Sentiment of a Witness

𝙰 𝙶𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

I was right. The Wundrous Society was up to something. Something that would change the lives of those at the Larommi Orphanage – whether for the better or worse depended on the person and their role there.

It started with a conversation between the ginger-headed man and Trollis Trotters.

They'd been in the office, forgetting that I was in the dastardly white 'detention room', which was on the other side of Trotters' office from the dark room with the chair and ropes.

"Captain North, I beg you listen – this is my orphanage, and I will run it as I please!"

"Trotters – this is unethical! You can't keep kids hosta-"

"Keep yer voice down, North – one of the little devils is next door."

"In your detention room?"

"Aye."

"What did they do?"

"Practically nothin' – I just don't like this kid. He's too... too much like you."

That was probably the strangest thing I heard throughout the conversation – in what way was I like this man? This incredible Wunsoc member? This well-known and loved guy who was trying to help us children in the Larommi Orphanage?

He was a good man who did good things, and I was a nosey little boy who had disappointed his family.

"Oh?"

"He just... nevermind – I am not giving up this orphanage to you... you Society members."

Though I couldn't see the sheepwun, I could hear the venom in their voice as they spat at the man, who sighed in response.

"I've already told you that we're giving you a chance to correct Larommi and make it a nice, pleasant place for children. Maybe start by changing the name? It's literally 'immoral' backwards."

"Yes, my speciality."

"Look, Trollis, I've tried negotiating with you; I'm afraid you're going to lose the orphanage."

And lose the orphanage they did.

Three hazy days after their conversation with Captain Jupiter North, Trollis Trotters, the most psychotic sheepwun in history, was escorted screaming and kicking out of the orphanage, followed by the rest of their staff for investigation. That left myself and the other kids with a few Society members, including Captain North and a lady my mother had insisted we go see perform when I was five.

Dame Chanda Kali, Dame Commander of the Order of Woodland Whisperers.

They helped us gather our belongings, frowning at how little most of us had, before leading us out to a bus they had brought out specifically for this 'mission.'

The bus was large and smelt slightly musky. I quickly found a seat towards the front, away from the noise of the other kids. I opened my book only to close it, a strange feeling coming over me.

Things were changing again.

Would I be whipped into yet another storm that I had no chance of ever controlling? Or would I finally be let down from the hurricane I was sucked into all those years ago?

The voices around me became a buzz as I stared out the window, trying to keep my breathing even as a million different scenarios played out in my mind, none really ending very well.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't notice someone sit next to me until. They spoke with a low, warm voice.

"Hello there, mind if I sit here?"

Startled, I stuttered out a 'yes' before I even looked up at the guy. It was Captain North with his distinctive bright copper hair and the man who I felt arranged all this to happen.

He was quiet for a few minutes, but I could feel his eyes practically boring into me. I tried to block it out.

"So, what's your name?"

I looked up at him and was nearly blinded by his smile.

"..J-John."

He frowned slightly, "alright, John, how long had you been at Larommi?"

"A few months," I hesitantly replied, not sure how to feel about having a normal, civil conversation with a fellow person.

Nodding again, Captain North turned to his friend and mumbled something to her, and she wrote something down.

He asked me a few other questions about the orphanage, careful not to pry too far, and I felt one question bubbling within me – where were we being taken?

Before I knew it, the question had tumbled out of my mouth, and I retreated back a bit, afraid of being hit for speaking out of turn.

But to my surprise, the ginger-headed man only hummed, "the Hotel Deucalion – my hotel. Then we'll try to find all you kids a suitable home."

"Oh..."

When we arrived at this Hotel Deucalion, I felt my mouth drop open. It was incredible. And even more so on the inside, I was sure.

The Society members took us inside, where they ran us through some tests and asked some questions before leading us to some spare guest rooms to rest. Although I tried, I couldn't fall asleep, so I got up to wander around a bit.

I found myself at the railing at the top of the grand staircase that leads down to the lobby where the elderly concierge – Kedgeree – worked during open hours. I looked up at the great pink sailing ship chandelier and sighed.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?"

Written: 2 or 3 August (I can't remember ;-;), 2021

Published: 6 August, 2021

Look who finally properly entered the picture!!!! :D

And Sentiment of a Witness hit 1K reads today! Thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting on this story! It really does mean a lot to me! :D