I wanted to go home. I wanted so much for this to have been someone else's fate and not mine. I belonged with my brothers and sisters not in this wooden trap that was taking me to the unknown.
The carriage finally stopped and I heard a bustle of feet coming toward where I sat. I was yanked roughly from where I sat and taken blindly into some building.
I was told to stay where I was left and I felt something metallic going around my ankles. Then the blindfold was removed and I saw that I wasn't alone. There were nine of us total looking around wondering where the hell we were.
For a moment there was silence. And then there was the voice.
The introduction was angering. The voice told us that we were now orphans and that's why we were here. To forget that we ever had families and to give up any hopes of ever seeing life outside these walls again.
A cruel speck of hope was tossed at us by saying that maybe one of us would be allowed to leave pending completion of The Program.
No further explanation was offered. Instead two side doors opened and another group of nine walked into the decayed ballroom.
I counted five females and four males. Each was wearing black and white clothing. The males had white semi formal jackets over black v-neck shirts and black jeans. The females wore the clothes in almost opposite style. White loose t-shirts were covered by black vests and they wore long white gypsy skirts. Looking them over I noticed the footwear varied but was still either black or white.
The voice hidden at the end of the hall told us that this group, who didn't look to be much older than us, were going to be our Guardians. They were there to ensure the maximum effectiveness of The Program would be achieved. Before his majesty left the room, we were warned not to reveal our real names.
That was it. The door closed at the end of the hall and the eighteen of us were left with each other.
Our "trainers" didn't hesitate. They were all holding playing cards of some sort. When one of the males approached me, he grinned and turned the card so I could see what they had been holding. It was our faces. I noticed mine had, at one point, been a family photo of some sort, but I couldn't recall where or when.
"I'm Roman," he said sliding the card back into his jacket pocket.
"I don't care," I snapped. I was not interested in making friends with him, so I didn't see any reason to be nice.
My rudeness didn't even chip away at his cheerful disposition.
"Not now you don't, but you will soon enough. Here, let me take these off of you," he said dropping down to one knee.
I heard the sounds of something metallic clang against the floor. Roman stood again, "Is that better?"
The boyish grin hadn't left his face still and I felt myself soften a little.
"Try taking a step or two; then you'll know what I mean," he said stepping out of my way.
Hesitantly, I stepped forward. My legs weren't locked anymore. Whatever he had removed from around my ankles had given me my mobility back. Immediately I glanced around the room to look for an escape route.
Roman grabbed my arm and finally gave me a serious look. He shook his head slightly and motioned up with his eyes. I followed his gaze and I gasped.
There were decayed and mummified corpses hanging from the ceiling. Some were in cages, others hung upside down held in place by chains. Why was I just now noticing them?
"They aren't dead and they don't like to be stared at," he said to me in a low voice. "The Orphan Keepers have them everywhere. They only ever really move when someone tries to escape."
"Has anyone ever made it?" I asked him. "You know, passed them?"
"No. Come on, I'll take you to your room," he said giving my arm a gentle tug.
Finally tearing my eyes away from the monsters, I followed Roman out of the room. At first we walked in silence while navigating the large grounds I'd been taken away to die on. Sighing, I thought of my brothers and sisters. My parents weren't going to be able to care for them alone. My father worked all night and my mother worked all day. I was always looking after the children.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the fresh breeze of the night air.We were outside.
"Don't try. Please," Roman said as if he almost read my next thought. "Just because we're outside doesn't mean we aren't being watched and if they can't get to you fast enough, I'll have to do it. I've had a trouble free record so far and I'd like to keep it that way. Besides, I had to do some serious work and bartering to get you out of the house and into the gazebo suite. Of course you'll be encased by a solid glass perimeter, but I told them that my trainee wouldn't be trouble in any way," he said cheerfully leading me to a glass foyer.
Roman had done an amazing job of keeping me distracted with his chatter. I had been so busy listening to him that I couldn't remember how I'd gotten to the glass door or what he had done to open it.
"It only opens from the outside," he said smiling.
"Oh," I replied hopping on the hammock just inside the gazebo.
"Listen, I know you're in a less than desirable situation, but I hope you like your room. Usually only Adoptees get this spot; that's the step before Guardian," he explained leaning on one of the trees near me.
I didn't answer him.
I didn't want to be an Adoptee and I sure as hell didn't want to be a Guardian. I wanted to be back with my family in our small, cramped home. I wanted to let my little sisters brush my hair and smear makeup on my face. I wanted to be caked in the dirt from playing football with them. I wanted to hear the knowledge that came from my older brother when we sat and he would read to me. My brothers and sisters pulled me in so many different ways at once, but I loved and missed them dearly.
I took a shuddery breath as I thought of them. I refused to cry. I wouldn't give the Orphan Keepers the satisfaction. What I would do, however, was escape. Even if no one had succeeded before, I owed the children that much.
"So I'm supposed to give you a name," he said as he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"I have a name," I said wiping the tears away before they could fall.
