¬??? P.O.V¬

The sound of snow crunching beneath my boots filled my ears with each step I took as the bitterly cold wind howled throughout these dark woods. My left hand held sack slung over my shoulder, holding it in place as I trudged through the thick snow. My gaze shifted upwards towards the night sky as my right hand held my scarf to my face protecting me from the powerful blizzard raging around me. The light of the moon, let alone its trailing stars and those which shone down stagnantly barely managed to pierce through the harsh blizzard, just enough for me to navigate these gods-forsaken woods.

Aside from the constant foraging in the forest just to survive, needing to trudge through a blizzard whenever I do find myself doing said foraging and having to live in a damp, dark cave in the middle of nowhere.. you'd think I'd be complaining. Well, knowing me, I would be complaining, if I wasn't the one causing the blizzard in the first place. However.. that doesn't make this routine any less... unpleasant.

Finally reaching the top of a small hill overlooking the mouth of the cave we were using as a makeshift campsite I felt myself sigh in relief, icy cold air escaping my mouth and freezing part of my scarf as I did so. I was finally getting close.

I clawed my right hand and twirled my index finger, my eyes began to shift from their natural warm Auburn to deathly cold blue as the blizzard began growing in intensity. I made my way down the slope.

As I entered the cave, I turned back, my eyes darting left to right, barely able to make out the basic outline of trees surrounding our little hideout through the snow. After I was certain that I wasn't followed, I turned back bringing my scarf to my neck, I closed my eyes as I let out a bitter sigh. Freezing cold air escaped my lips, freezing the nearby cave wall as my eyes returned to their natural color.

"Sometimes I forget... I forget what it is I am still fighting for.." I thought out loud as I made my way down the cave.

"All this running.. and hiding.. for what..?" Clenching my fists, I carried on. "All I've lost.. all that was taken... still I-" my train of thought all but vanished as the surprising warmth washed over me. The ice on my frost-bitten coat began to melt as I made my way deeper into the cave.

The soothing hum of a familiar tune filled my ears, echoing throughout the cave. Then it hit me, the aroma.. a scent so savory it almost made me feel right at home. Nothing like the slop we'd have to cobble together just to survive.

I pushed back some hanging cave moss to the side as I entered our dwelling. Except.. it wasn't cold, or damp or.. anything of the sort.

Today it was different, the first thing I noticed were the flowers that dotted the cave floor, the walls were bathed in warm orange, the flickering light radiating from a few makeshift braziers that dotted the corners. Fireflies seemed to dance about this section of the cave.

Then I searched for the source of the melody, a beautiful woman dressed in a dark red dress and black leather boots stood, her back turned to me as she stirred a pot over an open flame.

Sensing my presence, she turned around, a smile warm enough to melt the coldest of hearts greeted me as our eyes met. Her gorgeous brunette hair rested till just below her shoulders, swaying slightly as she made her way towards me.

"What's all this?" I asked her, a smile finding its place on my lips as my right hand cupped her cheek.

My wife smiled at me and took my hand, a laugh so sweet the candied apples I used to make would be put to shame."Come now, dear. Don't tell me my sweet Flynn forgot what today is." She smiled at me expectantly.

"O-oh... uh of course I didn't forget what today is, Madi!" I stammered, holding up my hands defensively, trying to recall what today was. "Today is uh... its-" she cut me off. I was expecting the worst, I never wanted to incur the wrath of my Madisson. She could switch from a loving nymph to a venomous viper with just the wrong words. Luckily.. she stayed the former.

"Our 20th anniversary" she smiled, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace as the flickers of flame moved from the braziers and formed "Happy 20th anniversary!" For a moment behind her before dissipating.

"20 years? It's really been that long huh..?" I asked my wife, running a hand through my dark raven hair, resting the other on a large stone behind me.

"Yes, and it took you that long to get us kids." She joked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hey! It isn't for a lack of trying." I shot back.

"Really? I hardly noticed." She smirked, raising a brow.

"Hey! Ouch." I faked a pained look.

"Oh Flynn, don't look like that." She touched my cheek, planting a quick kiss on my lips. Pulling back, a warm smile on her's "You know I love you just the way you are."

I smiled back.

