Three Strikes And...You're A Girl!? -Quick little note! I know I haven't been on in forever and a day, but should I continue my other story Alice's curse? I haven't gotten inspiration yet to continue it and I thought that this would be a good story as well. So please leave a comment with any suggestion, it would be very helpful!- Chapter one Everyone was looking at me. Seeing me, watching me, they all gave me their full attention. I smiled up at the crowd, giving them a winning grin, showing them pearly white teeth. Making some boys and girls in the front most rows swoon. I heard the announcer call out my name saying I was on deck. I placed my solid black helmet on, pushing myself off of the dugout's doorframe. I grabbed my bat, taking a few practice swings with it. This was the World Series, and my team was going to win it all. We haven't lost once, and my team sure wasn't going to lose today. The bright June sun was blaring its hardest down on the stadium, I wiped a thin droplet of sweat off my forehead as I watched my teammate in front of me hit a single. Cheering him on I took one last swing at the air before I heard the announcer call out "Next up is number 13 and pitcher, Cody Rose." I slung my bat over my shoulder walking up to home plate. My heart was racing so loud I thought the whole place could hear it. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump "The score is 12-11! There are two men on base, first and third, with the total of two outs! All Cody has to do is bring them home and they win it!" The announcer said, his voice laced with eagerness to see the out come. Everyone was. Swinging the bat off my dirty shoulder I got up to the plate. I aligned myself up raising the metal bat behind me, digging my back foot into the ground. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump I squinted my eyes over at the pitcher, covered in sweat, breathing heavily. I smiled, 'He's tired, worn out I can do this!' I thought, gripping the bat tighter in my glove red hands, causing them to make a squish like noise. My veins pounded hard with adrenaline in them. The pitcher drew back his arm; and threw the ball. The white and red ball came at me with a blinding speed.'To high.' "Strike one!" The umpire called out from behind me. "What!?" I backed off the plate. The pounded had reached my ears, drumming wildly. I took in a deep breath, rolling my shoulders out before stepping back up to the plate. Getting into position I gritted my teeth together, waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher drew back again, the ball with lighting speed flew out of his hand...I swung at it. "Strike two!" The umpire called out. The crowd, faster than you could say out, grew quiet. The whole arena, full of thousands of people, sports fans; quiet. I drew in a deep breath, my hands started to shake. The realization that everything was riding in me, to win, not just for me but my team as well was resting on my shoulders. I felt sick, I'm going to throw up. The catcher threw the ball back as I stood there. 'I never miss.' My dazed thoughts entered my mind. 'Never.' Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump My body suddenly felt achy, tired like something had sucked all the energy from me. Thin, and shaky arms held my bat. Despite the glaring sun I felt a frost-bitten cold chill run down my back. "This next pitch is all or nothing folks." The announcer said. I felt blinded. Blinded by the pressure, the nervousness and stress. 'I've never been like this!' I gripped the bat and watched the pitcher get ready to throw the ball. 'It can't end like this! My team and I have come so far!' The pitcher drew back his arm. 'I've came so far! Worked to hard! Worked like a dog and to get to this point and lose!' The pitcher shot his arm forward; a prefect pitch. Digging my foot into the ground I closed my eyes, and swung with all my might. I felt the 'whoosh' of wind the ball had encased itself around fly by me as I brought my bat forward. "Ladies and Gentle men I can't believe they've-" "Cody get your head out of you're ass now!" A rough voice sounded off in the soulless house. Eyes snapping open I shot up in my bed, feeling a thing film of sweat arcoss my hairline I moved my arm to wipe it off when a pinching pain rippled through it. I clutched it with my other arm, rubbing it tenderly as I fully woke from the drowsiness of sleep. Once the pain had lessen I rubbed my eyes and stretched my back and neck out. I threw my legs off the side of the bed, wincing slightly as my feet touched the cool floor. Not to mention that 'practice'was practically a beating. Throwing the covers off myself I headed towards my bathroom, connected to my bedroom. Throwing the covers off myself I headed towards my bathroom, connected to my bedroom. Locking the door tight I walked over to the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. My green eyes looked dull and zombified with the dark circles under my eyes. My raven colored hair didn't look any better, a bad case of bed head, I sighed and ran a hand down my face. I looked and felt like shit. "Cody up better be up!" The harsh tone of my father entered the room, even making it through the bathroom door. "I am!" I called back. I sighed again, moving to remove my navy blue tank top. 