character :: Emil Costello
Emily, although only thirteen years old, has gone through a lot in her young life, not that one would ever hear her complain about it. She was born and raised in the quaint Countryside, a beautiful area full of farms, ranches and small villages spread over rolling hills and densely packed tree lines in the Requisite. Her brother and father were wheat farmers and general laborers, picking up odd jobs for people nearby while her mother sewed and sold quilts at a small stand just steps away from their home. The life was simple and, at times, a struggle but it was a blessed life that Emily was thankful to have.
Growing up as a tomboy, Emily had a difficult time making friends and was forced to expand her search for companions out of Countryside, delving deeper into the Forest region. Here, she runs across a small retirement home for the elderly and a woman, whom Emily loving call 'Granny', that tends to the wild animals that come to her seeking food or medical help. One such creature is a small finch that was near death's door, she would claim, and for being such a strong fighter, she had said that the bird was given a special 'gift'.
what gave me the ability
to make it through
One such night, while she slept, Emily felt something over her face and then, darkness took over. When she awoke, she could see smoke coming from where her family home was and she was with a strange man who was demanding information about the 'gift' that her bird had but Emily could tell him nothing. He claimed her family was dead and he was her new 'protector', a lot for a little girl to process but she thought it must be true and wanted to follow him. Despite another blackout, Emily was able to pick herself and follow the 'protector' back to his home and into the loving arms of a beautiful woman she would call 'Mama'.
Her new family only knows her as 'Emil', a young boy who was orphaned from the Countryside region and Emily is happy to let them believe the lie...at least for now. Perhaps if she can learn to trust them, she will tell them more - more about her and more about her finch, Lille.