"Now come on," she began, taking the sack of mixed berries, nuts, and the odd bit of small game I was carrying, placing it in the corner. "I didn't do all this for nothing" She smiled and walked towards the stew pot

"How are they?" I said, trailing behind her before cutting off to the right, a secluded part of the cave we always kept warm. Parting some hanging cave moss, my eyes rested on their cradle. Our little bundles of joy.

"They're fine, Flynn. I fed them a bit before I arrived." My wife called out, I could hear her taking the pot off the fire, and carrying it by the handle to the stone table.

I smiled at them, bending down. "How're my two little angels?" I said, as I reached down into the cradle, tickling their bellies. Leo and Ashley giggled, both grabbed my finger with their tiny hands, pulling on it with all the might their tiny arms could muster.

"Wow.. you're both so strong.. and you're both less than a year old" I smiled, my eyes felt softer as I watched my two kids.

"How're the three most important people in my life doing?" My wife asked, parting the moss and leaning against the cave wall, her arms over her chest.

Now I remember. I remember why I fight, why we still do the things we do. I do it for home and family. That's why I always wear this locket.. a reminder of me, my wife, the life we chose to live, and why we chose to live it.

I stood back up, I was about to wrap my wife in a warm embrace when I heard the crackle and saw the flash of lightning.

"GET DOWN!" I shouted as I pushed my wife behind me, moving my arms in a fluid motion just barely in time to create a barrier of ice.

In an instant, the ear-piercing cries of our two children filled the cave.

"Oh, gods.. they've found us.." I muttered as our assailants rushed into the cavern, knocking over the stew pot, and stomping on the flowers. The fireflies seemed to move in a panic.

"And now those bastards are going to wish they hadn't." Maddison spat, as she moved her arms outwards and snapped her fingers in one fluid motion. Her eyes turning a fiery orange in an instant as serpents of flame began dancing around her arms.

"Keep them safe!" She demanded as she leaped over my barrier in a burst of flames, leaving the cave floor scorched.

"Damn it.." I cursed, hurriedly wrapping our son and our daughter in a gray tempered cloth as the screams of our attackers began to compete with the cries of our children.

I could hear the hiss of my wife's fire serpents, followed by the distinct sound of agonized screams and the distinct smell of.. barbeque(?) as she made the skin of those who dared ruin her handiwork and endanger her family sizzle.

I took in a deep breath and touched the frozen barrier, exhaling I opened my eyes, icy blue replaced the warm auburn in my eyes I willed the barrier to shatter, sending shards of frosty ice at the assailants impaling and killing a great number of them, wounding a great many more.

My eyes darted left to right, looking for Madisson in the chaos of battle, thank the gods I found her, raising her arms over her head while twisting her wrist in a circular motion, creating a pillar of flame burning a group of them to Cinders.

With one hand holding our children, I extended the other and created a path of frost, I leaped on it and propelled myself forward, guiding the path of ice.

"Madi! Grab on!" I called out to her, and not a second later she grabbed onto my back and held on sending continuous gout of flames around us, intense enough to send them running as I focused, forming path of frost up into an arch before sending us with more than enough speed out of the cave and back into the woods.

The blizzard I conjured was still raging around us as we launched through the air, holding onto Leo and Ashley tightly, Madi and I landed with an audible thud as we hit the snow.

"W-we.. we made it..." I said, panting hard as I rose to my feet. Checking on our children, before I made any more moves. "Safe..." I muttered, thank gods the blanket they were wrapped in was tempered.

"Not quite, husband." Madisson said, already on her feet. The frozen ground giving way underneath her, erupting in flames.

A worried look took over my face as my eyes rose, looking around.. we were surrounded. Smiths, tongues, scribes, and soul-swords all around us.

"Out of the frying pan.." I began

"And into flame!" My wife yelled out, stretching out her hands sending a massive burst of flame in all directions.

"Get them out of here!" She demanded, she radiated fury but despite that... I could see at that moment she was afraid, she was already near her limit. Maybe she was afraid.. after everything we've been through.. we'd finally meet the end of our journey and lose each other, fail our hard-fought mission, lose the family we've always dreamed off.. the family we just got. My eyes lowered to the two innocent and defenseless babies I held close to my chest, feeling a burning fury I willed the blizzard to intensify and batter our assailants with hail and shards of ice. By the gods, I wasn't going to let that happen.

