Untitled - By Jessica L.

Chapter 1

There was a merry-go-around, a ferris wheel,





Sweet cotton candies, in the colors of bright pink and sky blue –





A jester performed magic –





Ran to the funny clown that for a pretty balloon.





There was no balloon for the last little boy.





He watched the other children leave –





He turns.





No one was there.





* * *





He’s an unwanted child.





He’s a child never ceases to be born.





That’s what she told him.





* * *





The orphanage’s bell rang eight times as the sun dyed the dull sky to shades of orange and red. Summer’s morning always came to be warm and bright. Children’s were awoken from their beds, the halls and rooms very soon filled with voices and laughter. The younger ones were the first to be in the bathroom to clean up.. Some taking showers if it was their turn, others brushing their teeth loudly even though the watching adults scolded them. The older ones waited outside the huge bathroom filled with youths impatiently, well, most of them did. An exception was some rebels that gave all the workers here a big headache, still in their beds.





An elderly woman with silvery hair almost the color of snow appeared in the hallway. She usually had a very kind looking and wrinkled face, her crooked glasses perched on her nose. However, as she walked between the rows of now empty and neatly made beds, she looked somewhat furious. Reaching the last beds near the stained glass window that depicted an angel stabbing through the heart of a demon, the last three beds were not empty like the others. The end rows were the older children’s beds for the youths feared the image on the huge window. The elderly woman was not certain why there would be such sinful painting hanging there, after all, before this orphanage the building was a church built for Christians. But that matter is not to be worried now. No, not now, not after till she wakes up those arrogant, ignorant children –





“Aeron, Lunette, Kohaku! It is long pass the time to wake! Do not make me repeat myself again!”





A long silence passed as the elderly woman twitched with wrath and tried her best to control her impulse to hit these insolent children.





“Ms. Milford, can’t you possibly think of a better line then that one? I swear to the that bloody angel you been saying that ever since when I came here.”





The first one to respond, as usual, was Kohaku. His voice was drawling and dull, as bored and as he is too sleepy. The bangs covered his eyes, not so slant-like for a Japanese boy like him, yet the color was warm dark amber. Pale, pale skin, almost like the dead, yet thin red lips like drops of fresh blood, and an indifferent expression. He was not very tall for his age; also his presence gave off a sickly and fragile aura. Ms. Milford would certainly have loved this frail boy very much if it were not for his sarcastic and rude mouth.





“That angel is a symbol of sin! Do not speak of it as the God that bless us all!” Ms. Milford still could not get used to Kohaku’s manners after so many years having him in the orphanage. Such disrespect never came toward her from children, for the entire orphanage loved her dearly. She is the founder of this orphanage, kindly taking in all the homeless children that have no other resort in this world from all over the world, taught them English and gave them education.





“Now would you stop the rude tone, Kohaku.” Lunette, whom was the only girl out of the three rebels, awoke. A typical looking French girl, blond hair almost the color of silver that fell to her waist, blue eyes like the sky it is now, clear and cloudless. Silky skin and long eyelashes, she was a beautiful girl. However Ms. Milford saw that she had showed no hints of lingering for more slumber, she was somewhat angered that this wonderful young lady were influenced by these boys. Such as now as the Lunette gave a hard punch on Kohaku’s head, who cried out in pain.





“Oww, what the effing hell, woman?!” Kohaku held his head in pain. “If this was Japan, you would never be able to marry off to anyone you inu—”





“Sadly, Kohaku, this is the United States of America where men would kill for looks. And speak English.”





“Kohaku! That language!! How could you use such vulgar words? And you, Lunette! Do you not know what is the manner of a lady? Be a graceful and gentle girl, not violent!”





“Oh, c’mon Ms. Milford. It’s a new generation, girls don’t need to be all nice-nice—”





“Vulgar? Do realize I didn’t even like speak it out—”





“Do not speak to me in this manner!” She cried.





“I’m sorry Ms. Milford.” Lunette spoke in innocence like a little girl talking to her mother when she broke the flowerpot, her big blue eyes filled with guilt. Which, Ms. Milford had learned, is something not to trust.





“I’m just all right, now if you don’t mind I would like to go back to sleep…” Kohaku’s head hit the pillow.





