like the one Miss Victoria had given me the day before. Her hair was in a little braid, and her blue eyes sparkled. She moved off of my bed as I sat up.

"Ugh..." I muttered. I looked at the digital clock on the table next to my bed. 5:30. "Why are you waking me up so early?" I asked, stifling a yawn.

She srugged. "I dunno."

I groaned again and fell back down on my bed. I turned toward the wall.

I hadn't actually fallen asleep until three AM. The mer's strangely ominous words of departure had echoed in my mind long after I had gotten into bed. Usually, the promise to repay someone by saving their life someday would be an exciting prospect. But this mer's words seemed more like an eerie warning than a debt of gratitude.

After a few minutes I sat up and climbed out of bed, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep any longer. I walked downstairs to grab the uniform from the closet under the stairs, then went to the restroom and slipped it on after showering. I looked way too fancy and preppy than I've ever looked before. I sighed but grabbed a random brush that sat on the sink and brushed my still wet hair out before giving my reflection one last glance and heading to the kitchen. I grabbed an apple, my usual meal or snack if I was in a rush or simply wanted to get out of the orphanage quickly.

"Sophia, backpack." Miss Victoria held out my black backpack that was now loaded with folders, books and pencils as I passed her in the kitchen. She didn't look up from the pan that she was cooking eegs in.

"Thanks!" I called as I grabbed the bag and hopped out the door.

***

I walked back from school, dragging my feet and trying not to fall over. School never was my thing. I stopped and slipped my backpack off and set it on the ground. I reached into the bag to pull out my phone only to feel nothing but pencils and to remember that it had been taken away from me by a math teacher. Nobody told me we couldn't play games in class.

I groaned and zipped it up. I I stood up straight and began trying to put my arms through the straps again when I froze. I heard an echoing voice singing an odd lullaby. I cocked my head, listening. I couldn't make out the words. The singer was speaking in some odd language I had never heard before. Soon the song faded and I ran back to the orphanage, not stopping until I was safley in my room.