The lost

Chapter 1

It's one of these days once more, the orphanage lady (who runs the orphanage) gives Hilda towels, to clean her room... Tomorrow its her 18th birthday, and we'll have to watch her death. The orphanage lady, Mrs. Smith, says to Hilda while with a slight smile: "It's your big day, choose whatever way to die" Then before Hilda could answer she continues: "A tradition, is a tradition, you. Have. To. Do. This"

Then Hilda slowly takes the towels, with a sorrowful look. I looked back and forth at them, I could see how Mrs. Smith wants us to do this... but I want to live. I know soon enough it will be my turn. Mrs. Smith closes the door towards her room and locks it with a silver key. She shakes her head and says: "Asha, don't try going in her room... you know the tradition? Right?", Mrs. Smith gives me a stern look, and I quickly nod my head. I passed by Hilda's door, I could hear her crying and yelling a bit, she was whispering over and over:

"It's fine, It's okay, It's fine, It's okay..."

I could feel her panic through the door... It isn't okay Hilda and I know that... And I wish this fucked up tradition would end. We had to watch Mathew, not a while ago (like 2 years ago, when I was 10) when he jumped off the orphanage. His blood splattered on my face... I know that he never wanted to do it. But the tradition says so...

18th birthday, before clean room, then on the day... die.

I even heard stories of Mrs. Smith shooting someone for the tradition. Just so they would follow it... That just terrifies me, having to die... seeing the void... I CAN'T.

Before I could think anything else, I quickly walked to my room. Every room in this orphanage is green, either forest green or light green. Depends on how often the color was used. But my wallpaper was slowly falling off. I sometimes scrape it... Since... there is nothing to do here but wait. Wait for someone to help us out from this hell. I still could hear shuffling in Hilda's room and sobbing.

Trying to deafen the sound, I put on headphones and listened to music... but it still didn't work, I still heard the sobs and cries for help.

After a while, it stopped. I walked out of my room. Seeing how Mrs. Smith was sleeping in her rocking chair, I walked downstairs, to the area she was sleeping in. I looked for the silver key... I quickly grabbed it out of her hair, where she keeps it most of the time. The key has access to lock every single door in this orphanage, I quickly, but quietly, walked up the stairs to Hilda's room... I know I shouldn't do this... And I know this isn't what is supposed to happen in the tradition, people just get thrown in this room, locked, then forced to clean up their room, isolated, not talking to anyone. Then at the morning, they do it, they take their life.

I unlock the door, quietly. When I opened the door, I saw Hilda in the middle of the room, having on her black oversized comfort hoodie. I close the door behind me and hug Hilda tightly. She didn't expect me so she gets startled when I touch her. She whispers, in my ear: "Can you promise me one thing, Asha?"

"Yes...?", I whispered back, holding her hands that were in her sleeves.

"Please... before your 18th birthday... run from this place, or you'll be the lost" I shacked my head repeatedly and screamed whispered: "I can't do that!! I can't leave this place... it's my... our... home", Hilda hugged me, her blonde hair perfectly being still straight, she answered: "Asha, run before its too late... When she locks the door... it is too late".

"B-but you can run now!! I opened the door", I said with a lot of confusion. Hilda shacked her head, tears forming under her eyes, she brushed my beige hair on my back and says: "Mrs. Smith has full on watch on me... it is too late for me, alright Asha? I'm now a part of the lost, and you shouldn't be the same... You must... end this... hell..."

I start crying in Hilda's arms... who said your 18th birthday is the best day of your life??? When you must end it all...

The tears-stained Hilda's hoodie, but before I could point it out, she takes off her hoodie and hands it to me. She with a slight smile says: "It's yours...", I hugged once more Hilda while holding the hoodie tightly against my stomach. She quickly says: "Now... You must go, before you get in trouble, stay the Ash as I know"

"I won't be able to live without you..." I say, with a lot... a lot... of dread. She hugs me once more and kisses my forehead.

"I will be still with you", she gives me one of her plushies, a white bunny, "In this form", she says while slightly smiling, I also start smiling.

"Will you still be the same... Hild??", Hilda nods, with tears forming I slowly close the door behind me and with a shaking hand, I grip the silver key and lock the door. I still have her hoodie, still have the bunny. I quietly walk downstairs and leave the silver key on a table beside Mrs. Smith, while hugging tightly both the hoodie and the bunny. I will never, and I repeat, NEVER let go of these things.

I walk back up to my room, with a lot of sorrow and sleep all through it...