Heart of fire: Hoax

Chapter 2: Orphanage

"Um, Sage?" A male nurse opened the door and called me. I looked back and he seemed like a teenager, with his short height, black skin, and a worried face.

"Yes?" I answered, wiping the tears off my face. My hands were shaking a lot, and I was trying to soothe myself by rubbing them together.

"I- I need you to follow me." I got up and followed him to the reception. Two men were waiting for me. "Follow." they blankly commanded. I looked back and followed them. Their faces were blocked by their huge sunglasses and black caps. The two men took my hand and led me to a black van. "Where are we going?"

"To the orphanage."

It was a long drive, perhaps two to three hours. I remember looking out the window and imagining Mum, following us to save me. To take me back home where we planned to eat cake to celebrate her birthday. She was thirty when she died. It's scary to think that one day I might be older than her.

I didn't struggle when they took me. I just stood still, like a statue, staring into the distance. I thought my life was over. I'll just be in the orphanage for the rest of my life and never get out. Never be able to play with mum. Never to go to my old school. The two men didn't talk to me during the ride. They mostly covered their faces so I couldn't get a glimpse of them. As I sat in the van, I just stared across the valleys of gorgeous mountains and oak trees, treasuring my last moments outside. The sun started to fade away, with trees overshadowing the road, the cries of wolves and just the silence comforting me. I started crying, though I don't know why. Maybe I was grieving mum's loss, perhaps it was the fact I'll never see her again, or I'll be alone for the rest of my life. It was just so overwhelming, all of these events happened so fast it broke me. What is the point of enjoying life when there is nothing to enjoy?

It was a long drive, perhaps two to three hours? I remember looking out the window and imagining mum, following us to save me. I didn't struggle when they took me. I just stood still, like a statue, staring at the distance. I thought my life was over. I'll just be in the orphanage for the rest of my life and never get out. Never be able to play with mum. Never to go to my old school. The two men didn't talk to me during the ride. They mostly covered their faces so I couldn't get a glimpse of them. As I sat in the van, I just stared across the valleys of gorgeous mountains and oak trees, treasuring my last moments outside. The sun started to fade away, with trees overshadowing the road, the cries of wolves and just the silence comforting me. I started crying, though I don't know why. Maybe I was grieving mum's loss, perhaps it was the fact I'll never see her again, or I'll be alone for the rest of my life. It was just so overwhelming, all of these events happened so fast it broke me. What is the point of enjoying life when there is nothing to enjoy?

After what felt like centuries, we reached the orphanage. It was two stories high, with moss overgrown on the windows, and oak trees that were stunted. The whole building was dark brown, with hints of white for the windows. One of the men took me towards the entrance. The grass was soft and beautiful green with bluebells all over the place, bringing some colour to the place with melancholy dead oaks, slanted to one side, like something pulling onto it. We reached the entrance. The doorknob was an ancient, metal lion head roaring. The man knocked on the door two times and immediately a nun opened the door. She was an old nun, with wrinkles all over her face. She wore no makeup and with the black dress , she looked like she was at a funeral. My funeral. She looked too worn and ancient to be working at an orphanage. "Are you Sage?"

"Yeah?" I answered softly.

"Excellent! You can leave her here dear." The man nodded and walked away.

"This is the WoodLand orphanage. We will take good care of you, alright dear? Would you like a tour?" She asked. I nodded my head, keeping my head low. "Now, now dear, I heard what happened to your mother, and I am deeply sorry. God bless her soul. You need to move on. Who knows, you can get adopted and start a new life. Let's start our tour." She held my hand lightly, like my hand could break as we walked. The entrance hall was massive, with velvet carpet, a campfire, painting from centuries ago and chandeliers that gave the room warmth. It gave me a weird sense of safety. Two staircases were spiralling up to the second floor. "Kids will stay on the first floor. We'll go up there. You all are not allowed to go to the second floor." she explained. We continued to walk, following the rows of candles and paintings. It was like turning by time, going back to the nineteenth century. A few minutes later, we reached a room with hundreds of bunk beds and about twenty cupboards. "This is where the girls will stay. You can take the bed in the right corner, top bunk. Boys get a different room."