Chapter 1:
The Room
Alex sat on his bed, feeling alone and unsure of what was going to happen next. The room he was given was small and sparsely furnished, with a small bed, a desk, and a dresser. The walls were a dingy white, and the window was high up near the ceiling, letting in just a little bit of light. Alex gazed at the toy truck he had brought with him from home, feeling a longing for the life he once had. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Soon, the caretaker came to the room to check on Alex. She introduced herself as Mrs. Jenkins, a stern-looking woman with a forced smile. She told Alex that he would be living here now and that the orphanage would become his new home. She also informed him that he was expected to follow the rules and that any misbehavior would be punished severely.
As Mrs. Jenkins left the room, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. He was alone in a place he didn't understand, and it seemed as if everyone was against him. He lay down on his bed, his eyes closing as he drifted off to sleep.