Sentiment of a Witness

𝙰 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎

"Alright, children, who can tell me the answer to question three – what is the Grand Musical House? Can anybody tell me?"

I sighed. They really expected kids to know this stuff? I mean, I knew what the answer was – it was a house shaped like a piano and always played music, just a quick summary – but that was because I'd been given too much of an opportunity to read when I was younger. And as much as I love reading, I sincerely wished that I would never be able to read again if I could just have a loving family.

"No one?"

I didn't like speaking in class – it was positively mortifying. Plus, I didn't need any more reasons to be picked on by the other kids. Just because I was smaller and spent my time alone, often reading didn't mean that I was a stereotypical shy and quiet nerd; thank you everyone who ever assumed this of me. You're wrong.

"Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he knows – he's such a nerd." Todd – the scary kid I mentioned earlier – sneered, pointing at me.

He didn't even know me. Once again, just because I read doesn't automatically make me a 'nerd.'

The teacher smiled at me, "do you know the answer... umm," she looked down at her attendance paper, "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"I- uh... it's John."

"Right, thank you, John – would you like to share the answer?"

No, Miss, I really didn't want to share the answer, thanks, but you see these kids? They're all looking at me as if they're vultures and I'm a fucking carrion!

"Uhm... the Grand Musical House is a building in the Fifth Pocket shaped like a piano and holds free concerts all of the time because the instruments never stop playing. It was created by a... Wundersmith many years ago and is still quite popular today, despite everything that's happened with... people like the creator."

I was surprised nobody stopped – Wundersmiths were not something you could really go talking about freely. And they still weren't. I still thought they were pretty cool, though.

The teacher, Miss Posie, beamed at me, "that's correct! Well done!"

Miss Posie turned back to the blackboard, and I breathed out a sigh of relief, glad to have the attention of the room off of me. I saw Todd roll his eyes and poke his friend, Larissa, whispering to her while looking at me before they both broke down into a fit of obnoxious giggles.

I looked away, feeling dizzy – a sign that I had related with a 'Witness on Gossamer' meeting, as my future guardian would call it. More common in younger Witnesses or Witnesses who do not know how to surf the layers of Gossamer, or who just had no idea what they were seeing. It truly is enough madness to drive someone insane.

After class, Todd and Larissa approached me, but I pretended not to see them and continued on, if just a little faster, to the Dining Hall. Then, I felt a hand grasp my shoulder and turned around.

"Hello Todd, can I help you?"

"Think you're funny, huh?"

"No, I would just like to know why you are stopping me in the corridor. Surely, both of you are hungry, yes?" I tried to keep my voice level as I attempted to persuade them to just leave me alone – last time they'd cornered me, I woke up on the cold floor after curfew and had to spend the rest of the in a pitch-black room, tied by my wrists, ankles and chest to a chair before being locked in my room for the next day.

~

"OI! YOU! YES, YOU, BOY WITH HIS NOSE ALWAYS STUCK IN A BOOK!" Todd yelled down the hall for the seventh time that morning.

"Yes, Todd?" I sighed, closing my book and looking up at the burly kid, waiting for another insult. He really couldn't call me by my name? I was the kid he'd locked in a cupboard and ratted out on for doing as much as telling him to "leave me alone."

He was a wimp.

"What's this book about?"

I glared at him.

He'd asked me that before, as well as where I'd gotten it from, why I liked it so much and just about anything else you can think of.

He rolled his eyes, "fine, fine. Just give it here, and we'll be on our way, right, Larissa?"

Larissa – a girl who had somehow been caught up with Todd and doing his bidding – nodded, giving a look that clearly read 'well, hurry up with it.'

"I'd rather not."

"'I'd rather not.' Pathetic, why's it so important? The last thing dear mummy gave you before she decided to drop you off here? Or perhaps it's the story your daddy used to read you as you went to bed before he died?"

The last sentence hit hard, as it was somewhat true – my father used to read it before that man I had once known died, leaving behind the cruel person who taught me nothing more than to be ashamed of what I was. What I am.

While I was reminiscing, Todd took advantage and reached forward, snatching the book from my shaky fingers, and like a fool, I pleaded with him to give it back.

"Todd, come on, give it back!"

"Why should I?"

"Because it's mine!"

"And?"

"So what if it's the last piece of the home I once knew? You're just jealous because my parents actually wanted me for a longer amount of time than yours wanted you!"

Todd whirled around, "what did you just say?"

I gulped; the look in his eye reminded me of the one in my father's before he hit me for the first time. He tossed my book aside. It landed right at the edge of the fireplace, where a small blaze was burning.

Striding towards me, Todd sneered, "you need to learn your place, mate."

~

The sheepwun's office was located next door to the darkroom, only one incredibly thin wall between them and whoever the unfortunate kid was – usually me. And, although I had realised this within my first day at the Larommi Orphanage, that sheepwun was a psychopath. Why else would their staff be kids who had grown into adulthood in the orphanage? Why else would they enforce the rules that they have? Why else would they have a child rapist hired? Why else would the orphanage be so secretive?

Yes, it was terrible, but it seemed somewhat better than the home I had previously – at least now, I didn't have any attachments to those who were cruel to me. I didn't have the 'my family once loved me, but now they don't' thing going on anymore.

Besides, it could have been worse, right?

I could have been out on the streets, freezing cold and probably sick. No shelter, no food, no coat, no nothing. At least here at Larommi, I had shelter, a bed and food – the basic human needs. Sure, it came with a bit of a price, but I was still alive. Mostly.

But, oh, if only little me had known how much better life could be and would get.

Written: 1 + 4 August, 2021

Published: 4 August, 2021

So I rewrote this chapter and then couldn't work out which one I liked best, so now it's a combo of both! I hope you are enjoying this story... if that's possible - I assure you I have already started writing some happy fluffy stuff, so hang on, it's coming up soon!