"HOLD THEM BACK!" I demanded, I had to get our children out of here... I HAD to keep them safe.

My eyes began to glow a deathly cold blue as I slowly raised my hands, I focused all I had left in me to create a nigh impenetrable dome around our children, I then proceeded to bury them in snow, holding them in stasis. I pray to the gods she'll find them in time...

"Are they safe?!" My wife called out, the flames began to nip at the tips of her hair. Not a good sign.

"Yes! Now let's keep them that way" I suggested as I pulled my arms to my sides, encasing a group in ice before freezing their blood solid.

"Agreed." Madisson said, ignoring the pain she must be enduring from all the battering she had already taken.

"Good. Now, how about we show these bastards what we're made off?" I stated more than asked as we began to fight as one, every movement they made felt like a question, our response, be it in frost or flame was our answer as we took part in the deadly dance of combat... Given.. we made a few mistakes. I groaned in pain as I narrowly dodged a soul render's blades, only the tip cutting me on the cheek.. to that question, in particular, Madison gave quite the answer.

Our masterful displays of fire and frost filled the forest, bathing it in an icy blue and fiery orange hue.

"W-we.. we might actually make it out... heh.." I chuckled out, I could feel the frost begin to creep near my eyes and up my arm. We couldn't take much more of this.

*BOOM*

The booming sound echoed throughout the woods before my wife shrieked in pain, collapsing to the ground beneath her, the fire around us began to wane.

"IIIAAHHHHHHGGGHHHH" she began writhing in pain.

"NO! Madi!" I shouted, I took one step forward but could not take another. Frost had crept all over my body.

"NO. NOT YET!" I demanded. This shouldn't be happening, not yet!

"Heh. They always forget a bullet in the kneecap is just as good as any of your fancy spells." A raspy voice called out, as a man I don't recognize walked over to me, a smoking revolver at his grip.

"Sometimes better." He smirked twirling it around his finger before cocking it at me.

"Y-you! YOU DID THIS!" I shouted at him as I heard my wife writhing in pain, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Heh. Yup. And now, I'm about to do this." He smirked, pulling out a machete from the sheath on his back. I knew that look in his eyes. He wanted to cut me down. My eyes darted around us as I saw those bastards begin to close around us.

"Stop!" An all too familiar voice called out, all of them around us immediately froze.

"Mmmn.. the Everettes are good friends." The man said, I'd sooner bend my knee before the headsman's axe than utter his name. "I won't have you harm them..." the man sighed, rubbing his eyes "any more than we have to."

"Were good friends, you son of a bitch! I swear once I get out here I'm going to make you- AGGGHHH!!" I felt the frost creep closer to my core.

"Now now.. let's not make this any.. more unpleasant than it already is." He said, his hand outstretched, eyes locked on me as he mimicked my powers using me as a vessel. Bending the ice and forcing me to my knees.

"Please Flynn.. I want to help, don't let Madi die like this.." He knelt down and whispered to me.

"You know we can save her.." he said his eyes darting off to her then back to me "both of you... it's not too late to pick the right side." He touched my cheek, forcing me to look at my wife's crumpled.. dying form as he whispered into my ear"both of you... it's not too late to pick the right side." He touched my cheek, forcing me to look at my wife's crumpled.. dying form as he whispered into my ear.

"N-no... No. I won't."

"Haven't you two suffered enough? Save her, Flynn.. save yourself." He whispered once more.

"Come now.. don't be difficult. Here, let me take the first step." He said, standing up and dusting himself off.

The man smiled, and clenched his fist, the ice around me shattered. I collapsed to the ground.

"All you need do.. is take my hand.. then all is forgiven. I'll make sure Madi's taken care off.. save her Flynn. It's what she would have wanted." He asked, extending his hand to me.

I almost entertained the notion of taking his hand.. then something caught my eye. My locket. Our picture, me and Madi, the emblem of our Order carved onto the front and back had fallen off my neck and now lay in front of me.

No. This is the life we chose, this is the life we decided to live. We live and die by the spell, for the Order, in the name of hope.

I took his hand.

"No."

A look of confusion took hold on his face."No?"

