𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥 ~ 𝙏𝙤𝙢 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚 ✔

i. "a river in paradise"

                                  [ chapter one : 'a river in paradise' ]

                             { Obscuro : Blindfolds the victim }

                            [ Clothe yourself in beauty untold
                           And see life as a means to a triumph  ]

T H E     wooden stairs at the orphanage creaked with every step Tom took , but having lived there for as long as he could remember - his feet had adapted to falling in light , sure-footed steps , and he travelled with almost no noise - a ghost amidst the cacophony of the other children that stormed down past him , laughter juxtaposing against the gloom on which the institution had been built.

He couldn't remember anyone having been this excited for a new accommodation before. But then again , hardly anything surprising ever occurred in their dull lives. Perhaps the enthusiasm of having a new child over was truly deserved.

Tom stopped at the landing , watching as everyone shoved past him , sometimes colliding against his shoulder which made him scrunch his nose. His eyes trailed downwards , concentrating on the circle of children. Mrs. Cole held the hand of a little figure in the midst , and only when he looked carefully did he realise it was a girl. A satchel was hung at her shoulders , the leather coming off in threads and patched in a few places with some dust-coloured rag - standing slightly stiff as she read through the crowd of raggedly dressed children around her.

Stepping down by three steps , Tom remained well hidden by the banisters , observing as the unknown new girl shook hands with a few and greeted everyone with warm smiles. Mrs. Cole stooped lightly as she spoke to the girl , threads of grey hair she failed to hide in her tight bun visible even in the dim lighting of the main corridor.

The girl nodded lightly , handing the older lady the cap she had been wearing before a sudden hush fell around the room , a quiet so strange that Tom could hear the whisper of the frigid zephyr blowing outside on the London streets.

"Rowan Eldwin", She introduced herself to them , a light smile playing at her lips although her sorrel eyes remained impassive. 

Rowan. A river in paradise.

All of a sudden , the girl looked upwards , irises following the shadow on the stairs and finally meeting his own. And perhaps it was his own absent-mindedness , but Tom observed a flicker of some emotion light her features , something he couldn't quite place but her eyes were not so very indifferent as before. Then the corners of her rosebud lips curled upwards , and she sent a smile his way. Before she could further say a word , he turned around and brushed past them all upstairs , back to the confines of his own room.