'It's six a.m.! It's to early to be yelling and pissy.' I thought and removed the last of my clothing and walked over to my shower. Turning it on, I waited for the water to heat up a bit. I crossed my arm acrossed my chest as I caught a glimps of myself in the bathroom mirror. I made a grain in the back of my throat. I knew I was in shape, I had a pretty good body. I wasn't sickly skinny, or pudgy like that. But it was the thought, the mere thought of the grueling hours upon hours making my body the way it was that made me sick. I don't complain, though well at least not out loud. I stared at the bruises and scars, fresh and old littering my sides and torso. My arms tighten around my chest before I could really process what I was doing. I shook the thought from my head and deemed the water warm enough. I relaxed a bit in my shower, the hot droplets undoing some of the knots that were along my shoulder and back. The misty steam drifted lazily around the small room, as I turned off the shower. Stepping out I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself. I walked over to the mirror, pulling it open to take out a small container of cover-up make up. I dabbed a bit under both of my eyes, rubbing it in before pulling out my tooth brush. "Cody what the hell is taking you so long!?" I heard my father, Ross Rose, yell at me. "I just got out of the shower!" I called back, spitting out the tooth paste that as in my mouth. "Why does he have to make everything so diffitcult." I mumbled to myself. I dried my black hair out and walked out of the bathroom. I nearly jumped out if my skin when I saw my father standing there. "Jeez, dad you scared me!" I said, gripping the towel tighter around my body. He scoffed at me, "Weaklngs are scared. Not hurry up, we need to leave before seven thirty today." He grumbled, pushing his dark brown hair, now starting to grey a bit on the sides. "But it's Sunday, why can't we go in a bit later?" I suggested. I didn't understand why he wanted to go out so early to work out. I mean its Sunday! A day of rest! "Shut it." He snapped at me. "Seven thirty." He said plainly and stepped out of my room, slamming the door shut with such a force that it shook a few things on my desk table. I pushed my lips together until they formed a thing line. Looking at my digital clock the toxic green numbers read 6:23 a.m. I huffed out a sigh and walked over to go change. Picking out a pair of black sweat pants and some running sneakers I threw them on. I scrambled through my draws for a moment finding a black sports bra and clipped it on. I didn't have a big chest, but still a...well noticeable chest for most girls who were 16 years old. I pulled a red t-shirt over my head and pulled my hair into low ponytail and then threw a hat on. 'Because dad hates to know that he has a daughter and not a son.' I thought bitterly as I walked out of my room. if I was born a boy maybe this would be a bit more bareable. But no, my mother when she was still around wanted me to grow up into a beautiful woman. My father hadn't minded back then, only because he was hoping soon that he would get a son. My father had been an important coach for many mayor league sports. So he had a lot of money coming in, and everything was fine. But my mother and father started to fight more and more. She ended up leaving, saying that she didnt want their child to see them fighting any more. She left a letter for me, saying that they just needed some time apart and that things would soon work themselves out. It's been twelve years since that day. In letter my mother left my father she wrote that she wanted him to raise me like the girl I should be. I hadn't realized until a few years ago, when I actually knew what the hell was going how much he hated her for leaving him. He was he'll bent on making sure I wasn't a girl or woman in any way, shape or form. So he did what he does best, train me. He had me well oiled, like a machine, taught me everything about every major sport known to man. And whenever I made a mistake he would make it loud and clear to me what I did wrong. And he, almost loved it, to make sure I got it clear and didnt do it. Again. My father sitting down on the couch, the TV turned on to the news. I walked up behind him and looked at the screen. The newsanchor woman was talking about that there was suppose to be serious down pours today, and flood warnings were in the area. Ross let out a angry grumble of swears and curses. "What now?" I asked. "I don't fucking care. Just get out of the house and do something productive." He growled at me. He hated it when it rained. That meant any near by sport fields were to wet to play on. I watched him get up and walk to the kitchen. He opened the frige up and saw an all to familiar bottle in his hand. Personally I had no problem with the ran, it made for go running weather. Rushing back up the stairs and into my room I got a wind breaker jacket, black with a white stripe on the left side of the chest. I threw the hood up, tucking my black hair inside and ran back down the stairs, no even saying good bye, and rushed out the door. Quickly I shut the door behind me I jumped down the three steps leading down the small walk way to the city sidewalk. It wasn't raining to hard, but no one was out at the moment, only a few cars pasting by. The air was a bit chilly, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I stretched my legs out a bit before I started out on my route. I had jogged to the local city park where I saw two older looking men standing in the soccer field. Both were wearing black over coats that reached their knees and one was smoking a cigar. The other one, and shorter than the one smoking was writing something down in a small notebook. That was when I saw two other people on the actual soccer field. It was a game of one on one. I slowed down just a bit to watched for a few moments. Both were men, well more like a man and boy. The kid looked like he was a freshman in high school, while the other man looked like to be in his mid-twenties. I stopped completely and watched, exactly what were they doing? I looked at the two men standing off to the side. They were talking, and looked like they were pointing to the younger boy. 