"No, this isn't what she would want." I said as my eyes began to shift back to an icy blue. "Enough running from you, this mission is at its end. I live and die by the spell. I spill my own blood for the Order and the innocent and for hope. You don't scare me you sick son of bi- Hhrkk- ehk-." I felt myself being lifted up off my feet, chilling cold hands gripped at my neck, a cold more intense than anything I've ever felt, more intense than anything I've ever casted.

The man sighed, as he looked up at me. "Why..?" He asked with.. sadness(?) in his eyes.

I struggled to think.. and breath... let alone speak but with little I had left I spoke: "For love... for family..." I heaved a heavy breath, I would not go quietly into the night. "FOR THE ORDER!" I shouted, sending out jets of frost in all directions just as I felt my neck get crushed.

My body hit the frost-bitten forest ground with an audible thud, I can feel myself slipping away... getting weaker.. and colder, I can't move anymore... I can't breathe anymore... that's when my vision began to fade. The last thing I saw were the trees.. a single raven.. perched on an icy branch seemed to watch us... then the sense of touch started to fade.. as all my other senses began to fade.. my thoughts rushed to me.. my wife.. everything we've fought for.. everything we've lost.. then they rushed to my children.. our son and daughter.. by the gods.. I uttered a short prayer with my dying breath... and as if an answer from the gods.. the last thing I heard were the caws of the raven, flying overhead... then finally.. as individual snowflakes fall around me, joining countless others on the ground so too does my soul join the innumerable others in the hands of Lady Death.

~ Third Person P.O.V ~

Leo felt suspended as if he were adrift in a sea of unending shadow for wherever his gaze turned, he saw nothing but darkness.. that is until he saw the smallest glint of light in the seemingly empty void.

However, it was not the light of the moon nor that of the stars which he saw.. instead his eyes met that of another.

Cold, haunting red eyes met him, glowing ominously in the void above, Leo shrunk into himself, feeling cold as he looked up at the eyes appearing far... far larger than him. Though try as he might he couldn't make out any other features aside from those orbs of crimson red and a few locks of deathly white hair.

The eyes scrunched up before crimson liquid dripped from them like tears.. then a voice filled his ears as he felt his very being quake.

*GASP!*

Leo suddenly shot up in bed, breathing heavily, cold sweat dripping down his face. He hurriedly rubbed the sleep from his warm brown eyes, before his gaze darted left to right, scanning his surroundings, gripping the fabric of whatever he was sitting on as tight as he could.

He found himself on a cold, hard mattress. The top bunk of a bunk bed, another just across from him, the room was so cramped he could reach out and he'd be able to hold the bedpost of the other bunk bed. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light was what little moonlight a small window on the far side of the room afforded them.

The gray walls were cracked, damp, and rife with mold, what was once supposed to be a wallpaper had long since been dilapidated past recognition. A single old desk and chair, all scratched and beat up after years of use sat near the faded wooden door. The room was quiet and still, only the sound of water dripping from the ceiling could be heard.

He felt himself sigh as he ran a hand through his messy raven hair, feeling himself relax, he gripped his hair, tugging on it lightly as he closed his eyes, trying to still his breathing.

"Another bad dream?" A voice spoke.

"Gyah!" Leo let out a yelp of terror, startled by the voice, he to fell off his bed, landing on the cold hard floor with an audible thud.

"Oooohh... that's gotta hurt.." The voice said, you can almost hear the squint in the voice.

Leo rolled his eyes and smiled, recognizing the voice as that of Piper, his long-time friend, and roommate.

"Oh, no don't worry about it." Leo said with a sweet wide smile, knowing she didn't mean to frighten him. "That's basically how I get out of bed anyway. But I am glad it's just you Piper." He joked, now sitting on the floor, before Piper closed the short distance between them.

"Just Piper?" She asked as she extended a hand for him to grab. "I think you mean" She cleared her throat and closed her eyes.

"Introducing the ONE the ONLY.. the amazing, astounding, ever-cute and stunningly brilliant-" She spoke, imitating a game show host's speech pattern when introducing the grand prize, taking in a breath. "Piper! ahhhh.. and the crowd goes wild." She exclaimed jokingly as she pulled Leo off the floor, his pale bare feet touching the hard cold floor, causing a quick shiver to run up his body.