“You will not!” Ms. Milford shrieked.





“Hey, it’s like past breakfast time, I’m hungry.” Lunette whined.





“You know what?” Kohaku starts again.





“Would you all like, shut up?”





Finally the fourth voice rose, which is the biggest pain of Ms. Milford’s wonderful life.



The blanket at the last bed shook off steadily as a figure of a boy showed in the whiteness. A brunette with strings of blond hair and apparently showed off highlights. It was messy hair, never seem to be neatly combed, some of them stood sternly right on top of his head. The color of the eyes was not amber black like Kohaku’s, but just plainly dark eyes, mass of nothingness, to look into them, it was like drowning in the darkness. Obviously the owner of these somewhat horrid eyes was not in such joyful mood. His eyebrows rose in annoyance by the lack of sleep; the dry, thin lips moved in a slow motion. A young boy about the age of 15, these three rebels were about the same age, his voice was cold and senseless.



“Well, well! If it isn’t King Aeron who finally awakes from his sleep!” Ms. Milford had had her mood ruined by these three, once again. So why be polite to rude people? The sarcasm in Ms. Milford’s voice was filled with malice.



“Yeah yeah, now King Aeron commands more sleep, so you all can leave.” Again in annoyance and more impatience, the sun dashed through the colored glass, making the bed looked as if it were filled with broken pieces of crystals. The light reflected on something around Aeron’s neck, which Ms. Milford taken notice of, and of course, it was that crucifix, the one Aeron always wears, ever since he came in this orphanage, which was quite a long time before the others.



“King Aeron can get up because Princess Lunette is hungry.” Lunette spoke.



“So what am I suppose to be? Prince Kohaku is very tired and want to sleep like the King?”



Ms. Milford then took no more, and pulled the three to the bathroom like pulling three troublesome dogs. Of course Ms. Milford could do this job easily, for she had experience of seven years doing this. Kohaku whined all the way but didn’t do anything; Lunette kind of just let it go, and Aeron almost fall asleep as Ms. Milford pulled. Once they reach the bathroom it was already empty, leaving no trails of people using it for the orphanage was very clean. The younger children had already started their lessons for the day while the older ones are cleaning up their dishes.



The bathroom floor wasn’t as icy cold for the sunshine warmed up the marble. Ms. Milford had slippers, but the other 3 were barefoot as they walked on the wet floor, having squeaky sounds while they walked. Now that they were all standing, Kohaku likely was the shortest of them all, who is also the youngest, his 15th birthday is near. Lunette by surprise was the tallest yet eldest, 16, though almost caught up by Aeron who was around 15.



“You all take a shower now, there is some breakfast leftover if you would like to eat. I'll give you thirty minutes, you be quick and do not waste any water. Hear me?”



“Yes ma’am.” Lunette took a towel and went to the girl side of the showers, humming French lyrics.



“Yeah whatever.” Kohaku grumbled and first start brushing his teeth as Aeron quietly walked to the shower room, still very sleepy.



Aeron walked in the boy’s shower room and choose as he always the last row where the biggest shower is, also with the only bathtub. He doesn’t have many clothes that he owns, much were from previous families he’s been adopted from. The orphanage has closets where children store their clothes, ordered out by their first names. Aeron opened his drawer that was almost empty, took out a black shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. Those clothes likely came from somewhere like Wal-mart or Meijer, but Aeron never took too much attention on clothing. He had better things to care for and spend time on, appearance meant basically nothing to him as long as the clothes was not ridiculous. Took off his pajamas, which is basically a clean white shirt and white pants, and stuffed it in his drawer then closed it shut. Aeron threw the towel he had grabbed over the metal hanger, and screwed the shower diverter.



Aeron did like a cold shower in the morning, it was a refreshing and cooling sensation as the cold water ran through his skin and his hair. He felt the liquid washing his face, leaving trails of marks on his cheeks. The bathroom was quiet, even as Kohaku came in and took a shower in the front row. They did both like a silent shower, unlike the other children who spoke to each other while showering, or even took a shower together.