'Maybe they're scouts? But why would they want to play in this kind of weather? Either one could slip, fall and break something.' The moment the thought crossed my mind, the younger boy fell onto one knee and the older man stole the ball from him and scored a goal. Even from where I was standing I could see the boy was extremely upset. "Please again! I can do this!" I heard him yell. The rain had soaked him to the bone it looked like and he started to shake. These men aren't doing anything about it! Sure it wasn't to cold out, but that's if up were bundled up! The poor kid was in nothing but shorts and a shirt. I saw the men on the sideline handle close to one another speaking in hushed voices. "Asses." I hissed and walked onto the field. I noticed I had caught the attention from the older soccer player. He watched me closely as I walked over to the younger boy on his knees. "Hey kid." I called. "You wanna play soccer?" I said stopping a few feet before him. He looked up and nodded his head. His blonde hair, clinging to his forehead and cheeks. "I'm going to best there is!" He said, passionate filling each word. I smiled at the determined looked that entered his eyes. I heard the older player laugh. Ignoring him I pulled my jacket off an tossed it at the kid. "I don't need-" "You want to freeze and get frost bite on your legs? If that happens you won't be able to walk, let alone play soccer." I knew it wasn't to cold it get frost bite, but the kid would be pretty sick, if he wasn't already if stayed like this. I noticed him sigh as he stood up, putting the jacket on. I disnt have my jacket off for a minute and I could already feel my shirt cling to my body wetly. "Thank you." He said, the sound of the pounding rain almost over powered the sound of his voice. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the older player run over to the two men still huddled together, stealing a few glances our way. "Who are they?" I aske the kid, my eyes still focused on them. "They're from this really popular and rich sport school. One of them saw me win my soccer game the other day and told me he could get me into the school." The blonde haired kid sighed and looked down. "Guess not now though, my performance really sucked." I rolled my eyes. "We'll now, yeah they won't want you." I told him. Turning to him I crossed my arm. "Keeping thinking like that and no team would want you. They don't pick you? Who cares! Make them wish they had." I told him. I saw him smile and he held out his hand. "Thanks man, I really needed that." Taking his hand in mine he gave me one of those 'bro hugs' guys do. Letting go I heard wet squishy foot steps walk over to the both of us. "Excuse me sir? But we are in the middle of something at the moment. If you don't mind, please step off the field." The taller one with the cigar said. "Working some kid to death out in cold? So what? You can tell him he's not good enough for your fancy sport school?" I said, my green eyes narrowing up at him. "Listen." He snapped at me. "Can you play?" He asked in a mocking tone. The older player behind them, chuckled and then stepped forward. "Let's see how he plays, yes?" He said in a thick Italian accent, spinning the ball on his fingers and looking me up and down, judging me. "Oh, I can play." I said storming over to him. "The real question is, can you keep up?" I smirk and snatched the ball away from him. "How about this." I looked over to the two men in coats. "I win, you give kid over here another chance." I said. "Um, it's Ethan." He said. "Ethan gets another chance at this school thing of yours and not in crappy wether conditions." I placed the ball on the ground. "And if I lose, then go on with the decision you were going to make." I placed my foot ontop of the ball. "Deal?" I looked back and forth between the two men. Before either men could discuss it over the older player stepped forward kicking the soccer ball out from under my feet yelling out 'Deal'. "This is going to be fun."

