Spraypainted

Chapter 3

Chapter Three - Escape

Carlo rushed awake to head to the dining room. At age 15, he wasn't ready after 14 years of his life in what he called 'prison'. Carlo lived in an adoption center, living with other kids his age. The owner of the adoption center, Mrs. Hartless was very cruel to the kids, but nice to any takers of the kids. To Carlo, he found her cruel, taken by the name of 'Hartless' that she never cared about the kids. He ran down hoping she wasn't there, and saw almost every kid there.

"Good god Carlo, you almost got us in trouble if it weren't for Piper distracting her." A girl at the dining table sighed with relief. Her name was Ashley Osity, a close friend of his. She was brought to the adoption center by surprise, the first to ever be in there.

(tHOSE NAMES ARE TOTALLY NOT ON PURPOSE I SWEAR)

"I-I'm sorry..." Carlo apologized as he sat down next to a boy named Nathan. He wasn't a good kid, but he wasn't all that bad to Carlo. He grabbed his bowl of cereal, the usual food Mrs. Hartless gave them every morning. Piper came dashing back, seating herself next to Ashley.

"God dang Carlo, you woke up late... luckily I got some info and a good distraction with Head Heartless." She said.

"Oh really...? Tell me the goods." Nathan said.

"Oh shut up Nathan. Anyway, someone's getting adopted tomorrow." Piper said. Everyone at the table gasped.

"Who is it?!" Ashley exclaimed quietly. But before Piper could answer, Mrs. Hartless stormed into the room.

"Role call!" She screamed. The kids tumbled down out of their seats from the table and lined up one by one.

"Here." Ashley said.

"Here." Nathan called.

"Here." Piper said softly.

"Here..." Carlo whispered.

"HUH?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Mrs. Hartless screeched in his ear. He gulped, as he breathed in.

"HERE!"

"THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! NEXT!" Mrs. Hartless continued to take roll call with the rest of the kids. After that, they were told to go to their designated rooms. Carlo dashed right away and locked his door.

"Yes... after 13 years of being here... knowing this place... i don't think I'll miss it for a while." He went to his desk and turned on his laptop. Putting on his earbuds, he grasped onto his computer mouse and the screen turned on, a game browser turning on. He clicked 'Server' and went to the game. It was a private, whitelisted server. Carlo saw one of his online friends, hopping around the world of the game.

"Hey Brotato." Carlo typed.

"Hey Carflo, what're doin' here?" The player typed.

"Just here to see if Cya or Mike put anything new on the hub."

"They actually did. See that wood wall Cya made the other day? Yeah, he and Mike put on signs." Player Brotato walked over to the wooden wall, Carlo seeing the signs.

"Chasing dreams...? Who said I needed approval? What is this?"

"A quote wall i guess. Y'know what." Brotato took out a sign in the game, and placed it on the wall. It took a while, but in the end the quote read something meaningful to Carlo

There is something more out there.

Carlo found the quote interesting, as he placed his part of wall down in the game. He thought of it, but he looked back at his locked door and looked back to his computer screen.

Freedom isn't a gif-

"Freedom isn't a GIF?" Brotato typed.

"Oops." Carlo deleted the sign, and replaced it.

Freedom isn't a gift

"That's better."

"Oh shoot... i gotta go." And with that, Brotato left the server. Carlo continued to walk around the hub when he saw signs that was placed earlier.

Midnight, I take my leave. -Cya Time Written: 6am

Sunset, I'm heading out. -Mike Time Written: 8am

Heading out, 10pm. - Brotato Time Written: 12pm

Carlo gasped.

"They're leaving tonight... they're leaving their homes? But why...?" Carlo wanted to leave. Just like them, he had an urge to leave the adoption center. He looked at the time, it was 2pm. He grabbed another sign in the game, and placed it next to the others.

Leaving soon, when light grow dim. - Carflo Time Written: 2pm

He nodded, and logged off the server. He then waited until his promise said. Piper knocked on the door, calling out his name.

"Carlo? I need to talk to you." She called. Carlo let her in, her colored braids hanging on her shoulders. Her beauty was a price that didn't need to be paid. She closed the door behind her, and quickly grabbed Carlo by the shoulders.

"You're being adopted." She whispered. Carlo's eyes widened.

"T-That's... that's amazing!"

"I know... lucky for you to say..." Piper sighed.

"I-I didn't mean it like that! You guys have been my friends since the day i got here." Carlo stammered.

"I-I know you didn't mean it like that. We're all happy for you."

"I- uh..." he looked at the time. Nearly 9pm, the lights grow dark at the time.

"We'll throw a party. Tomorrow when you get to see your new parents." Piper suggested. Carlo nodded, as Piper left. As she shut the door, his alarm clock rang. It was 9pm, the lights had started growing dim in the house. He packed his bag, colored green. He grabbed his green hat, pushing away his blond locks out of his blue eyes as he zipped up his brown jacket. He grabbed a gray glove, the other pair was strangely missing as he dashed out the window and ran until he could run no futher.

"Freedom was never a gift." He said. It was never one.