(Caution: May be a triggering scene of abuse)
My earliest memory began from an orphanage. I didn't know whether my parents were still alive or not, I'm already here by the time I had my consciousness. Never had I left this place from then. Name, Lucius. Age, 9. That's what they told me.
"That boy is incredibly beautiful, isn't he?" One of the caregiver whispered to the other.
"Indeed." The caregiver with a beauty mark under her right eye nodded before continuing, "Mr. Will seemed to take a liking towards him, too."
Mr. Will is the owner of the orphanage, the 'kind' mercenary who had retired and is currently caring for the orphans. However, I already knew of the unpleasant secret behind his act.
The children who would be adopted were all called into his office a day prior. Their reactions after didn't look so bright for someone who had received a delightful news.
"Lucius, Mr. Will is asking for you in his office," the previous caregiver called out.
Hearing that, I obediently followed her down the corridor, towards the room with a black wooden door. Once I entered the dimly lighted place, I could see Mr Will drinking by his table.
"Come here," he signed me.
I approached him without any resistance. No one wants to upset this man, after all. At least none in this orphanage.
Mr. Will scanned me from head to toe before finally asking with a drunken slur, "Lucius, hic…you wanna…get adopted?"
Gripping my fist, I nodded reluctantly. My eyes were stuck on his extended hand, one that was reaching for my shoulder. His grip was tight, so tight it might bruise.
"Hm…but I don't want to…hic…let go of such a beautiful child…hehe.." Mr. Will added.
A chill crept down my spine when I saw the change in his gaze. The way he looked at me was not normal, I knew that much. His hand crept down my body as his eyes were glued to me. It was as if he's looking at a helpless prey. Mr. Will's face was flushed, his lips had curled up into a distorted smile. I'm afraid, I'm so afraid. He suddenly pulled me up the table, leaving me no time to react. His strong arm pinned me down, crumpling the papers beneath.
"I've had my eyes on you for a while." Mr. Will grinned, his free hand clumsily unbuckling his belt
Panicked over the situation, I struggled to remove his weight off of me. "N-no…please, no," I pleaded.
Help me….Someone, anyone could do. Just get me out of here. I don't want to be here. Anywhere is better. I'll be good. I don't want this, I hate it. I hate it so much. So please, PLEASE HELP ME!
"STOP MOVING!" The drunken man yelled, vibrating my eardrums aggressively. It was then that I felt a tremendous pain across my face.
*PIIIINGG-*
He had struck me. Hard. My ears were ringing, blocking every sound. My vision had become blurry and I could no longer see his face clearly. I'm thankful for that. A hand was roaming under my cloth. The smell of booze filled my nose. There was a foreign sensation I'm feeling, it was forceful and painful. With the last ounce of strength, I snatched a bottle of beer that he was drinking and-
*CRANGGGG!*
The glass bottle shattered. I had hit his head with it. Mr. Will slumped on his chair, blood trickled steadily down his temple. Without further hesitation, I immediately took the chance and dashed out of that filthy room.
"CATCH THAT RASCAL!" Mr. Will shouted furiously.
The caregivers outside rushed to the room and immediately blocked the corridor when they saw me barging out of it. The kitchen was vacant so I took off there, avoiding the swinging hands reaching for me and escaped through the back door. Under the night sky, I sprinted as if my life depended on it.
*A little more...I have to go further away from here.*
Never once had I stopped even though I was exhausted. My breath gradually shortened and the pain from that previous assault was stubbornly clinging onto me. My legs were shaking and sweat soaked through my shirt.
There was no one around. Only the stars had guided my way. Just as I was about to collapse, a slum came to sight. It was a bleak sight, one that reeks of poverty. Contrary to that, it had brought me relief.
A lot of people were wandering around aimlessly. Many had also settled for the night by the roadside. The place was extremely filthy, with trashes piling up everywhere just as the humans. Everyone looked like they hadn't eaten for days. Ribs showing, shallow eyes and sunken cheeks.
*Maybe I would be just like that,* I thought.
Walking across the slum, I kept my head low as to not attract any attention. Nevertheless, there was still unwanted gazes trailing my movements. It was incredibly uncomfortable.
"This useless appearance," I gritted my teeth in frustration. This appearance was adored by the caregivers back at the orphanage. It was also this appearance that had brought me to my doom. Now, I can't even escape from those filthy gazes.
Fortunately, an empty alley with a few scraps of boxes was found. I decided to spend the night there and laid the boxes down. To bear the cold of the night, I had to curl up in order to keep whatever bodily heat I have.
It was chilly and lonely. However, it was far better than the orphanage. I tried to close my eyes and get some rest but found it rather difficult to do so in this situation. My body was still trembling from the events today. How I wish to have someone around, one that could bring comfort to me.
While praying hard for that single wish, my eyelids grew heavier as my exhaustion forced me into a slumber.
***
"Woah, didn't expect to see another child here!" A girl's voice filled my ears. It was cheerful and pleasant.
*Who was that?* My eyes fluttered open, only to have the morning rays intruding my vision. A silhouette was looking right down at me.
It was a little girl, squatting in front of me while munching on an apple. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were torn everywhere. Surprisingly, she doesn't look so dirty.
*And she seems harmless,* I thought.
"I got an extra apple, want one?" She held out her other hand, an apple was there.
My stomach grumbled and echoed through the air. It was embarrassingly loud but the girl didn't mind at all.
"Hungry, are we?" She chuckled. Her smile was warm.
I haven't had anything yet since yesterday. It was inevitable. The girl was still staring at me with a smile, patiently waiting for me to take her offer. Propping myself up, I accepted the apple and sat properly.
"…Thank you," I said
The girl's smile grew wider. It was to the point that her nose got all scrunched up. She then plopped down next to me, taking a last bite from her apple and threw away the stem.
"How old are you?" She asked.
"I'm 9 years old."
I also took a bite of the apple she had given me. It was very sweet and juicy, probably the best apple I have ever had.
"Woah, we're the same age, then!" She continued. "I'm Catherine, what about you?" Catherine asked, extending her hand.
"I'm Lucius," I hesitantly reached back for her.
"Lucius! Nice to meet you!"
Catherine grabbed ahold of my hand and shook it enthusiastically. That was the first time I had ever met her and my first impression was that she's an oddball. How can one ever looks so cheerful living in a slum? The smile never left her face and it was contagious, even for me.
Perhaps god had answered my prayers that day.