The River

Chapter Two

We made the promise. We promised that we would get adopted together even if that meant refusing to get adopted. And sense then we have even if it meant getting ourselves hurt. And that's the story of how we got here, stuck in this awful orphanage at a breakfast table. I had my journal open writing one of the dreams I had once again. Axel leaned over and took it out of my hands. "Hmm, what's my loooveellyy sister writing today?" I leaned over th etable and took it back. "Stop! you're gonna get us in trouble. Im just writing another one of my dreams. He hunched over the table waiting for me to continue. "Ad Im listening!" I shook my head. "Late. Now and here isn't the time or place to read."

Then our table was called up and we got up to go and get out food. Then we sat back down and a friend of Adrian's took a seat beside me. His name was Isaac and he wasn't that bad but something inside of me couldn't stand him. "Hey Angel. Did I ever tell you your name suits you so well?" I rolled my eyes and took a bite of my food. "What do you need, Isaac?" He shook his head. "What's with women always thinking I want something when I fli- compliment them" First of all, I already mentioned I couldn't stand him. "Isaac fuck off. Talk to Adrian. You know good and well I don't like you." Axel covered his mouth holding back a laugh. "How does it feel to get rejeeecteeedd?" Everyone at the table started laughing except for Isaac. "Well Adrian, I have news!"

Everyone knew that when Isaac had news there was gonna be a long ass story behind it and no one was up to listen to that. So we quickly ate and went back to the room, exceot for Adrian who stayed behind listening to Isaac's story.

Adrian~

While everyone thought Isaac's stories were boring, I actually enjoyed them. Although I still think it's hilarious how my sister rejected him like that. "Well what's the story?" A serious look went across his face and for the first time I was worried for what was about to come out of his mouth. "Uhhh. That look is new." He looked around to make sure none of the soldiers were listening in. 

"I may have found a way for the four of you to escape!" My eyes widened but I quickly squeezed them shut before saying anything. When I opened them, he had a smile spread acorss his face. Then I thought. "What about you?" He shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I have a plan for myself too." I nodded. "Okay Im listening"

He pressed his hands on the table and looked around once more. "Okay so from what I've seen there's a river out back behind the orphanage and a canoe. There's two oars and I've managed to salvage some food when I clean up in the kitchen.  It's a bunch of left overs but so far I have salvaged enough to last about I don't know... Maybe a week. But you have to wait a little longer. I want to at least salvage enough to last ya'll a month at the most. But from then you'll have to gather your own materials. I have a rope and a few other things needed for survival. From what I've heard there's something called the safe place. People go there to get help. I'm hoping ya'll can get there and send some help back to the rest of this orphanage.  The river's over 2,00 miles long and it will take about two months to get there because you will have to stop every night and set up camp. Unless you wanna go down stream in the dark. When the time comes I'll sneak ya'll out through secret passageway I managed to find while being sneaky. The soldiers use it to sneak... dead bodies out. Basically the kids that weren't strong enough. But I'll sneak ya'll out at about six pm then ya'll can leave. You should have about one hour before the sun sets and the current picks up then you set up camp and leave at six am sharp in the morning." 

I smiled. "Isaac, you have no idea how fucking smart you are!" He nodded then grabbed my hand and dragged me back to my room. "Don't tell Angel yet. I don't want her stressing out. You know how protective she is over ya'll and she'll find something to say about how the plan isn't safe enough." I nodded and walked inside. "Thanks again." Angel looked like she was thinking of something but I can never find out what she's thinking of. She tries her hardest to keep us safe and it always works out. Axel always tries to stay positive and Asher's following in Angel's footsteps. He looks up to her so much. I don't know what he would do if she was gone.  'Angel, a word?" She looked up from her thought. "Oh okay."

I grabbed her hand and walked out into the hallway. "What's up? What's wrong?" She shook her head. "It's not important. I'm trying to figure some things out. I've looked up and down the hallways during shift change for the soldiers and something's off. It's never the same. There's always something changing." She started thinking again. Then I hugged her . It was something she clearly needed. "Angel, you need to go easier on yourself. I know how much you love us but you need to think about yourself to." Then I let her go. "But what do you mean something's always different?" She tapped her chin for about thirty seconds. "The paintings are always in a different location. And sometimes they aren't even the same paintings." How did I never notice this. I wen ton walks at shift change in the mornings sometimes and never noticed this. Angel has a good eye. I guess it's because she stays quiet so often, giving her more time to think. "Hmm.. Can you tell me more?" It would help with the escape. She nodded. "Sometimes I hear footsteps and talking. Something about who the kids would never get adopted so they should just give up and get rid of them." She stopped and then she gasped. She looked like she was about to faint. So i grabbed onto her shoulders. "What about getting rid of them-" She shook her head. "There's a secret passageway. I've seen them taking out ki-..." She shook her head again and teared up. "Th-they killed them!" That's what Isaac was talking about. The dead bodies, the passageway. I grabbed her hand and we went back inside.

She put on a quick smile which I was tired of seeing. I need to report this news back to Isaac so he can see if he needs to revise the plan." Asher quickly ran over to her and jumped into her arms. He was quite small for his age and short. He was only 3'11. And Angel was a bit taller than the average fourteen year old at the height of 5'7. I sat beside Axel who looked kind of worried. 'Axel-" I tapped his shoulder and he jolted as if he was asleep.

Axel~

I'll admit that when Adrian tapped me, it scared me a little, I thought it was one of the soldiers., My thoughts were horrifying enough. I kept thinking that I would get adopted without them. I kept thinking that I would never see them again. That's when I heard it. That's when we heard it. 

The gun shot-