Retrace

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It's just Cyril, nothing else.

He was just but a homeless child wandering in the streets. The first memory Cyril ever had was the time he woke up in a dark alley. As far as he knew, that was the start of his life.

He didn't stay in that dark alley for long. When he came out in the open, a woman found him and took Cyril to the orphanage. Cyril's life in the orphanage didn't turn out well for him though. He was discreet ever since he came in the orphanage and people thought he couldn't speak. It was as if he's a newborn baby that he needs to be looked after. That made Cyril very lonely in the orphanage.

Just one year after being taken in by the orphanage, Cyril was adopted by a family. They were a childless couple who lived in the western side of Danior. He was adopted by the governor of the west, Edward Martin. Cyril was thirteen when he was adopted by the family.

"They're already asleep," I said, interrupting Cassius. "Did you even intend on doing that?"

Cassius chuckled softly. "It's fine that they're asleep. This story was intended for you."

I rolled my eyes. "Answer me one question then. How come this place became too different after several minutes? Weren't we with them when we talked to Chief Arden? They couldn't have dashed here and did all these."

Cassius stood up. Suddenly, he pressed his hand on my forehead. "Forgive me for doing this but, are you okay?"

I furrowed my brows. "What's that supposed to mean?" I pushed his hand away.

"Have you noticed anything different when you woke up?"

"It's nothing out of the ordinary, I'm just the only person left sleeping."

"You never noticed the large boxes of garlands on the floor? They were also starting to put up the curtains too."

My left eye started twitching. I never noticed that.

Cassius sighed. "You are getting overwhelmed by what's happening recently."

I looked away.

"Anyway, the children started putting up these decorations since the hour they woke. They put up the rest when they came back." Cassius held out his hand. "Come, I'll help you relax a bit."

I hesitated to grab Cassius' hand. "What will you do?"

"Yesterday you told me that you wanted to go to the city square right? Everything's all done and your clothes are now ready."

I blinked three times. I didn't realize that it was only yesterday that I told that to Cassius. I just smiled and grabbed Cassius' hand. He led me to the left bedroom and opened the closet. Inside the closet is a single set of what I asked Cassius. It's a long-sleeved white collared shirt, a brown vest and half-pants. When I put them on, I noticed it's one size bigger than me, except for the half-pants.

"I'm assuming that you didn't know this," Cassius said, coming in from the door. I asked him to leave just for me to change. "Kids from the central are poorer than those around them. The reason behind that is the people's lifestyle around here. It's because middle-class families mostly flock here."

I buttoned up my vest. "By comparison, peasants are poorer because of the number of middle-class people that come here. It's a central business district too."

"Exactly," Cassius walked forward and pulled the ring from my thumb. "And if you'll be wandering around the streets, it's better to eliminate any suspicion of aristocracy."

I closed my eyes for a while. Nervousness suddenly attacked me. Is it because I fear for my own life now that I'm leaving the safety of the villa? The bruises on my face still hurt.