Family :D - [DHMIS x Child Reader] COMPLETED

The Beginning

It was a chilly day outside, and the sky was dull and grey with a few clouds here and there. A small child exited a tall brick building and adjusted their hoodie before they started to walk down the sidewalk. They didn't have a goal or a set destination in mind. They just walked; one foot in front of the other, one at a time. The child exhaled, their breath barely becoming a mist in front of their mouth.

They didn't want to go back to the brick building, but it wasn't like they had a choice in the matter. That building was the local orphanage, and once you were in, you likely wouldn't be truly 'out' until you turned 18, when they'd shove your stuff into your arms and parade you out the door, slamming it behind you. Then you'd be completely on your own. The child knew this 'rule' as they had seen it happen many times before.

Kicking a small pebble down the sidewalk, the child would try to remain positive about any situation they could be in. They were mostly successful in these endeavors, but sometimes, like today, they'd fail, leaving the building temporarily to get some fresh air into their lungs and fresh thoughts in their mind.

The child missed the pebble they were kicking, and huffed a bit before stepping back to kick it as hard as they could, since they had little to no other ways to amuse themselves otherwise. Their shoe made contact with the pebble, which went soaring before dunking in a dumpster in an alleyway nearby.

They silently cheer, pumping a small fist into the air, before continuing their mindless journey down the street. Then, a voice stopped them.

"Hey kid."

The child turned slightly and saw a man standing in the alley.

'Weird. I didn't see him there before?' the child thought.

The man in the alley spoke again.

"What are you doing out all alone?"

The kid didn't answer, much to the man's annoyance.

"Ah... well then. You don't have a family, do you?"

The child's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. They never thought someone would say that to them, but it just happened.

"I can tell. I saw you coming out of that orphanage, anyway."

'That's super creepy-'

The kid turned on their heel to walk away, but they were stopped by the man's voice.

"I can help you. I can get you something you want."

The kid stopped in their tracks. They knew they should just keep walking, or even run, but something was keeping them from doing so. It annoyed them slightly, but they just turned around to hear what the man had to say.

"I know what you want. You want a family, don't you?"

The child stayed silent, figuring the less they spoke the better. Deep down, they did want a family, but it seems as if this guy was going to kidnap them or something. Wonder where that idea came from?

"I can see it in your eyes. Come here."

The child wanted to leave, to go somewhere, anywhere else than here. They'd rather go back to the orphanage, which was saying something. But something pulled them closer to the man, and they didn't like it.

Stepping closer, the kid got a good look at the stranger. He had blue hair that seemed to be thinning, his nose stuck out and was turned slightly to their left as if it'd been broken before and hadn't fully healed, and he wore torn and dirty denim overalls along with a yellow button up shirt. His presence made the child uncomfortable, and rightfully so. His breathing made wheezing noises that were getting to be too much to bear, and he smelled of 3 week old garbage... or maybe that was the dumpster they were stood next to.

"I can tell, you want a family, correct?"

The child hesitantly nods, before immediately regretting interacting with the man.

"Good. I can take you to a place. I'm sure you'll love it there."

The child thought the man smiled a bit, in a creepy way, before he stepped into the shadows. The child then realized the shadows were quickly rising in a way that was not natural. Darkness seemed to consume the world around them, before pulling them, too, into the inky blackness.

Just before their vision went black, the kid thought they heard the man say something.

"Tell them that Roy sent you."

'Them?'

[747 words (not counting A/N)]

So, how's this so far? I don't think it's too bad, but I'd love to have input from others!

Anyway! I have the second chapter already typed (and I'm gonna start working on the third soon) so I'll post it soon!