Shutter

Chapter 11 - Act 1

[ACT 1 – Soren, Age 7]

Wandering the streets, Soren held a paper bag in his hands. The sides of the bag crumpled as his grip was tight. He did not want to let go of it as inside was his food for the day. He had gathered enough money from collecting and selling recyclables.

Life in the city as a homeless child was dangerous but Soren manages to survive each day. Along with other homeless children, they often sleep near police stations to avoid the chances of being in danger. Of course, there wasn't a lot of space for adults to live in the area as well but the children managed to do so with their small and thin bodies.

He couldn't really remember a lot about his parents if people were to ask. The faintest memory he had was when he was five and he was riding in a car with them.

Looking up, his eyes were met with the towering buildings and flashing lights. It was beautiful. One day, he wished to have a place in one of these buildings and have a room of his own. A child can only dream so much.

He paused in his steps and simply continued observing the buildings and the sky.

As if the bright stars above were overshadowed by the glimmering lights coming from commercial buildings and high-rise condominiums that housed the rich and capable.

"Let's go! We're near there already," another child beside him spoke and Soren turned his head to look at him. He smiled and nodded his head. "Okay, brother!"

The two continued to walk. Minutes passed and his little feet were getting tired from walking all day and collecting recyclables. Soren wanted to rest and sleep for the time being but it seems like his brother was persistent in reaching their destination as he grabbed the paper bag Soren was holding and also his hands.

"Don't sleep on me now, Soren. We can make it!" the older child encouraged in which Soren could only nod his head groggily.

They heard about this place that caters to homeless children and their goal was to reach that place. Of course, being homeless in the city wasn't the best condition for one to live in but people eventually end up learning a lot of things. Soren's brother heard about this place when the cops at the police station they slept near were talking.

Something about a new orphanage opening up.

"Are we still far?" Soren asked as he rubbed his eyes multiple times trying to stay awake as the night was only dragging longer. He wanted to snuggle in the blanket he got from the dumpster and lay on the make-up bed his brother made for the both of them.

That's what little Soren could all ask for right now.

Minutes passed again and a little more, Soren would be asleep on the cold hard ground. He was drifting back and forth between his consciousness trying to stay awake because his brother was pulling him.

Eventually, the two stopped walking and little Soren looked up. His eyes widened when he saw the tall gates separating the place his brother was talking about from the outside world.

"Wow..." he whispered and clutched his brother's hand tighter. He had seen a lot of fancy buildings in the city but this one looks a lot cooler than the rest of them. It wasn't flashy but Soren could feel that this was something only the rich could afford.

Soren looked at his brother when he also felt the child's strong grip on his hand.

"Brother?" He asked, looking to where his brother was looking and it was in the same direction as he did earlier. For unknown reasons, his brother had tears silently falling in the corner of his eyes and Soren watched it carefully.