Running with Wolves: The Aurora Chronicles by Dylan Keefer

Author:Dylan Keefer [Keefer, Dylan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Purple Press LLC
Published: 2016-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

The Awakening

"No, no, you must be wrong," cried Láilá. She was shocked and upset. "I was born in Lapland, in Finland. My parents are Aksel and Arinví Vanhanen. I am Láilá Vanhanen. I live in Nuorgam on the Karasjohka, in Tenontörmä street number 15. I go to 6th grade in Nuorgamin ala-aste elementary school. You are wrong. You are completely crazy. This is just not true."

Malika's voice was soft. "I understand why this should be difficult for you. Please understand that I am not by any means intending to degrade the role Aksel and Arinví played in your upbringing. They are very kind people who love you very much, and they raised you well. But they are not your biological parents."

"You're wrong. This can't be. You must be wrong."

"Have you ever felt different, Láilá?" The queen asked suddenly. She smiled at Láilá, a warm and loving smile. "Have you ever felt as if Nuorgam was not the place where you really belonged?"

"Everyone feels like that from time to time," Láilá mumbled, sounding a little bit less convinced. "It doesn't mean that everyone is adopted."

"No, not everyone is adopted. But some people are, Láilá. You are."

"It's not possible. It's not possible. It's not true." Tears pooled at the corners of Láilá's eyes and she struggled to control them and keep them from bursting out. "It can't be true. I would have known before. I couldn't have been adopted all these years without knowing."

The queen placed her hand on Láilá's shoulder. The hand was very soft and light, like a feather. "But what if you did know, Láilá? Think. When have you felt more at home? In Finland, surrounded by people who did not resemble you and did not share your thoughts and emotions, or here in Arktika?"

Laila shook her head sideways. "My parents would have told me. They love me. If I were adopted, I would have known."

"Aksel and Arinví love you very much," said the queen. "They probably did not tell you because they worried it would hurt you. Perhaps this was not the wisest decision they could have made."

"No." The tears started crawling on Láilá's cheeks and she choked when she tried to speak. She hated herself blindly for crying, for acting childishly in just this moment, of all moments. "This can't be true. You are lying, or wrong, or crazy. I don't know what you are and I don't care either, but this is not true."

The queen raised her hand from Láilá's shoulder and offered it to her. "Come with me," she said. Láilá took the hand. The queen led her to a large mirror which leaned against the wall of the room. The two stood in front of the mirror, side by side.

"Take a close look, Láilá," said the queen.

She did. At first Láilá looked at her own reflection. She felt embarrassed for her eyes and nose which were swollen because of the tears. Then she wandered off to the familiar features: the straight nose, the pale skin, the fair blue eyes.

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