"Those are the Keepers. Do not, I repeat London, do not say anything to cross them," he said.
"Line up kids," Karma commanded, "It's time to introduce yourselves again, only this time it will be to the Keepers. Remember; state the name your Guardian gave you, your old family surname, and then your Guardian will introduce themselves. We don't want to hear the story of your life so once you've said those two things, move on," she said clapping her hands.
I watched as the Orphans and the Guardians formed two parallel lines. I looked up to see if I could make out the Keepers but all I could see was shadows watching us.
Talk about creepy, I thought to myself.
The first pair in line was the girl with the black hair and her Guardian.
"My name is Jett Everheart," she said to the shadows. "And I am Astor," said her Guardian before they both walked to stand against the wall.
Next came Jett's friend with the white hair, "Xandy Vickers," she said in a loud, strong voice. Her Guardian stepped forward, "I am Donovan," he said just as fiercely.
One by one the Orphans and Guardians made their way to the spot below the shadows until it was finally mine and Roman's turn.
"Chaos Blackhouse," I said curtly. "My name is Roman," he said before he turned and walked away his head held high.
I could hear the shadows whispering amongst themselves as Roman and I took our places by the wall, which was something they hadn't done for the others.
"Is that the one?" a voice in the shadows whispered.
"According to the complaint by Astor, it is," another voice replied.
"Not now. Wait til they've trained at least," the third voice said to which the other two murmured in agreement.
"Orphans, face the wall," Karma suddenly shouted. "Guardians, prepare yourselves."
What kind of training would have us facing the walls and our Guardians preparing themselves? I soon found out when I heard the crack of a whip and the smaller, blue haired girl Winter, cry out in pain.
Oh God, they're supposed to whip us, I thought frantically.
"I'm so sorry London," Roman whispered behind me before the force of the leather strap tore through my shirt and starting eating away at my skin. With each lash that we received the others cried out louder and louder while I bit my tongue until I could taste my own blood.
Blood doesn't make you who are you. You can do this. Bleed for them once and then no more, I told myself through grit teeth as the blood rushed down my back.
"Rule number one," Karma shouted over the cries of agony and torture, "You will learn respect. Respect for me, your Guardians, and yourselves. You will not form alliances. You will not speak unless spoken to from here on out. Is that clear?"
"Yes," I managed to say through the repeated lashing.
"Who spoke?" Karma asked.
Another quick lash from Roman struck me, and I felt myself getting weak in the knees.
"I did," I spit out in between breaths.
“Good. Chaos has shown that she is ready to obey the rules. Roman you can stop, the rest of you continue," she ordered.
I heard him breathe a sigh of relief as he rolled up the whip and hung it on a hook against the far wall.
Karma approached me with a cup of water and nodded at me to drink it.
I gulped it down in one swoop and gave her back the cup with a look of thanks to which she smiled at me and nodded.
The beatings went on for at least another hour until Karma finally ordered them stopped. One by one the Orphans turned to face her again and I could see that they were just about broken already. Knowing everything that Edison had been through already I made a vow to myself to be strong for him and refused to let them break me. I would have to die in order for them to win and I had a feeling suddenly that this wasn't what the Program was about.
“Take five minutes to recover, and we will continue with the training. They are not allowed anything to drink," Karma said to the Guardians who nodded in response.
After the allotted time had elapsed Karma called everyone to the center of the ballroom.
"Are we ready to continue?" she asked.
I glanced quickly at Roman who refused to look at me, which gave me the hint that this next step would probably be as unpleasant as the last.
With her hands behind her back, she began to speak. "You were sent here because your families thought you were the most disposable. Part of the Program is to accept that as well as to understand that you are disposable to us as well. We will present you with the name of the family member who made the decision on your end. This is where you will learn self-control. Any sign of emotion on your face, and we go back to step one, is that clear?" she asked.
We all nodded slowly and I felt sick inside. This was cruel. To tell us who decided we were no longer worthy to be alive was as malicious as the beating we just endured, but nonetheless, Karma called the Guardians up to her and handed them all folded pieces of paper.
One by one we were called up by our Guardians to see who had thrown us so carelessly and heartlessly away.
I was the second to be called up and I took the paper from Roman. I hesitated for a moment telling myself that no matter what the paper said, I would still love whoever hated me so much.
Unfolding the paper I glanced down and almost laughed out loud.
Morrison Blackhouse, the handwriting said. I wasn't surprised. The only way to make Edison into a man would be to get me away from him. I folded the paper back up and handed it to Karma as the Orphan before me had done while she carefully watched my face.
When she was satisfied that I was emotionless she sent me back to the wall. The Orphans who did show emotion weren't so lucky. They were whipped an additional ten times for their emotions.
"We have one more rule in this Orphanage," Karma said as soon as the whippings stopped. "Do not turn on each other. Astor, step forward and bring your Orphan with you," she said gravelly.
"It's about time," I heard one of the shadow voices whisper to the others.
"It has come to my attention that you went to the Keepers with a complaint," she said to Astor with a steely stare.