Once Upon A Time... Once upon a time their was a little princess with long light brown hair and hazel eyes, she was happy all the time. Dancing with the wind in the farming fields, humming lullabies down the halls and reading books in the study room. But one day when the little princess was playing with her tiny new brother she heard a loud noise come from down the hall. Putting her little brother in his crib, she went to see what had happen. By the time the little princess got to the door that the sound was coming from the hall became voices, two, one male the other female. Slowly the little princess opened the big wooden door to peek through. She watch as the the king and queen started to yell at each, saying horrid words, that the little princess was told never to repeat. She stood their out of pure fear and watched 'til she couldn't any more and raced down the corridors. As she sprinted down the hallways passing maids and serving men, each had the same expression and confusion smeared on their faces. They had never seen the little princess cry before. Soon the little princess would wake in the chilly dead of night to hear more screaming from the king and queen and even the sound of things breaking. Then one day while the little princess was playing with her little brother a maid came into the room. She knelt down to the little prince and put him in his crib for a nap. Then she turned to the little princess, grasped her hand and took her to her room. Once in her room the maid sat next to the little princess on her bed. Suddenly the sound of big boots sounded near the door and more yelling. The maid took her pale hands and covered the little princess's ears, trying but to no avail, to block the noise. "I've had enough of your lies, women! No more will I hear of them, no more! I am taking my leave and never coming back to this castle again!" The little princess gasped at how angry the king sounded, she had never heard him so mad. Then came the sound of lighter footsteps near the door. "Then go now you old cow! No body here wants you, it'd be a blessing to the whole castle!" The queen screeched. Then the sound of footsteps were heard both going different ways. In a week's time the little princess and her brother were called to the queen's chamber's. The little princess carried her little prince brother in her arms carefully. The queen put on both of their over coats on. "Mama!? Where are we going?" The little princess squeaked. The queen made a quick face of disgust as if she had just smelled rotten fruit. "You'll be heading to your father's for a few days." She stated, placing a small hat on the young prince, making him giggle. "But doesn't father live here? He lives here with us?" the little princess asked. The queen gave her daughter a stern look. "He does not any more. And do not speak of him in front of me. He is a cheating, lying, no good dead dog!" The little princess was shocked to hear her queen say that about her own king. For three days and two nights the little princess would stay with the king at a castle on the other side of the kingdom. And the ride their wasn't happy for the little princess, her brother didn't seem to mind since mother had just gotten him a new toy to play with. The ride was long and bumpy in the horse carriage and usually one of the queen's or king's right hand man would drive the cart and talk behind the back of their the king or queen. This went on for fourteen years of the little princess's #life. But now being a young women she saw what the damage that was being done to her kingdom with the king and queen not getting along. The princess didn't like how her people felt so very sad. So the princess did everything she could do with the power she had to help the people who needed help. The princess would help little kids learn to read under the willow trees in the farming fields. The princess would also go to the rescue if an older person was having trouble carrying luggage. The people of her kingdom were very happy, and kind to her. The princess in returned smiled for her people to know that she loved them like her own family. But thing took a turn for the worst with the fighting between the king and queen. The princess was caught in the cross hairs of their disagreements. The princess became very upset and slowly started to drift away no physically, but mentally. The princess still put on a smile when ever she is around her people, to let them know that things were fine. The princess grew weaker everyday, with having to put on an act of being happy when all the princess wanted to do was curl up in bed and cry 'til she shouldn't anymore. But she didn't want her people to see her in such a state. She knew her people needed a strong princess and she wasn't going to let them down. Even though it was killing her inside. One night as the princess was in her chamber room at her mother's castle she heard her window open. Rubbing her tears stained face with a pale hand she turned and looked over at the window. But no one was there. Sitting up she hugged her blankets to her chest, and looked around the cold room. "Hello?" He whispered. There was a sudden movement in the shadows of her room and she let out a scream, pulling the worn blankets over her head. "Do not fear me." A voice said. Reluctantly the princess pulled the covers to reveal her big watery hazel eyes. She saw a shadow sitting at the edge of her bed, it moved closer to her seeing the being in the full#moonlight. It was darker than black, with pointed ears and short stubbly horns and had skin like a human. It had huge claws and a pointed tail, and walked like a wounded animal. It had bright, vivid green eyes. The creature sat next to her feet, it was the size of a dog, and pointed its tipped tail at her. "You wish to make people happy, yes?" It asked. The princess could see its sharp teeth poking out of its mouth. She blinked, slowly nodding her head. The creature laughed, "Well then, I can help!" It said smiling. The princess drew he legs up to her chest, hugging them. "Why would you do that?" He asked softly. "Because I love to help, why else!" It cackled. The creature held out his clawed hand, swirling it around. The princess watched