Hearing him say my name I guess it's too late to act like I am still asleep.
"You are awake right? Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
The voice sounds like that of an old person but it's rather bold and commanding for someone old. This is my first time hearing this voice and i am definitely positive that i do not know this person. But I don't have a choice, i don't even know where Rian is?
"Who are you?" I asked as I eyed him squarely trying to show that I wasn't scared of him.
"My name is Richard. I am what you call the owner of this orphanage."
This place is too dark to be an orphanage. Is it really an orphanage or is he just making things up?
"Well after that Godly incident we moved to the chambers underground to protect the children and myself."
That explains why it is so dark here. But I can't just trust him blindly, the fact that he's alive right now proves that he has killed someone.
"While I was searching for food so that I could feed the children, I found you two collapsed on the streets. At first I thought you two were dead but when I checked your pulse I came to the realization that you two are alive and then brought you two here."
If this old man is telling me the truth then maybe we are saved, but how did he manage to bring both of us here. He sure is old to do something like that.
"How old are you? And where is my brother?"
"I'm 58. And your brother is in the other room. And why are you asking me for my age?"
"I was just curious. Take me to my brother."
As I got off the end and got on my feet, I felt as if I would just fall and I had no energy in my legs. Maybe this is because I didn't had any proper meals for quite a long time.
I tried acting tough and again started moving towards the door.
"Old man, take me to his room please!"
"Okay, follow me."
He took me to the room which was on the other end of the corridor. I opened the door just to see Rian talking with other two kids around his age. And as he noticed me, he smiled and said.
"Big brother, you are finally awake."
"He woke up before you. As you can see he is somewhat in better condition than you. Maybe it's because you took good care of him while on the other hand didn't cared about yourself at all."
"All I wanted was to take care of my brother."
"Keith, I'm glad you are alive too."
This voice sounded familiar, I looked behind to finally find a familiar.
"Racheal, it's you. Why are you here?"
"I was saved by grandpa Richard about 10 days ago. Since then I have been taking care of the childrens while he's not here."
"I see."
Maybe he isn't a bad person. If Racheal says that he is helping them then what he said might be true.
"Old man..no Grandpa Richards, thanks for saving us."
"No problem, you can stay here as long as you want to. I am going to find some food outside."
"Racheal, please take care of them."
"Okay Grandpa."
I shouldn't be too suspicious of them. It maybe true that they killed people so that they could survive, it was the same for us. The circumstances are what I should be blaming. Even after killing one person I went on and killed a few more to protect whom I love. It should be me, who they should be careful about.
"Racheal, whom did you kill?"
Crap, why am I asking her this. Maybe I'm going insane now.
"My parents."
She looked at my face, her eyes felt cold as if I were looking into a deep dark abyss. Her parents?
"My parents…they were killed by a man that broke into the house after that God's voice. I was not able to do anything..while he killed them both brutally in front of me."
"Wait…how did you survive Racheal?"
"I somehow managed to kill him with the kitchen knife that I bought from you."
So, she has gone through something tough like us too. Now I know the reason behind her lifeless eyes.
"It's okay, now we will be together so don't worry."
"I am so glad that i met you again Kieth."
"So you are like a caretaker now?"
"Yeah Keith, it's something like that."
"Hey Racheal, I have one important thing to ask."
"Shoot Keith."
"This old guy, can we really trust him?"
"Honestly I really can't say anything about it. Let me tell you something."
"Okay what?"
"Last week about 3 children who were living with us suddenly vanished. I don't know the cause and I honestly don't know whom to trust."
"3 of them just vanished like that?"
"Yes, and I don't know whom to suspect. It can be a supernatural incident too."
"Yes it can be Racheal. Thinking straight is not gonna help us at all. But this is the only safe place we have for now."
"Yes Keith, I hope it all ends soon."
"I have one more question."
"Ask Keith."
"Whom did the other kids kill?"
"I don't exactly know but Grandpa told that some people attacked the orphanage in order to find easy targets and killed most of the childrens but 5 of them survived who managed to stay hidden later when the grandpa returned he had those 5 kill the half dead childrens who were barely hanging to life."
"So he made them kill their half dead friends.. that's cruel but in that situation it was the best option."
"But Keith…"
"It was the best option. The old man did the right thing. Trust me, I know it better than anyone."
"So, you are okay with that brutality too.."
"Racheal, I will do anything now to keep myself and my brother safe."
"Okay, Keith Parker, will you promise to protect me too?"
"If i can, i will."
This desire of mine to protect isn't because of some conviction or obligation, I just don't want to lose the one that I have left. Even if I have to fight the gods. This all started because these Gods got bored. I hope there's a god who hates them too and is willing to give me so kind of blessings so that I can kill these so-called Gods.
"Keith..what are you thinking?"
Maybe I just got too lost in my thoughts. Maybe I'm really going psycho now.
"Nothing..I was just thinking what to do next."
"Oh, I see. You are still the same Keith."
"What do you mean Rach?"
"I mean even in school it always felt like you were thinking something, lost in your own world..in your own worries."
"Oh, it seemed like that to you. Well you are not wrong about the worries part."
"What were those worries?"
"Well, I just wanted to be independent as soon as possible so that I can leave the house."
"Was it because of your family circumstances or was it because you wanted to be independent?"
"It was because of my father. He made my life a living hell there. And it turns out that I am not even his child."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing…"
I shouldn't give into my emotions…it's not the time to be clinging to the past. I have one clear goal now and I should stick to it.
Looking at me all jumbled with my emotions. Rach stood up and said..
"Keith, do you know how to cook?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Come help me cook."
"Okay, I should help with chores at least."
After finishing what we could hardly call dinner, both the other kids came to me asking to tell them bedtime stories.
I'm surprised they are already close friends with Rian, maybe I was unconscious for a long time.
Both of them are close to Rian's age. One of them seems like the big brother and the other is the little sister.
"Papa used to tell us stories when it's time to sleep." The younger sibling said with teary eyes while pulling my shirt.
"Oh I will too, let's go to bed."
So, these kids are trying to act strong but still in the end they can't stop those tears from coming out.
"Okay so, once upon a time…"
This Reminded me of the time when I was younger. When Rian was about to be born. I used to cry because I wanted mom to always love me. I didn't want to share her love with someone else. But once Rian was born and i got a little brother. I actually felt quite lucky.
Coming back from school all excited because I wanted to see my little brother. All those times I bragged about having a cute little brother to my classmates. It may seem childish now but at that time it made me happy. I just want to protect this little happiness that's left. I will protect him even if God isn't willing to protect the smile of a child like him.