The Spectre

Chapter Two

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Zack woke from his bed. Same crap, different day. He got out of his bed, stretched, and went by his daily process. He threw on a pair of jeans and a red shirt, slid his wallet into his left pocket, slid his pocket knife into his right pocket, quickly cracked his back, and then he went to his wardrobe. Inside, resting against the furthest side, was a dual set of smooth silver swords. Zack had found them in the garbage pile that belonged to the City, all the way out near the edge of town, and he immediately stole them. Was it stealing if no one else was going to use them? He shook the thought from his head, shut the wardrobe door, and turned to his bedroom door as he heard it open. A girl who looked like she was eight stepped inside, looking around curiously and then stopping when she saw Zack.

"Out," was all Zack said, but the girl did not move. "I wondered when I can have this room?" she asked innocently, and Zack smashed his fist against the wall he leaned against. The girl flinched and scrambled out of the room. Zack muttered something unpleasant under his breath and headed out of his bedroom, letting the door swing shut behind him. He locked it, put the key in the same pocket as his pocket knife, and then headed down the many stairs. He had lived in this place for over five years, and he still hated it. The Orphanage was always meant to be good. The staff were kind and the children less so, but he hated it all. He did not want to stay in the Orphanage. He wanted to get out of this place. But it was the only place he could get fresh food, clean water, a bed to sleep on, and electronic equipment. So he put up with it, still hating every second. He did not know anyone there after five years. He preferred to keep himself away from other children. It made things easier to deal with.

"Now, children, make sure to get yourself some breakfast before starting the day!" said the Matron cheerfully, and Zack stepped past her, rolling his eyes angrily. He headed straight toward the food bar, grabbed a bowl, poured milk and Milo into it, and then stepped away, making his way to the table at the end of the room and sitting down, alone, the way he liked it. He selected a spoon from a large spoon dish before him and began eating, chewing on the chocolate cereal he had been eating ever since first arriving in the Orphanage. He still remembered that painful night as though it happened yesterday. He had learned his mother died during her surgery, and then his father told him his displeasure in him. He had been taken from the hospital, in a regular car driven by an undercover police officer, directly to the Orphanage.

The Matron cheerfully greeted them inside, and when the police officer explained the situation, the Matron took full responsibility for Zack, but he had not really been listening. He just stared at the wall opposite him and wished he could curl up into a ball and die. "Would you like to see your new room?" The Matron asked sweetly as the officer quickly left, and Zack slowly nodded. His parents always taught him to be polite. The Matron led him toward a wooden staircase leading upward, then up another two flights before stopping outside a wooden door and using a key to unlock it. Zack had liked his bedroom. The walls were a perfect blue color, matching his hair, and there would a large bed in the corner of the room with red sheets, and two wardrobes, both empty. Now, as he sat in the Eating Room, chewing on his Milo moodily, he decided that he would go to the playground yet again.

He didn't so much like being there, but it was the only real place where he could be alone to his thoughts. So, the very second he finished the Milo and gulped down the remaining milk, he got to his feet and headed toward the large doors of the Orphanage. "Where do you think you're going, young man?" asked the Matron playfully as she waited by the door, and Zack shrugged, "I was going to head over to the park again." The Matron sighed and nodded, "I think the new girl said she was going there ten minutes ago," she mentioned, standing aside and letting Zack through. Great, Zack thought, bored, a new girl. The walk to the park only took two minutes, but Zack barely even recognized his own feet proceeding one after the other, until he came to a stop at the playground.