"Um—" she stammered, running her hands back through her rainbow colored hair.
"If you deny it, you call them liars, and that is punishable by death," Karma warned.
Astor's shoulders hunched and she looked down, "I did," she said in a small voice.
"Let everyone here know what you said to them," she demanded.
Astor stood there silently with her head down. "SPEAK!" Karma yelled at her.
"I told the Keepers it was unfair that the Chaos girl left the stables instead of meeting with you as she was supposed to be. I told the Keepers that it was unfair that she gets to stay in the gazebo while my Orphan has to stay in the Orphanage," she said in a weak voice.
"How dare you go above me?" Karma seethed slapping Astor across the face. "The Keepers have made me the Head Guardian for a reason, you were supposed to come to me with complaints not them!"
"How could I when it's so obvious that you favor her?" Astor spat back holding a hand to her face.
The other Guardians sucked in their breaths while Karma gave her a deadly smile.
"You're in luck today my Orphans," she began. "Training is officially over but you get one more day with your Guardians thanks to Astor's stupidity. Everyone outside. We're going to the Killing Fields," she said.
The last thing I heard as Roman all but shoved me out of the Grand Ballroom was the hanging creatures come to life with horrifying shrieks and Astor and Jett screaming.
Goodbye Astor
We marched, as if we were in a parade. Side by side with our Guardians until we reached a field so far away from the Orphanage I could almost swear we were off the property until I saw the entrance to the maze that Roman had told me about.
"Everyone step back please," Karma said as she pushed a button on a remote control device she was holding.
There was a slow, yet instant rumble a
s a round full of metal long seats started to ascend from the Earth. We all watched as they settled with a loud creak high above the ground.
"To the top," she said putting the device back in her pocket.
Once we were all settled at the top with our Guardians, Karma stood a few steps below and looked at us.
"Behind me is the entrance to the Killing Fields. Only I have the right to send you there not the Keepers. It's not something I take lightly and that's why they appointed me this duty. Now, one thing I will absolutely not tolerate is going above my head. I am one step down from the Keepers for a reason and incessant and blatant disregard for that will get you a trip in there," she said pointing behind her.
"You're all probably wondering why I've sent Jett in with Astor. Well that's easily explained. Without her Guardian, she has no place here. She hasn't had the chance to prove that she is ready to be a Guardian or to be released so she will face the same fate as Astor. Should she survive, the choice of what to be done with her is left to the Keepers. Though I doubt that will happen," she said dryly.
"Oh God why won't anyone help us?!" I heard Jett screeching from far away.
I looked around and when I realized that no one else had heard her it was the device helping me again and that they had to be getting close.
One of the mechanical humans crept up to Karma and whispered something in her ear. To me it sounded like mumbling but she nodded in understanding.
"There are five parts to the Killing Fields, so if they pass the maze, these seats do move to follow them if they progress. You will need to remain seated and any attempt to help them in anyway will land you a spot right behind them," she warned.
We all jumped at the sound of the screeching and chains. The cries for help from Astor and Jett were almost as loud. They looked up at us so desperately that I felt horrible pity for them. I wanted so badly to help even though I knew how Jett had been conspiring with Xandy to get rid of me once the training was over.
Astor and Jett stood at the entrance of the Killing Fields and I could hear the serenity of the lake flowing in the background. It was ironic at this moment; here these two were ready to fight for their lives and all I could think about was the lake.
I looked at Jett who stood in there refusing to meet everyone's stares. Disobedient to the very end, I thought to myself.
Astor on the other hand was looking up at us, more specifically me. She had a cold stare in her eyes and for a moment I felt honestly worried. Nothing much scared me in this world but the look on Astor's face was steely and full of hatred.
"Remove their chains," Karma told the creatures who immediately obeyed.
She turned to face us. Probably to be sure that she had our undivided attention in what was about to commence. She then turned back toward Astor and Jett and spoke to them as if they had been found guilty of a heinous crime.
"Astor, Jett. You are now going to go through to the Killing Fields. You," she said pointing to Astor, "have overstepped your boundaries as Guardian and have taken your petty jealously to the Keepers. They in turn have washed their hands of protecting you or your Orphan. You only have yourself to blame for this," she declared. "If either of you try to come out the way you came or go off the path, the penalty will be far worse than you can imagine," she warned. "Now, go. We don't have all day,"
With that she came up the metal seats and sat behind all of us. Jett looked at Astor with fear in her eyes, but she didn't notice because she was still staring at me with dangerous eyes.
I looked at Roman who was looking at Astor questioningly. When he returned my look he jerked his head toward the entrance to the maze and I saw they had disappeared.
Not much time had passed before we heard two bloodcurdling screams and then silence.
Poison
A few days had passed since we were introduced to the Killing Fields. The Guardians had been taken from us the next day.
I spent most of my time in the gazebo refusing to come out to socialize. I didn't want to eat with the other Orphans nor did I want to speak to them.
On the occasion that I did leave my room I would walk to the tree in near the stables and chew on the branches. The sweet sap filled me better than a meal these days and at least I knew that if left for dead I would be able to sustain myself with nature.