as a small statue appeared from the swirling shadows of the creature's hand. He handed it over to her and she took it. "To make everyone happy, all you have to do is make a tiny cut on the statue's sword." The creature said his eyes looking at her expectedly. The princess looked down at the stashed studying it. It was of a knight, covered in armor and holding a sword up in the air, as if he had just won a battle. The princess held the item close to her. "A-Are you sure. E-everyone in my kingdom will be happy?" She wanted to make sure. The creature nodded, "Of course young princess, but there is one condition you must agree to." He said, gesturing to herself. "In term for making everyone happy in your kingdom, you will switch places with the knight. The knight statue will trade souls with you and you will be sealed in the statue instead. The knight will protect everyone and anyone in your kingdom." The creature placed a hand on her hand, "That is the price. What will you do?" It asked. The princess looked down at the statue, for a moment. "Everyone will be happy..." She mumbled to herself. She took a quick glance at the creature touching her hand, and with the other cut her thumb on the blade of the knight's sword. She winced at the slight pain when, then she suddenly felt cold. The statue started to glow red and the princess gasped. The creature let go of her hand and took the statute laughing. The princess's soul was switched with the knight's. Inside the statute the princess could see herself, now sleeping soundly on her bed. The creature placed her down on the small table next to her bed. "Now, you will watch forever at how happy your people will be!" It cheered, jumping around the room, and clapping its hand. It bid the princess farewell before disappearing. Princess realized what she had done and started to cry. She could no longer run around the stone hallways, no longer play with her little brother. She could no longer receive a hug, or a kiss from her mother or father! She cried for a long time before she saw herself move on her bed. When she rolled over she saw that her eyes were dull, and distant looking. "For your whole kingdom to be happy, you yourself can not be." The soul of the knight said. It only made her cry harder. When the early day light entered her room, she saw the knight move and pick her up. The knight brought out and around the castle. She saw the servants, and her little brother when they passed his room. The knight brought her up to the highest point of the castle. The knight placed her on the window sill. "Here. A view of the kingdom you love." It said. Then it turned and left, locking the door. If the princess could she'd scream until she lost her voice, but all she could do was cry to herself. The view was breathtaking to anyone looking at it, but now it was out of her reach. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't do a thing. Soon night came again, again, again. And there she stood, and there she stands for the rest of eternity. Watching the happy people of her kingdom go on with there lives, while she stands there looking over them from her tower, alone...forever.

Alice's Curse (Prologue) A young man and woman were racing through the dark midnight forest. The man, holding the woman's hand, was leading the woman away from a black smoking figure off in the distance behind them. "Faster!" The man yelled. "I can't! Take her!" The woman yelled back. The sound of a baby's wail echoed the wails of the recently aflame camp and everyone in it. The man pulled the woman faster with him, not wanting to let either one go. "Hang on; please." The man whispered back to the beautiful woman. They ran, and ran until the woman felt that her lungs were being pulled out from her chest. She let go of the man's hand and fell to both knees, holding the wrapped bundle close to her chest rocking it. The man stopped and looked back and went to her side. "Just a little farther, we can make it." The man placed a hand on her shoulder. The woman looked up with a tear stained face. "No, you two are going to make it." Her voice sounded frail like she herself will break into pieces before them. She looked down at the tiny infant and cried harder. She whispered to the baby over and over agin that she was sorry. The man had, had enough and picked up the woman like the day that they vowed to spend the rest or their lives together. That was when he felt his hands become wet. He looked down to see blood starting to soak through his wive's tan shirt. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, I trickle of blood spilling over the corner of her mouth. "I was not strong for you, either of you." She looked back down at the baby. The wails and cries in the distance go closer as the man looked back, the shadows have grown thicker with every drink, and taste of the crimson liquid. The man lay down his wife and took the baby from her arms into his. Dying amber eyes looked up to longing, sadden blue ones. "I will keep them busy. I won't go down with out a fight." She spoke. She started to cough up blood as she tried to look through he hazy vision. "Run." She said. The man placed a kiss over her blood covered lips and whispered, to his only, and last love that she will never be forgotten. He stood, and without turning back once took off at an inhuman speed. The only sound now was the whoosh of the wind that swirled around the running man. He paused and sniffed the air. He was very close now, almost out of the woods. He started running and saw the first few lights of the human world. He ran into the small village as quiet as possible. He looked around trying to find he house with the Red Cross on it. That was when he heard the cry of the shadows enter the village gates. The man was scared now. 