Mackenzie Griffin. A brilliant girl. Born January 4th, 1971. 

The girl's soft hands work skillfully with her number 2 pencil to bring equations to her paper. Her algebra was set for girls twice her age, but her amazing mind could take them on with no problem. She sat sturdily on the old steps of concrete that lined the front of the dark, black orphanage. 

Dull bluebells lined the brown ceramic flowerboxes below her and the scent of rain filled her nostrils. Could this day be the day that she finally breaks free? She doubted that, but the smell of sweet, sweet freedom danced rapidly across her nose.

Suddenly, a smell of dewy air and pollen-filled bumble bees swirled around her and the image of a tan girl lapped at her brain. She was dressed in rags but looked happy and filled with joy. Could Mackenzie ever be that happy? Surely not. As the image faded away the remainder of her lingered in the teenager's mind. Mackenzie's mind went back to work, skillfully finishing the problems on her paper before neatly tucking her papers back into her bag and zipping it up. 

Quickly, Mackenzie turned on her shiny heels and strutted back up the steps, swinging the heavy black oak door behind her and letting it close with a slam. Inside her eyes scanned the sight in front of her. 

A small receptionist's desk in front of a two-way grand marble staircase. Nobody ever used those stairs, they were just for show One scuff mark and the whole orphanage would feel the wrath of the owner, Ms. Leonora Cobert. She was a sight for sore eyes. 

To the left of the receptionist's desk,  Ms. Cobert's room was decked in dim lights, and gargoyles, and just next to that was her ensuite bathroom. To the right of her was the servant's quarters where the staff slept most nights. It was conveniently placed next to pod one, a room dedicated to newborns and babies under the age of two. 

Mackenzie had never been in the first floor rooms, she had however spent many days and nights sitting in the library or looking through the vast glass doors of the kitchen. She had grown accustomed to Mrs. Ruckleck, a mean elderly lady who tended to the flowers and the books. 

Many days, she would busy herself keeping the books neat in alphabetical order, or bury herself in a heap full of dirt to satisfy her boss's demands. 

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Mackenzie grimaced at the thought of Ms. Cobert. Her hair was usually pulled into a tight brown ponytail, so tight her hair thinned out around her forehead. Her face was caked with makeup, the one you would find at your nearest Sephora. Of course, Leonara was a beautiful girl, on the outside, but her insides were ugly and scarred. 

Mackenzie made her way past the library, waving over to a bust Mrs. Ruckleck. The old woman looked up helplessly and sighed, returning a positive hand. As Mackenzie passed over the countless books her mind wandered to her ruined copy of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg. It was her favorite book despite its crusted padges and the weird smell that is emitted. 

Finally, she reached the back stairs, and just as her book did, the back spiral stairs smelled of mold and rotten cheese. Mackenzie plucked her nose and ascended the stairs. The metal plates creaked below her as she shifted her weight from stair to stair. 

When she reached the top of the stairs, the quietness kicked in even more. The majority of the children had not yet awoken, and the orphanage had just now opened to the public eye. She and a few of the older girls had already been up and dressed, but as light seeped in through the old curtains at the end of the hallway, almost everyone was still tucked up nicely in their rickety old beds. Mackenzie crept silently past some of the other pods and entered swiftly into her own, pod number five. Her pod was located at the end of the hallway, past the rest of the pods dedicated to the girls. Oftentimes, she would look into the classroom and see some of her teachers getting their lesson plans ready for today, but this time, she was even earlier than normal. 

Lucinda, one of her pod mates, sat perfectly on the shared vanity, adjusting her headband. Another girl, Martha, someone Mackenzie had neer stirred up a conversation with had been reading under her covers, in dim light. Mackenzie was one of the oldest in her pod. Besides Lucinda and Martha, Mackenzie was the third oldest.

Mackenzie found productivity in taking the clothes basket from the corner and folding most of the clothes neatly. She put to the side some old clothes, these she would have fixed by Diana, one of the newest members sew them together because she assumed she liked doing that because that's all Diana done ever since she mad ea home here. 

The time now struck five-thirty and the PA system blared. “Will Mackenzie, Diana, and Zachary please make their way down to Ms. Cobert's office, please? I repeat, will Mackenzie Griffin, Diana Smith, and Zachary Roads please make their way to the headmistress's office. Thank you.” Blared a girl on the system. 

Mackenzie jumped. What could The headmistress want?