Kohaku always took quick showers. He didn’t like water all that much, and hated a bath. It was not long before he left and dressed, leaving Aeron in the bathroom now alone, feeling the cold, icy water through his skin. He raised his head to the water; the liquids washed his face and his shut eyelids. Doing this made him felt cleaner, purer.



Like a cleanse ceremony in those legends from the God. Aeron thought, and gave himself a sarcastic laugh. Everyone burdens a cross. Everything can be wash away by time. Aeron held his necklace firmly in his palm, the cold metal pushed through his skin, a bit of blood dripped in the shower, washed away then by the water.



One drop of blood.



Two drops of blood.



Three drops of blood.



A pile, a fountain of blood –



“You are the circus’s child Aeron—”



The blood.



The blood.



His hands, his ripped skin, and the cross he burdens.



That filthy bloodstain.



“Haha.”



“Hahaha.”



“Hahahahaha!”



A hysteric, ironic laugh of solitude is what rang in the bathroom, loud and heartbroken.



The water in the last shower was still running, mixture with flash of red, fresh blood.



At last he releases his tight held palm. His hand’s skin is torn and mashed with blood. It was not the first time this had happened, and no one took certain notice of it, for the only 2 people he could call friends knows, everyone bears a cross, and an untold secret.



He ended the shower then. He was wide-awake. By the pain, but also the cleansing.



* * *



“I say, you take the longest showers in history.” Lunette took a sip of her café au lait It was breakfast for the three. They get the leftovers, but who says leftovers are bad, hm? As much as Aeron hated to admit it, the orphanage’s treatments were great. It had better showers, beds and meals than most orphanages ever have. Known for its name, Pure Sanctuary. It was one of world well known orphanage, passed down from generation to generation of the Milford family. They were faithful followers of God and Christian, doing good deeds on their names. Their wealth and also money they received from the government gave them what they needed to provide a great home for lost children.



Kohaku was working his way on putting sweet cream with a plastic knife, which he is failing at. The cream was not evenly spread, and he never can seem to use the fork sufficiently. The cream was unevenly put, and he could not work the knife the way he wants to. Kohaku cussed under his breath. He began to whine again about the orphanage's lack of Asian food. “So racist man, they have French food Italian food American food but no Asian food! And no chopsticks! I don’t even care if it’s Korean food or Chinese food!”



“Just eat your food.” Aeron cut a piece of pancake and ate it hungrily. The white gauze bandages wrapped around his hand showed dots of red, as it wasn’t wrapped thick enough. It made it a little harder to hold the knife and fork, but being Aeron is was not a hard task. Kohaku and Lunette did notice, but no one spoke of it, the same as no one ever asked for reasons for the bruises all over Kohaku’s body, or why Lunette has so many jewels with her.



“Easy for you to say, American boy that takes a super long shower.” Kohaku grumbled as he took a bite out of the unevenly put cream bagel and made a face.



“So what’s the schedule today?” Lunette grabbed the newspaper as she drank her coffee. “Good thing it’s summer, no more lessons.”



“It’s not like we don’t ditch class, either way.” Aeron spoke.



“Think we can sneak out today?” Lunette asked.



“The guards are up in the front door in the morning, so try the north wall window.” Aeron replied. He was always the leader of the rebels because ever since Lunette and Kohaku had come here, they followed Aeron.



“Tried to make your plans more secretive when you talk about it, will ya?” The main chef of the orphanage, Kane, as usual had the toothpick his mouth when he cooked, and was preparing the veggies for lunch. The chef doesn’t do cooking, for the orphanage had food delivered from the government, but he handles the portion of each meal per person and also the diet balance and taste test. A sloppy guy, you could call him, but he was a nice man, Kohaku did mark thought, and very humorous as he think like he thought all African Americans are were. Kane always saved some food for these three when they don’t show up for meals, because they always do afterwards when they get hungry.



“We know you won’t stop us, so what’s the point?” Kohaku drank some orange juice.



“Oh man oh man, you just can’t count on that, can’t ya?” Kane point his finger at Kohaku’s face. “Now I’m fine with you all going out, whatever, mind the business, you all teens can’t stay in one place for evah. But I heard ya went to some place you shouldn’t be going to. I been givin’ some freedom, don’t mean you can do whatever you what.”



