prophet

the five men led the small girl into the building, into the white, chilly atmosphere of the lobby.

She looked around the dismal room, familiarity in her eyes.

"Where is he.."
she questioned quietly.

Colton checked with the receptionist sitting behind her white desk, where she handed him a clipboard with at least ten sheets of paper attached to it.

Colton took a pen and went to sign forms regarding unknown pieces of information, bending down to see the words more clearly.
"He'll be here soon enough. Be patient."

Ashley swallowed.

Her eyes nervously flickered to those around her.
Men in stiff suits.
Women in tasteless dresses and buttoned jackets.

One woman approached her and let out a hand.
"I'll be taking that."

The little girl's eyes flashed to her backpack and her face flushed.

But she knew. She knew putting up a fight would be pointless and foolish.

And so, she let her eyes fall to the floor and allowed her pack to slide down her arm.
Into the stern grasp of the serious woman.

It's quite obvious, this was the last time Ashley would be able to hold it.

The woman brought it close and without saying another word, she turned and walked away, the men around her visually following her steps until she disappeared.

Ashley's face fell as she watched a complete stranger leave with her personal possessions, no doubt to destroy them.

Her small body sagged in sadness.

Colton finished signing and handed back the clipboard to the receptionist before returning to Ashley.

He placed his hands behind his back.
Her eyes fell to the floor, a look of dread draped over her.
"...my parents don't know where I am..do they?"

Colton didn't even flinch,
"No, they don't."

She lifted her head up, solemnly, and looked straight at him.
But she said nothing..just stood there, with tears forcefully forming in her eyes.

It was here that Colton's eyes lifted to behind her, at one taller than she.

This pulled her attention to a tall blonde man and a stout bald man, approaching from out of nowhere.

She gulped.
"Corner..."

She looked at the stout man.
"Smit...."

Their eyes gravitated to one another before reverting back to her.

"You know who we are?"
said Smit.

She nodded, slowly.

They both chuckled.

"Of course you do."
Corner laughed, confidently.

This is where he stepped closer to her.
Slowly.
Assuredly.
And he knelt down to her level, far enough for him to look into her eyes.

"What else do you know, my dear?"

She lowered her chin, breathing at a more alarming rate than before.
A hint of a whimper cracked from the back of her throat, betraying her brave facade.

She did not answer.
Her eyes glazed.

"How do you know these things?"

She was quiet.

She tried to move, but her limbs refused to function.

"..I was shown."

He moved his gaze up to Smit, who looked at him with suspicion and intrigue.

Corner started to look back at Ashley,
"We're going to need your help with something.."

His gaze deepened, which inevitably made the girl tighten in fear.
Especially upon hearing his words.

"There's a certain..traveling company..that we want you to locate for us."

Ashley's face went white.

A woman suddenly appeared behind the girl, gazing in confusion.
"Sir, I thought we had help. From her? Doesn't SHE spy for us?"

Corner looked up at the woman, as if he intended to kill her with his very gaze.
"We do. But her and her kind can not be trusted. Not fully, at least. They keep secrets."

"And you don't?.."

Corner flashed his eyes at Ashley, who immediately looked down.
His face tightened.
He stood back up.
He nodded at her.

"Besides, we have something more reliable. Our very own little crystal ball."

"I'm not a witch."
Ashley sneered, bitterly, instantly lifting her eyes at him.

He merely chuckled at her sudden irritation.

"No...you're not."

He then reached in and took her chin with his thumb and index finger.
A wicked smirk appeared on his lips.

"You're a prophetess."