"Please don't do this, Temari. You will get in trouble."
Temari didn't even glance at the seven-year-old boy standing behind her. She was busy looking up and figuring out how to climb the high stone wall in front of her.
For a week now, she has been spending her free time sneaking around the premises of Angel Wing Orphanage, investigating every crook and cranny, trying to find even a tiny bit of opening. She discovered that aside from the front door that is always closed and heavily guarded, the whole premises are surrounded by a thick and high stone wall.
[Is this really an orphanage or prison?]
Temari has been thinking about that for years now. She never voiced it out because she will get punished if an adult heard her. Still, the itch inside her that craves to see the other side of this wall is getting stronger day by day. She wanted to get out even for a while. She wanted to know what is out there.
"Temari…"
She sighed and finally looked back at Alex. The boy looked worried. Her young heart melted a little. Alex is shorter and thinner than the boys his age and it makes him timid around people. Ever since he first came to the orphanage, he only has been attached to Temari.
She fully faced him. "I will not get in trouble. I am not planning to do anything. I am just walking around for exercise."
Alex's lips quivered. "You're lying. You've been acting weird. You are planning something. Please don't do it, Temari. The last time the social workers caught you, they locked you up in the basement as punishment."
Temari remembered that time. She tried to sneak inside the truck that delivers food supplies to the orphanage. Unfortunately, the guards at the entrance checked the truck and they found her.
She put her hands on the boy's shoulders and met his eyes with hers. "Stop worrying. I will not do anything." She was lying of course, but Alex seemed to believe her.
Just then, they were both startled when a loud and ear-splitting noise echoed around them. It was too loud that they have to cover their ears with their hands.
"What's happening?" Alex shouted in a shaky voice.
Temari had no idea. This was not the sound the orphanage uses when they want the children to gather in the courtyard or when they have to go to class or the dining area. In fact, the loud melancholic whistle was not coming from the orphanage. It was from outside but she didn't know where exactly.
The sound stopped after a few minutes but it left a buzzing sound of murmurs and voices inside and outside the high walls of the orphanage. It was as if the whole population of the city of Clearbury was all outside, as confused as the two children because of that sound.
"W-we should go back inside, Temari."
She nodded and began to run. Alex followed behind her. In a few minutes, they reached the main building of Angel Wing Orphanage, its huge and beautiful exterior mocking her. It was made to look elegant so the aristocrats will think that the children they sponsor are well taken care of. What a sham.
The adults were all gathered up at the wide foyer, even the headmistress was there. You know that something was terribly wrong when she goes out of her massive office. The headmistress only goes out and acts kind towards the children when the orphanage has wealthy and powerful visitors or when there is an emergency.
They all look gloomy as they murmur with each other. The other orphans were in the farthest side of the foyer, peeking out from the door and windows of the common room. Temari and Alex quietly went to them. But she had a feeling that even if they walk loudly the adults will not pay attention to them.
"What happened?" Temari asked the other children when they got to the common room. Some of them shook their heads. They didn't know what happened too.
Just then, a voice said behind her, "The king is dead."
Temari and the other children all turned to the owner of the voice. They saw Zak. Like the adults that run the orphanage, he looked grim. He was already fifteen years old, the oldest among the orphans. Next year, when he turns sixteen, he will leave the orphanage. It was the rule. She envied him for that.
"The king? King Maximus?"
"There is only one king in Mowsland. Yes, King Maximus is dead. That was why the palace sounded the alarm. It is a signal that someone from the royal family died," Zak explained.
That made sense. Last week, their teachers always mentioned that the king is sick.
"Is that why the adults are all in the foyer?" someone asked.
Zak nodded. "I heard the kitchen staff talking about how when someone from the royal family dies, they open the castle gates so people can pay their respects. I think the headmistress and the rest of them will go there tonight or tomorrow."
That information got Temari's attention. Her ears perked up as she glanced at the foyer. The adults will go out of the orphanage. Even the headmistress. No one will be here to check on them. It was her chance to sneak out!
Excitement and anticipation crawled through her skin. She did her best not to grin so no one will notice what was going on in her head. The death of the king didn't have much impact on the ten-year-old Temari. Even in their classes, she dozes off when it is history class and they have to learn all the names of the royal family and other important people in Mowsland.
What was important for Temari was that this will be a chance for her to go out of the orphanage and see the world outside the walls. It has been her dream since she was old enough to dream: to get away and be free.
She was excited to think that finally, her dream was about to come true.