“Oh don’t start to be like that old hag Ms. Milford. I swear, I get enough nagging from her alone.” Kohaku complained.



“She doin’ good stuff for you, so don’t start little boy.” Wiggled his fingers’ in front of Kohaku’s face, his fingers with rings made dangling sounds. “Besides, you all can’t go today.”



“Why not?” Lunette spoke.



“What else?” Aeron stopped eating. “It’s pick-up-a-pet-day, that’s what.”



“Oh please no.” Kohaku sank in his chair.. “I had enough with the Chinese family speaking Mandarin and expecting me to know what they say…. Today? Again? What age group are they looking for?”



“Dunno yet, Ms. Milford didn’t tell me.” Kane replied. “C’mon, finish up your food, I’m suppose to escort you to the main room. And Aeron, it ain’t that bad. Those people go through tests and questions if they will treat the kids all right and shit, and they got to pay for you guys. Shoot, I’m not going through all that crap! I don’t even want a kid!” Kane said as he worked his way through the pile of dishes.



“Oh I don’t want to go.” Lunette finished her coffee. “They’re going to expect me as some good girl… I swear I need to cut my hair.”



“Oh your hair is beautiful the way it is. Ever since Meg saw your hair she be going salon after salon going for the same shade of blonde.” Meg is Kane’s girlfriend, who was another blonde, though American and not with the purest color. She was nice, though, with a big smile and commercial like white-teeth. Aeron doesn’t have any problems with her. “Clean up, we gonna be late.”



Kohaku cleaned up in the slowest motion possible, though hurried by Kane many times. Lunette just groaned as she worked, and Aeron was thinking up a run away plan already.



“Now you all don’t be thinking anything too funny, ‘cuz I been working at cops before and I ain’t gonna lose you kids running wild in an orphanage. Got that straight, boys and girl?”



“Yeah whatever. Heard it all.” Kohaku complained as they walked down the hallway, the children now lining up to go to the main lobby. It seems that there were a couple families coming, and all the kids put on their best clothes and looked neat. Except that Aeron didn't care a bit if how others view them. Especially not those fake nice parents who say nice words then do something completely different. By experience, he can tell which of those people that come and actually want to have a child as their family member, and those who just wish for company or simply a working kid.

“Alright, let’s get moving.” Kane was cheerful while the other three silently walked, solemn.

Aeron touched his cross necklace. Kohaku noticed and played with the bracelet on his left arm, his fingers twirled around the third bead. Lunette twisted her moon shaped earring to direction of south. Kane, who was pleased by the three quietly walking, did not notice all these little movements done by them.

They walked to the second to last cross hallway before the main entrance. Aeron gave Lunette a push, which made her fall and her earring fell out under the heaters that stretched out far. The jewelry’s bounce made a crisp sound on the ground, meaning it reached the wall. It will take a little while to get it back, depending on the person’s arm size, that is.

“Oh darn it, c’mon Aeron, watch where you’re walking.” Lunette complained as she bent down, trying to reach for the earring. “Can’t reach it. Ugh.”

“Smooth, Aeron.” Kohaku commented.

“Sorry.” Aeron’s voice was indifferent and flat.

“Now young lady, let me get that for you. And don’t get any funny ideas, now. ” Kane bend down and reached for it, he was cut short, from inches, and hissed under his breath. “Some expensive earring you got there.” The earring reflected every little glimmer of light, made by fine diamonds.

“Need a hand?” Lunette again tried to reach for it.

“Na, I can handle it, girl.” Kane took off his own necklace and swung it to reach for the earring.

“Oh, Ms. Milford is calling for us.” Lunette looked over to the main entrance direction. “Should I go?”

“You go, the boys stay.” Still struggling to reach for the earring, Kane was concentrated though he did hear Kohaku and Aeron murmur.

“Okay.” The footsteps trailed in the empty hall, and Kane concentrated on getting it back. The necklace swung once, the earring was closer. Twice, it’s now within his reach. He struggled his stubby finger for the delicate little thing.