"Well, you're right about one of those things." Leo said playfully, dusting himself off, Piper punching him lightly on the arm, both sharing a laugh, the moonlight making it look like Piper's striking violet eyes were giving off a slight sparkle.

"Do either of you plan to tell me why you're up at this hour?" A voice said in a stern tone.

"Oh come on Ashley, when am I not up at this hour?" Piper winked, though true she did have a reputation of being a bit of a nightowl.

Ashley rolled her eyes at the comment, as she sat up, her raven hair being far more fixed than bed-hair had any right to be.

"My point exactly." She said, in a far sharper tone than someone groggy with sleep should be able to, standing up, her features somewhat mirrored that of Leo, her twin-brother, though her brown eyes were sharp instead of warm and sweet.

"Do either of you have any idea how many rules you're breaking?" She sighed "I don't know about you, but I for one, most definitely are not looking forward to another round of.. penance.. not so soon." She said, rubbing her arms.

"Come on Ashe, Leo just had another bad dream. Can't you cut him some slack?" Piper asked a small smile on her lips.

"Oh." Ashley said, calming down slightly, she crossed her arms and sat back down. "Tell us about it." She said, not exactly in the most... endearing of tones, but far more gentle, or as gentle as her voice could be when compared to most other times she speaks.

"I mean.. well, honestly?" Leo asked, before walking back and sitting down on the lower bunk bed, this was where Piper slept.

"With how often I'm having them and how it always seems to be the same bad dream" he said, his mind flashing back to the nightmare, those ominous glowing red eyes, the deathly white hair. Leo was visibly shaken.

The girls listened quietly.

Leo let out a sigh, before falling backward, resting his head on Piper's pillow.

"I'm not so sure.. they're just nightmares anymore." He said, his voice trailing off.

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

"Honestly? I- I don't know either.. not really anyway, I just wish I could at least remember what he says." Leo said, sitting up.

"And how exactly do you know he's a "he" if you can't make out any details aside from the eyes and hair?" Ashley questioned.

"I guess I just know" Leo shrugged, rubbing his feet together to calm himself down.

"Well, that explains why Leo's awake. What about you Piper?" Ashley said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.

Suddenly, a smile found its place on Piper's lips.

"Oh you know, just working on my latest little project." She said, shrugging and faking nonchalance. Her excitement barely contained.

"And that would be..?" Ashley asked, once again crossing her arms over her chest.

"Introducing the L. S. A." Piper said, holding up what looked to be a damaged translucent figurine holding an old jury-rigged lightbulb, copper wires wrapped with what looked to be old rubber bands sticking out of the bottom.

Ashley rubbed her eyes in irritation, letting out an annoyed sigh. "That does not look the least bit safe." To which Piper only shrugged and smiled.

"What's the L. S. A?" Leo asked, raising a brow.

"Leo's Sleep Assistant. The name needs some work, yeah." Piper winked at her friend, Ashley rolling her eyes at the name, Leo not knowing how to react.

"So basically how it works is.." Piper said, turning around and bending down to one knee. Her tattered clothes draping down as she sets.. something up.

"I redirect some of the orphanage's electricity to this bulb, through these wires." She said, seemingly fiddling with a hole in the wall that may or may not have been what she was making so early in the morning.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Ashley asked "Last time I checked our five-star suite of a bedroom surprisingly lacks any form of charging port."

"Aha!" Piper said, reaching into the wall, her hand protected by what looks to be a black rubber glove. "And that's where you're wrong my dear friend." Piper said, breaking several safety rules as she yanks out a power chord, miraculously not causing any damage, much to the twin's surprise.. and horror.

"And then, this goes here.." she said, sticking her tongue out slightly to the side as she carefully wrapped the wire around the power chord, careful not to redirect too much power.

"And.. one two three- There we go! Let there be light!" She exclaimed, as the bulb lit up.

"Huh." Ashley said, her eyes sharp as daggers. "So you risked our lives, not to mention possibly the lives of everyone in the orphanage, and a possible beating for... what? Basically a glorified nightlight?" Ashley said bluntly.

"Well... when you put it like that.. hm.. in hindsight. Guess.." Piper said, rubbing her nape in thought, her voice trailing off.

