Outside the college, in a home not too far away, was a girl sitting inside, alone on her bed with her shoes on. She was seventeen in age and dressed all in black. Her black hair was cut into a bob, and she wore a short-sleeve black top and a long black skirt. Though pretty she had rather plain features, with large hazel eyes and a little button nose.

The bed in her room was against the wall next to the open window, and on the floor were several large boxes left open and half unpacked. They were filled mostly with old toys she had collected from her younger days. A faded multicolour train, a puppet and a pack of tarot cards worn from regular use was in one of the boxes. In one of the other boxes was a bookshelf dismantled, alongside old books of fairy tales and fantasy, her favourite picture of a meadow, and a bedside lamp made of seashells.

As a breeze lifted suddenly through the window, Ebony leaned on the sill, ignoring the rest of the room.

‘Such a big town, she whispered, ‘I'm not used to this kind of space.’

She saw a small group outside her house crossing the road. They were talking and laughing with one another. Ebony felt a twinge of jealously, and sadness.

She sighed and leant back, falling against the bed and staring up at the ceiling unmoving for some time. Then when she became uncomfortable, she rolled on her side, staring at the open box that contained her soft toys. Something stood out to her then, one of her favourite toys. It resembled a cat-like creature, with little wings and a long tail. It was something she won in a fare some time in her past, with someone she used to know. The toy carried many happy memories with it, that’s why it was one of her favourites.

Ebony rose from the bed and took it. Holding it in her hands she stared at it intently.

‘I wonder what's it’s like to have some company again’ she said.

Then just like that, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, the toy came to life.

First its ears twitched, then its whiskers. And then it sprang into animation, leaping out of her hands and into the air.

‘Where am I?’ the toy said at it landed on the bed.

‘This is my bedroom’ Ebony replied with a smile.

‘Who are you?’

‘I am your creator’

‘My creator?’

‘Yes.’

‘….mother?’ the toy asked, cocking its head in the most curious way.

Ebony smiled again. ‘Yes, I suppose I could be called your mother.’

The toy turned its head and flew to the window, levitating in the air.

‘It’s nice outside’ it said.

‘Anything is nicer than in here.’ Ebony huffed, turning away.

‘You don’t like it in here?’ the toy asked returning to her side.

Ebony sighed forlorn and hugged her pillow.

‘I'm supposed to like it in here, any normal person would.’

‘You mean you're different?’

‘I'm not an ordinary person’ Ebony continued.

‘Are you a guardian?’ the toy asked her curiously.

Ebony gave the toy a glance.

Of course it knows what a guardian is; it’s absorbed some of my thoughts and intelligence.

‘No’ Ebony explained, ‘I'm something else.’ She leaned towards the window again, watching the clouds go by. ‘I don’t want to be alone. Would you stay with me and keep me company?’

The toy stared at her back, expression never changing.

‘I will.’

*

Downstairs were Ebony’s parents by adoption. Ebony had never been told about her real parents, and in the end she had stopped asking.

They were both still unpacking boxes, squabbling amongst themselves about what should go where and which box out of the many stacked up they should unpack next.

Ebony stood halfway down the stairs watching them. After several minutes of not being noticed she spoke.

‘When’s dinner ready?’

‘Don’t know’ her adopted mother replied without looking up. ‘Why don’t you go outside and play, get used to this place. I'm sure it’s lovely.’ She ignored her further as she carried a stack of books across the room and placed them where she wanted.

‘But I'm frightened’ Ebony told her. ‘I'm scared people want to hurt me.’

‘Don’t be stupid’ her adopted father retorted, laughing at the absurdity of it. ‘Why would you say a thing like that?’

‘Because!’ Ebony shouted in frustration.

Neither of them rose to it, which infuriated her even more. No matter what she said to them or how much she screamed, neither seemed to even notice.

‘I'm going back to my room’ she said, not caring for a reply.

‘Could you take that box with you when you go?’ her adopted mother asked.

But Ebony had already slammed her bedroom door shut.

‘They couldn’t see me?’ the toy asked her, having followed her down and back to her room.

‘No.’ Ebony went over to the bed again and collapsed onto it. ‘Only those with magic can see you.’ She sat up and held her knees, shoes again on the bed, though she didn’t care.

‘Does that mean they can’t see you either?’ the toy asked coming to rest on her shoulder.

‘It means they barely notice me.’

Ebony gazed out of the window again, like she had done so often already in the short time she had been here in this new home.

‘I'm tired of running’ she pleaded to the air. ‘I just wish someone would save me from this cycle. I wish it so badly…’