“I got it.” The earring now in his hand, he realizes that this was not the moon shaped earring that Lunette always wears. It was an earring in the shape of a clown; the clown’s eyes are made of glimmering diamond. “Hey Kohaku, this ain’t the one that Lunette always wears…” No one replied. “Kohaku? Aeron?” He turns.

And no one was there.

A clown for being tricked easily by three little shrimps is what the earring had meant.

* * *

“I can’t believe that plan actually worked out.” Kohaku mumbled as the three of them ran off to the north window. “I thought he was going to look back, but he never did. As expected from our old friend Kane. You can’t think just about how many criminals ran off from him.”

“It’s not that surprising. He’s a simple-minded guy, that Kane.” Aeron talked briefly as usual. He didn’t dislike simple-minded people. They were easy to read and understand, which was nice, not like Aeron can’t see through anyone’s thoughts.

“Well hope he liked the clown earring, it had special meaning to it, of course.” Lunette’s long legs made her almost ahead of the boys, despite their physical differences of male to female.

“You sure it was okay to just throw it like that?” Aeron asked. He did hate it when other people lost things for him.

“I have plenty. Besides, it’s not going to break just like that.. He better as heck give it back to me, though.” Lunette smiled. “But then we can’t count on how great Ms.. Milford’s face is going to look.”

“Now that’s something to look forward to.” Solemn look on Kohaku’s face as he said this.. “But at least we can skip the another episode with fake bitches trying to pick out slaves.”

“At least that’s comforting, huh?”

They reached the south window. It was gigantic as many other ones in this building. The clean glass made the whole hallway glitter with the sunshine.. As if the heaven reborn again on earth, the sweet scent of apple trees and butterflies in view made it even more radiant. Aeron was now indifferent to such sight, but the first time he did see this, he was shocked by such beauty. It’s not just this place, the whole building, named The Sanctuary – it was pure and sacred, free of vile and vanity. It’s like the name itself, a sanctuary for any lost, homeless ones.

“As pretty as it's always been, I say.” Lunette commented as she walked toward the glass window that the sunlight poured in. “Alright, let’s go before they catch us.”

Kohaku volunteered and opened the window, the warmth reached in. They will escape like they always have, from this Sanctuary, for a little while.

Aeron heard footsteps near the hallway. He hurried Kohaku and Lunette to be fast, that someone is coming, and just before he makes his leave –

“Hey!”

A male’s voice, light and rather admirable, came straight across from the room. Aeron didn’t know why he turned and see who it was, giving the person the chance to approach him. Perhaps it was the rather charming voice that made him do something so stupid, if not curiosity. He saw a boy about his age, seems a bit older, with the same brunette hair and strings of blond. A haircut that seemed to be done by nice salons, in style and fashion as any boys his age would have done. He did guess this is the stereotype that Lunette called “jock”. Sporty as he had work on his muscles, but no beard or hair everywhere on him as Lunette did describe. “Sweaty and arrogant, think they’re all that but they have no brains”. He didn’t have those hawk short hair cuts, but rather nicely cut and long.

Aeron always judged from an optimistic view first, then his own view of judgment. He did say the boy was handsome, or what girls called hot. It’s the eyes that intrigued Aeron the most. Unlike his own dark eyes that swallowed all, these eyes were aquamarine. It was a blend of blue and green; almost like the sea color itself, which was rather admirable. Then Aeron viewed him on his own. The boy was annoying enough to stop him when it was clearly not his business, also the shocking expression on his face irritated Aeron, as if the boy had seen nothing like him before, or did not expect to see him.

The other boy seems to say someone’s name. He was quiet when he did, rather like he mouthed it, it was barely audible. However Aeron knows it was clearly not his name, he can tell. The way he did murmured the name; the shape and movement of his mouth would not make the sound of his name. Aeron. A name that is sin itself. Aeron. A name given by his only loved one.

“What do you want?”

Aeron spoke in his usual manner, arrogant and cold with clear annoyance and impatience for the boy’s hand that still grabbed on to his arm. The boy seemed to not hear Aeron’s words, for he merely studied Aeron’s face, closely now, and concentrated. Aeron tried to be freed, but the boy’s girp was very harsh. His arm began to ache, and now he is simply in wrath.

“Let go of me!”

The scream rang in the hall.