"I know you do," he replied gently, "but you can't use it here." I sighed deeply. "Would you like to pick a name?" he asked suddenly.
Closing my eyes, I thought silently to myself. I wondered if the other Guardians were as kind as Roman. Suddenly, my eyes snapped open. I knew just what to pick.
"Chaos."
"Chaos? Hmm. I actually kind of like that. It's different and from what I've witnessed so far. It suits you," he said thoughtfully.
"It's for my brother. He's not like the other boys. He always has his nose in a book an discovering things. He likes to see how things work and then he breaks them down once he has them figured out. I shouldn't say this because I've never admitted it out loud, but he's my favorite," I said as the vision of the serious young boy in glasses popped into my mind.
"Does he look like you?" Roman asked curiously.
"Slightly. I mean you'd know he was my brother if you saw him. I miss terribly. His name is—"
"Stop. If you're going to go there, you have to stop. I can't know his name," Roman said cutting me off. "That's grounds for early elimination. Rule number 1, Chaos; do not self-identify in any way."
"Is Roman your real name?" I asked him as I sat up.
He looked uneasy for a moment, glancing around us in all directions. I watched him rub the back of his neck uneasily before looking back to me and giving a quick nod.
"I think you probably know my next question," I said feeling myself becoming angry.
"Survive, Chaos," he answered quietly. "Endure everything and anything you are put through. Only then will you gain your humanity back.”
Humanity.
That word struck me like a bolt of lighting. How could any of us have hope for humanity in a place where we had been discarded to die in? If our own families were so eager to get rid of us, why would any of us care about regaining humanity?
I thought of my family again.
> The children couldn't have had a hand in this. Mother and Father on the other hand... Not my beloved father. He was such a kind and gentle man, that I couldn't even think of him in such a way.
Mother.
My mother with the fiery red hair.
She was the stern one of the two, the disciplinarian. She would have days where she made me swear to myself that if I ever had children, I'd work hard to show them more love and compassion than anger and fits of rage.
Mother isn't always like that, I scolded myself.
She's stern but she's a good mother.
Scowling to myself, I laid back down and turned my back to Roman. Part of the reason I found myself detesting her some days was because of how she treated my favorite brother. There was no reason to be so hateful to a child because he wasn't interested in the things his brothers were. He played in different ways, with books and scopes rather than sports and rough housing.
The only times I had ever really seen his young temper was only in my defense. My fiercest protector, I thought with a sad smile. He wasn't much of a fighter but he was a warrior when it came to me.
"I have to go now," Roman said breaking into my thoughts. "Get plenty of rest. Tomorrow is your formal introduction day. It will also be the only chance you get to outshine the other Orphans. I'll be back for you in the morning," he said.
Outshine the others, I repeated to myself, amused as I heard the giant glass coffin door close and lock behind Roman.
I'll make sure I an impression. A plan was formulating in my mind. A devious grin was spreading across my lips. I closed my eyes and waited for the morning to come.
Introductions
The following morning I awoke to the sound of pebbles knocking against the glass. I opened my eyes, then immediately shielded them from the brightness of the dawn. After a few moments I moved my hand away from my eyes and saw Roman. His face was plastered against the glass and he was sticking his tongue out at me.
I smiled.
I couldn't help it. Roman knew what I was going through because he had to have gone through it himself, and here he was trying to make me feel as comfortable as possible.
I sat up and smoothed my long black hair. I motioned for him to come in. Turning my face away, I gave him a reason to trust me. If I didn't watch him open the door then he would think I was a good girl. I only prayed he wouldn't get in trouble for what my intentions were today.
"Good morning!" he said cheerfully as he carefully closed the door behind him. "Today you get to wear these," he said handing me a black shirt, blue jeans, and black boots.
I took the clothes from him and set them down next to me.
"I'll show you where you can clean yourself off before we head to the stables. Normally we're supposed to clean you ourselves, but I'm pretty sure you have the gist of how to shower pretty down pat," he said dryly causing me to giggle.
Twenty minutes later I was dressed and ready. Roman smiled at me and opened the door stepping out of the way so I could go first. Someone who seemed to be so kind and generous didn't seem to be someone who could've went through what I knew had to be in store for the rest of us.
We were all gathered by the stables after a brisk walk, Roman and I being the last to arrive. In the light of dawn, I was finally able to get a better look at the rest of the Orphans. Like the Guardians, four were male and five were female. That definitely didn't strike me as a coincidence.
Truthfully I was more interested in the Guardians than the Orphans. My father had always been able to read the worth of a person by looking at them and I desperately found myself tying the same. While most of them looked happy to be here the rest seemed to be just functioning.
Still the only one of the nine I felt I could trust was Roman and I wasn't sure about him just yet. He had done a fine job explaining what was expected from the Orphans official introductions. Start with your chosen name, your Guardian's name, and state facts about yourself without any self-revelations.
I stood next to him while we waited to find out who would be presenting themselves first.
I had to admit that I was relieved and nervous to find out it was me. Roman gave me a gentle nudge and motioned for me to follow him. As I took my place on the makeshift pedestal next to him, I took a deep breath and forced myself to find the courage I knew I would need.
