Chapter 1

"Food's ready, hurry up."

"In a minute" I put the last band aid on my left cheek.

I walked dowstairs and took a seat.

"Now what on earth happened to your cheek?" On my prephearal vision I saw Susan disaproved then went back to what she is doing. So did the other kids.

"It's a long story."

"How long is that?"

"Enough to make you sleep."

She sighed in defeat and started feeding Molly.

"You know enough how dangerous it is to get into fights."

Did she just thought I was a part of those gangsters who fight on streets?

"Trust me , there's nothing to worry about."

That pretty much didn't win her over, but she went silent anyway.

She's aunt Mae. And I'm an orphan. She said she saw me in a basket on her doorstep when I was just a baby, with just a necklace and a paper with my name on it.

I guess its better than being left in the woods, or on the side of the road. She's kind, she took care of us as her own, gave us our needs, the protection of a father, the care of a mother, the love of a parent.

I owe her.

I finished my food and cleaned the table as the kids ran off to play outside.

"Red, when will you learn to ignore those teens?" Susan came in to the kitchen and helped me on the dishes.

"I did, but they just wouldn't stop."

"One day , you'll regret fighting back, something bad might happen to you, its not good for aunt Mae."

"I know, they have rich assed parents backing them , i know, but I wont just let them insult my parents, even if I didn't know them."

"Just try to stay out of trouble ok?"

"Cool."

"So, how's my piece commin up?" Susan loves painting and she's good at it, and because aunt Mae saw this ,she made Susan persue on it, she even sells her work sometimes.

"Not done yet."

Suddenly we heard someone crying in the backyard. We rushed there and saw that it was actually just Lizzy. Her knee was bleeding and Terence was there beside her trying to hush her before aunt Mae would arrive.

When Terence saw us he ran to us and reported.

"Lizzy fell down and scrapped her knee, she blamed me for chasing her but its all because she ate my candy, that's why she panicked and stumbled on a rock."

These two are of about six years old, he sounded cute explaining while tugging his face on my legs.

"Lizzy hush now. No fairy shows up to a cry baby." Susan wiped her tears with her hands.

She tries to hold her tears which ended up making her look more adorable.

"Am I gonna die? There's blood commin' out."

"No your not, and I'm gonna get the magic box to spread healing potion on your wound ,then you'll be fine."

Susan knows how to deal with children. Way better than I can. I'm straight forward and bad at making kiddie stories on how to make them tone down. She on the other hand made it sound like its a dialect she learned.

"Will I really be ok Red?" She looked at me with those big hoping eyes.

"Yeah, a scratch won't keep you away from us."

Susan arrived, med kit in hand. She cleaned Lizzy's injury then neatly and gently applied the cotton contained with betadine.

We stayed and played with them until some of the kids joined their game.

It was a happy bunch. Sure there were no parents but there is always aunt Mae. Its more than enough. Having nearly 20 not related by blood siblings, can quite be cool.

The next day came and I had to go out to buy some goods for the place. I went out and brought the list of goods needed.

On my way to the store. I spotted an old woman having a hard time crossing the road.

She was midway crossing when a loud honk of a truck on high speed aproaches.

I hurriedly ran towards her carrying her making sure she wasn't hurt by the way I picked her up, safely crossed the road unscathed.

"Thank goodness, bless your heart young child."

"No worries."

"Oh, not all can run towards a running truck just to save an old stranger."

"So where are you headed gran? I might be able to give you aid, I'm not in a hurry after all"

"Oh don't bother on this old fella."

"Ok, guess I'll get going."

"Don't forget to get some soya milk for little Jezzy."

My brows furrowed in confusion.

"How did you-"

When I turned around the old woman was no where to be found. A chill ran down my spine. That was quite creepy. Was i hallucinating?

I tried to step aside what on earth just happened and went on with the groceries. Soya milk wasn't on the list but I bought some just as what that old woman said.

After picking up all the groceries. I started walking home. Three blocks away I saw Felice and her friends.

Just to stay away from trouble I walked slowly and made sure they entered the store just right ahead before I walked passed the block.

Their all good for nothing teens, a complete waste of time.

They pick on others they think are weaker than them and run back ro their parents when they can't handle the situation spatting lies like they were the one's being bullied.

I had large steps all the way back to the orphanage.

"I'm back."

"Red, I forgot to add some soya milk. I'm going out to get some."

"Oh don't bother, I already bought some" I placed the groceries on the kitchen counter.

"Oh."

"Anyways I'm going out" she stopped right on her tracks and looked at me raising an eyebrow

"And where are you going?"

"Just a stroll"

"Be back bedore sun down" her eyes literally spoke the line 'I'm watching you'.

"Cool"

I went out and went straight to the old abandoned house.

Some say its creepy like ghosts are loitering around, but I have never really seen one. Not that I'm planning to.

The first time I saw this place was when I was 8. It scared the hell out of me when Felice threw my necklace in it.

It did look and sound scary. The creeking of the wooden floors, the broken stuff and all . But pretty much I went in to get my necklace.

Soon after,it actually even became my hang out.

I cleaned most of the place, but still it looked creepy. I sat on the broken couch, elbows on knees head on hands.

I hang out here, doing pretty much nothing, just sitting and laying down, thinking on some random stuff, like what my mom would look like , what did my dad do for a living, did they miss me? How to deal with Felice, what to do next.

Now, I better stay away from trouble now, one more fight with Felice or her cocky brother, something bad might happen.

It was 5 in the afternoon. The sun was starting to get dim. I was heading home, whistling hanss on pockets. Until I heard the most annoying, unbearabls, sharp toned laugh. It was Felice's ofcourse. Together with her brother and four more friends.

"Oh , what a shallow coinsidence. The orphan. What are you doing around here? Looking for your momma?"

I ignored her words and walked straight.

"Hey, orphan ,don't be rude , look at me. Are you that hideous to hide your face around me?"

I scoffed

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