In the distance I saw a head of long, dark green hair coming closer and I knew it was Karma. I quickly reached up and snapped a few branches off and stuck them in my pocket. No matter what she said I had no intention of socializing with anyone. None of them mattered to me.
I was angry because I hadn't seen Roman in days. I was angry because Astor and Jett died because of me and I was angriest of all because I missed Edison and saw no way of bing able to keep my promise to him of coming back home.
I stood up and Karma smiled when she got closer.
"How ya doing, girlie?" she called out.
I just looked at her with a solemn expression making that my answer instead of words.
"Why do you like this tree so much?" she asked finally stopping beside me.
I shrugged instead of answering her with words. I wasn't sure what about the tree kept bringing me back to it, except for the sap.
"Listen, I know this has probably been harder on you than the rest of the Orphans because it seemed like you and Roman really clicked, you know? But you have to understand something. What I did to Astor and Jett wasn't because of you. It was because of Astor. So don't get hard on yourself about it, please."
"Thanks," I said suddenly feeling lightheaded. "Plus, if Roman liked you, you can't be all that bad," she said with a chuckle. "Anyway, I know you haven't been around the Orphanage much, but I really need you to start showing up. Make appearances, that kind of thing. If you don't the Keepers will find out since they have the place wired and I'll have to send you to the Killing Fields. I don't want to do that, see. I'd have to explain it to Roman and he'd never understand or forgive me for it."
"Karma, do you .... you know, like Roman?" I asked suddenly.
"Is it that obvious?" she asked with a laugh. "Kind of," I replied with a small smile. "I've never liked a boy before. Not the way you like him. The only boy I've ever cared about is my brother. I've never had time to think of anyone else. My mother is so mean to him because he's not rough like my other brothers," I explained.
"London, I really like you," she started with a sigh, "and if I could set you free to run back into this world I would, but as the Head Guardian here, I have to ask you not to tell me anymore stories. Not because I don't care or don't want to hear them, but for all I know this tree wired too," she said. She glanced up and put her hands on her hips, "On the second hand probably not. This is the only tree they've told us to stay away from. I think it's because it's the Poison Willow," she said more to herself than me.
"Poison Willow?" I asked.
"Yeah apparently the sap is supposed to be poisonous. I remember hearing a story when I had first gotten here as an Orphan about one of the Keepers who had made some kind of wine out of this tree and eventually wound up losing his mind. I hear he offed himself," she said matter-of-factly.
"Don't repeat that story, okay?" she said suddenly looking worried.
I wasn't listening though I had just come to the realization that I had been poisoning myself this entire time and Roman didn't think to stop me. That's why I had been getting lightheaded lately and that's why I was feeling those pains in my body.
"London?" she asked nervously.
"I promise," I whispered to her. I won't be alive long enough to tell anyone, anything, I thought feeling the branches poking against my skin in my pocket.
"Good, well I think you should come with me back to the Orphanage. I hate to push you and I hate to say this, but it will look better for the both of us if you came back with me," she said.
I nodded in a daze. I still couldn't believe that Roman was letting me do this to myself. Did he think I would be better off dead? How dare he make that decision?
How dare he try to take me away from Edison?
I vowed to myself that the next time I saw Roman he would be dead or I would.
I followed Karma back to the Orphanage. We went to the grand ballroom where there was a large banquet table set out with all manners of food I had never seen before. As quickly as I could, I ran over and began to stuff as much as I could into my mouth. Hopefully something I ate would be able to soak up the poison that was coursing inside of me.
"What?"
I glanced over and saw the blue haired girl Winter looking at me curiously.
"I'm sorry?" I asked her.
"You were mumbling just now. I wasn't sure if you were speaking to me or yourself," she said timidly.
"I ... didn't say anything," I replied.
She raised her eyebrows before she turned back to eating her food.
"Orphans, can I have your attention?" Karma asked standing up a the end of the banquet table.
Everyone respectfully stopped eating and looked over at her while I glanced over with a full mouth of food and bread in my hand.
"Tomorrow you will be paired up. Because you no longer have your Guardians for the time being, I want you all to have some kind of companionship. So look at your neighbor; whoever that is make your new friend. Don't get too friendly with each other though," she warned before she walked away.
As she walked away I stuffed the bread into my mouth and reached for more.
"Are you okay?" Winter asked me?. "Fine," I replied with a full mouth. "You're starting to sweat," she said.
"I think I'll just go back to my room and lay down," I said grabbing an armful of bread.
Nodding she wiped her mouth with her napkin and stood up. It wasn't until I reached the door that I realized she was following me.
I wasn't in the mood for an argument so I just let her come with me. I wanted to eat my bread and lay down and hope that this was all a vicious dream. That Roman hadn't betrayed me. That the Orphanage didn't exist. That when I woke up Edison would be sitting next to my bed as always with a smile on his face.
When we got to the door I just stared at them. I wasn't sure how to open them still. In frustration, I let out a yell and kicked the glass.
Unwound (The Symphony of Brass and Bone) Page 16