I looked down at the small crowd in front of me. The other Orphans looked at me skeptically while the Guardians looked interested in what I had to say.
I cleared my throat.
“Hello," I began. "I've chosen the name Chaos ,in honor of someone I love dearly.
My palms were starting to sweat. "Um, this is Roman, my Guardian."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw him smile and give a nod to our spectators.
"Roman is kind," I continued softly, "I don't deserve his company as my Guardian so this is where I will make my stand. Please let me do this on my own," I said looking at him sadly.
"Chaos, what are you doing?" Roman asked in a confused voice.
Closing my eyes tightly, I let my anger run through me. When I was truly angry was the only time I wasn't afraid, and fear was something that I needed to bury deep inside of me for what I was about to do.
"Roman, Orphans, and Guardians; I'm supposed to state facts about myself, am I not?" I asked feeling braver than I ever had before.
"Then I'll start with the simplest fact about me." I took a deep breath and looked out into the crowd in front of me. "My name is London Blackhouse."
There was a collective gasp from the group. I glanced over at Roman and saw the color drain from his face so I turned to face the crowd again.
"That is the simplest, most honest fact I can give to you. That's all I have to say," I finished as I stepped down and walked back to where I originally stood.
The other Orphans recoiled like I was a leper. Roman was still standing next to the pedestal with his mouth wide open looking at me as if I had two heads. Only one of the Guardians seemed impressed with what I had done.
Stepping out from the confused cluster of bodies, she pushed her dark green hair out of her face as she hopped onto the pedestal and clapped.
"Good for you, girlie," she said with a satisfied nod. "But for the sake of your Guardian here, I wouldn't do that again," she said placing a hand on Roman's shoulder. "I may have appreciated it but if they knew what you just did, it'd be straight off to the Killing Fields for you. Which brings up my point. My name is Karma and it's lucky for you that I'm the head Guardian. No one will repeat what they heard today will they?" she asked looking at everyone sternly. "And no one will repeat her infraction either, will they?" she asked loudly.
"See? No harm, no foul," she said to Roman. "Go back to your Orphan. I'll meet with the two of you last."
Roman looked faint with relief. He took her hands in his and thanked her before coming back to my side.
"Karma?" I asked suddenly.
"Yes Chaos? And so you know after what you just pulled the name suits you," she said with a grin.
"What are the Killing Fields?"
Her face softened as she shook her head gently. "Not today, girlie. I'd rather meet you all than worry you with that. That's not something any of you will have to worry about for a long time so long as everyone abides by the damn rules," she said looking at us one at a time.
"But—" I was cut off by Roman who grabbed me angrily by the arm and began dragging me away from the others.
"Listen to me," he said roughly tossing me against an odd-looking tree. "You need to stop acting like a damn fool. Stop questioning the person who just saved your life. If any of the Keepers were here, you, me, and Karma would have lost our lives over what you did. So shut your damn mouth so we can get through today without losing anything!" he about screamed in my face.
"Okay,"I replied with a careless shrug.
"Good," he said as he straightened himself out. "I'm sorry for getting angry with you. I shouldn't have lost my temper, but can you just pro
mise me something, please?"
"What's that?" I inquired.
"Can you give me a heads up when you're going to do something like that again? I want enough notice to be able to call in sick," he said with that boyish grin returning to his face.
Reaching up above our heads, I pulled a branch off of the odd tree and chewed it thoughtfully for a moment. The sap was incredibly sweet tasting.
“Yeah, I guess I can promise that," I replied grinning back.
He held out an arm to me and smiling I looped my arm through his as we walked back to the stables. We stood there as the rest of the Orphans introduced themselves and their Guardians.
By the end of the introductions, I learned that the female Orphans were named, Xandy, Jett, Cassara, Winter, and Ember. Those were the names they had been given. The boys names were Stealth, Trigger, Phantom, and Jax. And those were the names they had been given. I didn't pay attention to the Guardians names because the only Guardian I had to address was my own.
The branch I had been nibbling on didn't seem to be getting any thinner as I stood there sucking the sweet sap from it's core. I glanced over at the tree again wondering why I had never seen one like it before. I was mentally drawing a map to the tree from every angle of this place possible so I would easily be able to make my way back to it when I wanted more sweet sap.
"Well that seems to be everyone," Karma said snapping me back to reality. "For now we'll head to into the actual stables to get some food into our bodies and so that you can each have some time with me alone," she said as she lead the way in.
"Whatever table you choose to sit at is fine," she said waving an arm around the room. "That's where I'll be and where you'll come to, when asked," she said pointing out an atrium sitting in the back of the giant room.
"Enjoy your food!" she said cheerfully as she walked away.
Roman looked around the room before asking me where I wanted to sit. I shrugged and let him pick instead. He chose a table closest to where the horses would have been had they not been out grazing and I sat closest to a makeshift window where I could see a serene lake in the distance.
Unwound (The Symphony of Brass and Bone) Page 14