'They weren't suppose to get pass them!' He ran to the center of the village and through the small cemetery gates. He ran pass the cold,old grey head stones and to the small wood and brick cottage that he knew, within the next hundred miles the beast following him would not get her. He placed the baby down on the platform landing in front of the door. He took a small pouch from his back pocket and placed it next to the baby who was now fast asleep. He heard the creature screech behind him and turned around to look. A huge mass of shadows lurked at the gates entrance. The man turned back to the baby and placed a kiss upon her head and tucked a note in the many bundles of blankets. He then tore a piece of the rags off, got up and ran away from the house back into the darkness of the woods. The beast hovered over the black iron gates. Deep red wine colored eyes peaked through the mass of shadows. the shadows then turned away to follow the running man, letting out a wail that to some ears sounded like the mournful cry of a woman. The second the last of the beast's shadows left, all the house lights flickered on and off, causing the villagers to come out. A man dress in the same color as the beast walked out of his house to see the infant on his porch. It wasn't snowing out but the night was freezing. The old man picked up the baby, that now started to cry. "Hush, little one everything's alright." He said to the child. He took one quick sweep of the graveyard and turned to head inside when his foot kicked the little pouch. He picked it up and brought the child in to keep her warm. After the baby had stopped crying the lights came back on and the baby fell asleep. The next morning the old man in the shadow dress took the baby to the villager's church. The baby, the moment the old man stepped in the doorway to enter, started to wail. He called another, even older man, in black to step outside. The baby's cries soften into tiny sniffles. The two men exchanged words and the man holding the baby slowly pulled down the blanket a bit, exposing the infant's soft pale skin. Right at the base of the baby's neck was a bright red colored sign. But what shocked the eldest of the two was the fatal looking scar that ran from the baby's left shoulder to the next. The eldest man looked up with a stern face. "Get rid of it." And walked back inside the church and started the morning mass. The old man standing there in the middle of the quiet street stood there with the baby in his arms. He looked down at her tiny eyes, and noticed something about the child that the man never minded to notice. He has seen them before. In old stories he read when he was a child in a far away place of heavenly lights and stone. He's even seen them recently even before the child appeared at his door steps. Wolf eyes. The old man covered the young child back up and hurried home quickly locking his door. He placed the baby on the spare bed he had in his back room. He paced the floor in front of the little girl while she watched with big amber eyes. The man stopped and looked at the child, who was still silently watching. The man turned around and watched the child behind his shoulder and grabbed a ruler from a nearby desk. He held it out in front of the baby's face and slowly moved it back and forth. Her small eyes narrowed tracking the ruler and reached out to snatch it out if his hands and give a tiny bite. She let out a tiny howl and continued to gnarl on the strip piece of wood. The old man sat down in the desk's chair and placed his elbows on it so he could lean back on them. That's when his arm nudged the small pouch he found with the little tot and picked it up. He opened the bag and took out the small contents in contained. There was a small letter, a golden chain necklace with an arrow pendent, a worn out picture of a young man and woman, a smooth black stone, that was warm to the touch. Suddenly the bag jumped out of the man's hand and fell to the ground. Something inside the bag moved around. The man felt the hairs in the back of his neck stand on edge. A black,silk, shadowy mist came up from the bag and went straight for the small child. The old man stood there shocked as the smoke wrapped around the child. The child gave a growl to the smoke and snapped her tiny jaw, the smoke entered the child's mouth. The child gave a tiny whine like she had tasted something bitter. The blinked a few times as the smoke cleared away. The man, jaw hung open, started as the child's eyes to a red wine color then back to it's original blazing amber. "Dear lord." The man whispered. The child then went back to chewing on the ruler until it broke. The man sat down and watched the child. He grabbed the letter and opened it up. The letter was written in Latin. As the man was half way through the letter, he covered his mouth with a hand and his eyes were pricked with tears. He looked at the child, taking in heavy sighs. "Alice." He said the child's name. He got and picked the baby up and sat back down rocking her, humming an old song that it's lyrics were lost so very long ago.