Lillie Hunt

Chapter 4

Brenna and I walked back to the orphanage in silence. Brenna had the handle of the basket in a death grip, her knuckles turning white. Around us, night was falling as the sun approached the horizon. Surprisingly, as it became darker, the streets were seeming to get more and more crowded. 

"What's the deal?" I asked, grunting as a young boy jostled me. "Shouldn't people be going to bed?"

Brenna sighed. "Don't you remember? It's Nocte Diei Festi. The Night Festival."

As soon as she mentioned it, I remembered it in all its vivacity. Once a year, the people of Qhaim Kingdom pull a massive all-nighter to celebrate the creation of our kingdom. The date, May 15, was the final day of a weeklong battle between the noble people of the future Qhaim Kingdom and the invading Aedien Tribe. After that day, 98 years prior to the current year, the Qhaim Kingdom slowly began to rise to what it is today.

Brenna and I stopped to watch the action unfold. The trash was being cleared from the street, pushed into alleys, making way for the hordes of people that were rushing onto the streets. Lanterns were lit. Voices began to rise as more and more people emerged from their homes to socialize. A band was being set up at an intersection.

"This is so nice," Brenna said, her eyes glowing with the light of the lanterns.

I didn't reply. I liked social events, but social events didn't like me. I only had one friend, who was always clinging at the side of her lover, leaving me to be the awkward third wheel. Socializing with boys was not an option, since I was not pretty, but not ugly either. Other people didn't like me either, since I was awkwardly humorous at best.

A figure swept in front of us.

Brenna squealed with delight. "Ellis!"

Brenna embraced him with enthusiasm, and he hugged her back. I was looking at his head. His close-cropped dark brown hair had something wet and nasty in it.

"What's in your hair?" I asked, wrinkling my nose. Pausing to look at his hair, Brenna pulled away slightly from the embrace and lifted her hand to touch his hair.

"It's raw egg," Ellis replied, his face flaming with embarrassment. "Some little kid threw it at me."

Brenna chuckled. "Let's go wash that out." She paused. "Lillie, you want to come?"

"No," I replied quickly. "I don't want to rain on your parade." I raised my voice, so that both of them could hear me. "Go have some fun. The two of you. Explore the festival. I'll tell Miss Fairbanks."

Brenna stared blankly at me for a moment. Then, a grin spread across her face and she pulled me in for a quick hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice muffled by my shoulder.

Then, she pulled away. Flashing me one more smile, she took Ellis's inviting hand, and the pair disappeared into the crowd.

I stood, motionless, not knowing what to do. Now that I had sent Brenna away, I was without a friend. The smell, the sounds, the sights... it was all so enticing. But I had no one to enjoy it with.

I'll just go back home then, I thought to myself. There's no point in staying at a festival without friends.

With that rather depressing thought in mind, I retreated to the sidewalks, which were crowded, but less crowded than the street itself. Next to my ear, a young girl, sitting on a bench with her mother, squealed in delight as her mother gave her a pastry. I jumped at the abrupt sound.

The girl took the pastry with her chubby hands and looked at me. Her mother turned to stare at me as well. My skin prickled at the sudden attention.