"Uh.. thanks I guess Piper." Leo said, a sweet smile on his lips, wholeheartedly appreciating his friend's gesture but honestly believing he doesn't need a nightlight to fix his nightmares. If anything can fix his nightmares, he's pretty sure a nightlight, isn't it.

"But Ashley's right, if any of the nuns found out... well.." Leo said, his voice trailing off "I'm still... sore from last week's... penance." Leo said, the word sending an uncomfortable chill down their spines.

*SLAM*

"Too little too late, my little guttersnipes."

~ Third Person P.O.V ~

Leo held his bruised arm, as he, Ashley and Piper made their way through the dirty hallway, the walls were lined with mold and cracks, water from the last week's thunderstorm still dripped from the ceiling of the hallway leading to the mess hall of the Orphanage, or as the Nuns call it "The Litter."

"Tsk. I.. told you." Ashley said bitterly, clicking her tongue in annoyance, dragging herself as they walked. Her raven hair a mess.

"Y-yeah... I guess you're right" Piper said, her face bruised.

"No, it's my fault.." Leo chimed in as they entered the mess hall, several long tables lined the room. On one side, six nuns stood in front of a large rusty metal pot. Each filled with the same old bland porridge. The room felt empty, despite the hundreds of orphans occupying the seats.

"You just wanted to help, its my fault for having those... bad dreams.." Leo paused, his thoughts flashed to those dark crimson eyes. He shook his head and clenched his eyelids tightly shut, to snap himself out of it.

"You were just trying to help" He continued as his eyes scanned the room, hard metal tables dotted the large room, Orphans dressed in old, tattered rags ate their meals quickly, despite not having the smallest hint of enthusiasm. This room was one of the few with a lot of natural lighting due to the large windows on the far side of the room.

*Thwack*

The distinct sound of wood hitting flesh seemed to echo throughout the litter, followed by screaming and crying, causing the room to fall silent.

Leo, Ashley, and Piper along with everyone else in the litter turned to look. Sister Nayla, one of the most senior of the convent dragged a young boy by the scruff of his neck, the child kicking and struggling, tears streaming down his cheeks as he begged for her to stop.

"This! My little guttersnipes is what happens when you steal." She said, lifting up the boy by the scruff of his neck, by the looks of it he could be no older than 6.

"This isn't right." Leo said, as he tried to look away.

"Isn't that right? You dirty rotten little thief!" She spat with venom as she hoisted him up higher before dropping him to the ground without mercy, beating him with her cane.

"We can't just sit here, we have to do something." Piper chimed in, whispering to her friends, though her whispers carried conviction.

"And do what exactly? If either of you intervene you'd just anger her more, you'd only make things worse." Ashley said, bitterly her piercing eyes seemed to weaken at her own words.

Leo and Piper stood there, defeated. Wishing they could do something, but alas they knew.. right now they just couldn't. They could do nothing but clench his fists and watch. Wishing they could do more, sadly getting themselves involved would only anger the nuns further.

Sister Nayla beat the boy for a few more minutes before finally relenting, not out of mercy, but merely because her arm got tired.

"Well, your penance has been fulfilled." She said to the shivering bruised mess of a boy on the floor. "Let this be a lesson for you." She said before her eyes found their way to Leo, Ashley, and Piper, her gaze falling on Piper. "All of you". she said, narrowing her eyes.

The nun turned to walk away, her light gray robes trailing behind her as she made her way out of the room. As soon as the rusty hinges of the double doors stopped creaking, the noise resumed.

Leo's eyes softened at the sight, ignoring his own aches he rushed over to check on the boy.

"Mn..." The little boy groaned, before coughing hard and grabbing his stomach.

"Hey.. you're going to be ok.." Leo said, ignoring the weakness and pains in his knees, he knelt down beside him.

The boy remained silent, the feeling of embarrassment and regret washing over him.. as well as pain.. a lot of pain.

"Yeah.." Piper said, resting her hands on her knees. "How about we get you cleaned up, hm?" Piper asked, her violet eyes seemingly sparkling.

"Yeah, we can keep an eye on you for a bit." Leo said with a smile, placing a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Y-you will...?" The boy asked, his eyes were swollen. His vision was blurry.

"Yes. We will." Ashley spoke up, her arms crossed over her chest. "Go sit him down, I'll get us our porridge." She said before walking away.

