The door creaks open. Eyes still shut, I scrunch my eyebrows together. Why would somebody be coming into the room in the middle of the night? Oh, wait. Because this place is run by emotionless-as-a-rock men. I open my emerald eyes and blink rapidly. After my eyes adjust to the dim lighting, I survey the room for anything that might’ve come in. Moonlight shines through the window and bathes the door in a white shroud. Only, there isn’t a door, but a black gaping hole replacing it. Then something steps through the threshold. A masked figure creeps towards me, not making any noise. What the heck is that?! A black cloak and white, faceless mask obscures it. I try to shake Alex awake, eyes never leaving the, the thing, but he sluggishly swipes my hand off his shoulder and turns away, groaning. Idiot, wake up! I want to shout, but my voice is trapped as the figure continues to advance slowly. A net held in its clutches glints in the moonlight. As it comes closer, a clawed hand comes to remove the mask, revealing a pale grinning face, bloodied lips stretching from ear to ear. Black pits stare down at me as it comes closer, raising the net. I force my eyelids shut as I wait for the moment when the net wraps around me, slicing my skin with its razor edges.
But the moment never comes. I slit open my eyes. Sunlight shimmers through the window, bright and golden. It was just a nightmare. A really creepy nightmare. That’s all it was. Ever and Alex are talking in the far right corner, sitting on her mattress, oblivious to my awakening.
“Pale gold. No, silver.” Ever says quietly, as if contemplating something.
“Eh, I’d say that it’s more of a yellowish white.”
“Nope. I still think it’s more silver.”
“Moonlight is definitely not silver. I just don’t see it. You know what? Never mind, we’re moving on. Hmm, how about that bird’s wings?” Alex says, pointing out the window.
“Um, rainbow. With a hint of black. Well, I’m stopping. It’s almost breakfast time anyways. And besides, your sister’s awake.” Ever says as she points to me.
“What?!”
“Oh, shut up. I heard everything.” I say, keeping a straight face while suppressing a grin. “Everything?!” Alex shouts in alarm, glaring at Ever as the girl’s form is racked with soft laughs, shadowy hair swishing with every shake. The door opens and a care giver brings in another tray. Ever gets up to retrieve the tray after the man leaves, setting it on her mattress while beckoning me to join, a shadow of a smile on her face. I push myself to a standing position and stride over to sit next to Alex, looking between the two.
The breakfast looks like a pile of gray mud. A crumbling piece snaps off when I poke at it, like a miniature landslide. “So, what were you talking about while I was gone?” I inquire, slightly narrowing my eyes at them.
“I thought you said you heard everything?”
“I was lying, Alex.”
“Fine, whatever. We were just talking about things, that’s all. Not really anything.” Alex’s reply comes out a bit too rushed. Idiot, he should know not to lie to me, especially with his huge know-it-all brain. “Okay, then. Ever? Would you mind filling me in on the conversation?” I say, his eyes darting anywhere but at me. “Like Alex said, it was nothing. So just leave it alone.” Ever replies rather coldly. Well, someone’s just full of sunshine and happiness today. After, I walk back to my corner and sit down, still bothered by their secret. It’s not like I can tell anyone about it. I watch Alex and Ever pick up their conversation, this time in hushed tones. I catch Ever occasionally glancing at the window as Alex obliviously continues to ramble on. Finally noticing the absence of listening ears, Alex huffs indignantly and moves near the mold crawling up the door. I lean back, studying the crack-riddled, gray ceiling and I absently whistle a lullaby that mom sang to my brother and me at night. A slight smile ghosts my lips. Alex stops poking the mold, recognizing the tune, and joins in whistling. Mom would always sing the song in Gaelic, so I never knew what she was saying. My lips turn up into a full smile as I remember her lilting voice flowing through our room. I look towards Ever. She’s motioning to stop, a stern, almost panicked expression on her face. The last note dies abruptly on my lips and Alex stops when he doesn’t hear me whistling, sending a questioning look my way. I shrug at him. “Don’t whistle. They’ll hear you. No whistling, no singing, no dancing, no music, no anything.” Ever says harshly. “Not allowed to whistle? Why aren’t we allowed to whistle?” Alex inquires, aghast. “The Warden doesn’t like it. She doesn’t like anything.” Ever replies, spitting out the Warden’s name as if it were toxic.
I motion Alex towards me, while Ever turns back to the window, glaring at it now. “What?” my brother asks as he drops down in front of me. “Okay. Now that she seems occupied, tell the truth. What were you really talking about? You know how I dislike being kept in the dark. I don’t exactly trust her all that much, either.” I demand, leaving no room for objection. “We were just talking about our lives, that’s all.” He mumbles. “So why are you keeping your talk a secret, hmm? Was her life really that bad?” Alex just turns away, keeping his silence.
Hours, minutes pass by with only the melodic chirping of birds and the rustling of viridian leaves to fill the silence. The sun is just setting, casting those dying rays into the gray room, when the care giver brings our dinner, actually setting three separate trays in front of us, and just as quickly departs. A meager amount of soggy steamed carrots is laden on the trays, while a loaf of bread and a canteen of water are dropped carelessly in front of us. Why, out of all the revolting foods, does it have to be carrots? I never really had a taste for carrots and the sight just worsens the dislike. We divvy the bread and pass the half-empty canteen amongst ourselves. By the time the care giver comes back to take the trays, I’m already beginning to feel drowsy. Huh, is it really that late? The sun is just setting, though. Alex stands, but loses his balance and plops down onto the ground. “My head is pounding.” He moans, clutching his head in his hands, “Eating steamed carrots doesn’t do that, rig-?” Alex asks, a yawn cutting him off. “I don’t…..know, I don’t……eat this stuff. But I’m sure it’s…….nothing.” I assure him, though I’m not too sure about it myself. Alex repeats the same question to the violet-eyed girl. Ever curses under her breath. “Of……course. They…..drugged us.” Ever says, fighting to keep herself awake. My vision begins to swim, blurring their faces. “What orphanage…….drugs children?” I slur, black spots now flashing into my vision. “This place…….isn’t……..a regular orphanage.” Ever remarks, before succumbing to the drug, her eyes rolling back into her head. “Ever?” Alex shakily stands and stumbles towards her, tripping on his feet and falling face down, unconscious. There’s a crack when his head meets the ground. Wincing at the noise, I sit up, crawling on my hands and knees towards Alex, the room spinning into a giant gray mass. I feel my arms and legs give out from under me, my eyelids already slammed shut. A sharp pain travels through my head before darkness engulfs me.