"Y-you won't hurt me.." he said, before pausing to breath, the pair helping sit up. "right..?" He asked, obviously shaken by the experience.

"Of course we won't!" Piper said, trying to sound happy and cheer him up.

"Yeah, you can trust us." Leo said sweetly, as they helped him to his feet

"So.. what do you say?" Piper asked, her wavy blonde hair resting just below her shoulders.

"Okay.. sure" The boy finally agreed.

"Good!" Piper said, as they walked him to the nearest open table. Strangely enough, it was at one of the tables next to one of the large dirty windows, affording them a rare view of the outside.

"I'm Piper, by the way, he's Leo. The scary girl a while ago was Ashley, Leo's sister. And you are?" Piper asked as they sat down.

The boy remained silent.

"You're new here huh..?" Leo asked, deciding it would be best not to press the matter.

"Yeah.. yeah I am. My name's Gabriel.." He sighed. "My aunt sent me here.. after my mom died." He said, pain in his voice. "She promised me.. they could give me a better life than she ever could..." he said, tears forming. "But I.. I just wish-"

"Poor child..." A voice spoke from behind them in a thick southern accent, as the small boy felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He recoiled instinctively, obviously still being pretty shaken up.

Behind them stood a nun dressed in black, her dark-toned skin much more youthful than any of the other nuns at the Orphanage.

Her face held an expression of great sadness, seemingly being physically pained by what happened, sharing in the boy's anguish.

"It pains me greatly.." she said, her thick accent making itself even more evident.

"To know the other nuns of the convent act the way they do."

Leo and Piper, taken aback by the apparent kindness of the nun, he simply didn't know what to say. For some reason, they just couldn't speak.

"You know.. the goddess we serve. Mother Gione? Under her sphere are the pillars of compassion, charity, and forgiveness." She said, seemingly holding back tears. "All of which seem to be forgotten here.. all they hold now are greed and selfishness." As she spoke, her voice seemed to soothe the small boy, who began to ease.

"Tell me child, what was it that you stole?" She asked him. At first, he seemed reluctant but her eyes reflected that of what seemed to be sincerity and truth.

"I- I stole.. an apple." He said, still scared. "From the nun's pantry"

"Why an apple?" She asked him, unsure if the boy did not know just how badly the nuns treat the other orphans for the slightest of grievances.

"Its.. well-" he began "When.. my mom was still... around" Sister Charlottes eyes wavered at his words "She'd make these apple pies.. and I'd always help her out.. I- I just missed her." He said, holding back tears as he remembered the mom he'll never see again.

The sister's heart broke at the boy's words. "I see.. so the apple reminded you of... your mother?" the boy nodded slowly. "Hm.. well, I think I can do something to make you feel better." she said, a small smile finding its place on her lips.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked.

"You'll see.." she said, opening her arms. The boy climbed into them, the nun wrapping him in a warm embrace. She reminded him of his mom.

The nun stood up, holding him tight. Just as she was about to leave, however, Leo finally spoke up.

"Sister..?" He asked.

"Yes, my child?" She asked, turning to face him.

"What's your name?" He asked her again.

She simply smiled at him uttering her name, "Sister charlotte." before walking off, the boy still in her arms just as Ashley made her way back to the table.

*CLANG CLANG CLANG*

The shrill sounds of a large bell being hit emanated throughout the hall, everyone turning to face the source of the noise.

"It has come to our attention that a number of you have been talking about getting.. Adopted" An elderly nun wearing light gray robes said, standing atop a set of stairs at the fat end of the room leading to the private wing of the orphanage where the nuns lived.

"Now you listen here, and you listen well. ALL of you." She said, narrowing her eyes and pointing a long boney finger at the gathered orphans.

"None of you are getting adopted. Ever. Things may have been different a few years back, but now I am in charge. And what I say goes!" She said. Glaring at Piper in particular. "Your families couldn't care enough to have you. They dropped you off with us because to them, you're garbage. Rubbish. Worthless piles of filth." She said, stressing every word. "Nobody needs you! Nobody wants you." She said, her words cut deep.

"That my lovelies is why you are here, and you will ALWAYS, be here until the day you have come of age and are thrown into that hard cruel world."