"First, let me show you the adults." Bloodroot focused the camera on Cecilia's determined yet scared face first. Her delicate expression made me feel gentleness waft over me, but at the same time, I felt fear and anger towards Bloodroot and his gang. "This is the current generation Orphanage Mother, Cecilia Lancelot. She inherited the name of the Orphanage as her surname, just like you did when she asked you to. You and she grew up together apparently, huh?"
"…"
"No reply. Melvin, I am sad you see me like such a stranger." Melvin still remained silent, so Bloodroot continued. "So, next up we have the six sisters who help our cute Cecilia with managing the Orphanage."
First, Bloodroot's camera moved its focus on to the tanned twins. Two women who were in each other's embrace, looking tough as they glared towards the camera. They could see Bloodroot was calling Melvin.
"Next, we have here your playmates since childhood. Jane and Jennifer, the tan beauties. They were calling for christ to come save them till about a minute ago, but little do they know they don't need the christ, but their brother Melvin, to save them."
Cecilia put a hand over the twins' clasped hands, then gripped it. Telling them to remain calm. She was their spiritual pillar.
"I like the tough look twins, girls must be like you." Bloodroot praised, making me gnash my teeth as I watched the video streaming live to me. He moved the camera to a trembling woman next.
"Next, we have the person with the most seniority but also the most feeble heart. Sister Rose." Bloodroot consoled the sobbing Rose. "Aren't you already 30 Sister Rose? You shouldn't cry like a baby."
Rose was a nun. A woman so gentle she wouldn't hurt ants. The woman who always prepared meals for him when he was in the orphanage. The woman who was akin to a mother for him.
She was his supporter when he played sports.
She was his teacher at home.
Rose was not someone who should be made to cry. Not by these filthy men, not by anyone's hands.
Melvin felt his heart grow cold. This was a feeling he never felt before. An interest in murder. A wish to see blood.
"Next," Bloodroot said, "we have the youngest Sister. She just turned 18 four months ago, still a little flower she is. She is like your sweetest younger sister, right Melvin?"
The next sight was of a young woman hiding her head in Rose's lap. She was a wreck just as much as Rose herself. It was Tessa, his little angel whom he had rarely contacted in recent times.
She had acted rebelliously mad last time he called. She had told him they were cutting their connection, that he no longer had to call her.
He felt as if he had done a grave sin.
Melvin still didn't let his enemies see through his heart. He muted his own mic and just let the uncontrollable sob out, tearing up himself as he watched the video with gritted teeth. Yes, he had missed them too.
He shouldn't have waited to become rich to go back to the orphanage. All because of his stupid pride, they were in this situation.
"Now, now. Even I don't like making girls cry so I will move on to the next person. Sylvia, the most exotic sister."
Bloodroot, that wretched bastard with a silky tongue. I will kill him if he so much as lays a hand on them! I will kill him anyway!
The camera focused on Sylvia and she uncomfortably blinked as she stared at it. Bloodroot was right to call her exotic. She had white hair and silver eyes after all. She was a very silent, somewhat distant person. She never bothered anyone and just went about her own duties. I didn't have too deep a bond with her, I once even thought she would leave the orphanage just like me when she became an adult. But she didn't. She was studying to be a doctor now with the orphanage's scholarship support.
Even she was in this situation now. Nervously looking up as a stranger recorded her. The camera was looking down on the sisters due to them being not nearly as tall as Bloodroot even while standing—and most of the sisters were slumped on the corner. They had all been frightened after seeing real murder before them. They must feel so small now. My sisters.
The only one remaining was Maya.
"And finally, we have the final woman. And probably the most pitiful. Maya, the blind girl who was on a wheelchair when I arrived. Poor thing. Can't see and her legs don't work either. She is not much older than Tessa too, according to records. Right?"
She was silently sitting beside all the girls, leaning against the wall and staring blankly towards where Bloodroot's voice was coming. That innocent pair of blue eyes stared deep into me and I stared into her.
Maya was a very nice person to be around. But she didn't know how to take care of herself. Even when she is in pain or in need of help, she never asks and just tries to do it herself. And she has a big fear of going out into the world due to being afraid of getting taken advantage of by cruel strangers.
And now, that was exactly what was happening.
I am sorry Maya, I am sorry Sylvia. I am sorry everyone. I will return this favor to you after I save you.
Melvin cleared the tears. There was no need for it. He needed to be tough, he needed to be the man of his house for once in his life.
"What about the kids?" He asked calmly after activating the mic.
"They are in the next room," Bloodroot said. "Let's go see them. I gave them a little assignment, they should be finished by now."
He went around through a small arch and reached outside the orphanage building. There, a small park existed with a giant oak tree standing proud in the middle. The children were all standing in an assembly position, all looking fairly confused that the Sisters weren't around. They all had a big piece of paper in hand with bright numbers written on it.
Seeing Bloodroot, they all assembled more orderly. Bloodroot was weirdly intimidating, and at the same time, he had a sort of convincing aura that made people easily succumb to his influence.
"Everyone, raise your hands with the numbers held high."
All the children raised their hands and I saw numbers written in their paper. It went from 1 to 42. All of the current generation kids were here, and for kids too young to be here, they were being carried by their siblings. They were all safe.
"Stay like that and I will return in a few kinutes to check, let's see who among you can hold it for the longest period."
"Ughhh…" The kids complained loudly.
One of them asked in complaint: "Where are the orphanage mothers dude? Why is Mother Rose not the one doing assembly today, is she sick?"
"This is an assessment of the orphanage by the government. Until it's over, they can't meet you. And you, good job asking for your elders' wellbeing."
The boy who asked blushed and just remained silent.
What a silky tongue. The asshole had a way with words. He knew how to shut up questions. Just praise then for it, and all they'd want is more praises, not answers.
Entering a room, Bloodroot explained: "No need to put the kids in panic for no reason. As you saw, I made it easier for you to count by making them raise papers with numbers. And making them hold it like that is just a warning for you. I could cut those gentle hands any time."
The words were said with a smile.
"So, Melvin, have you found the book?"
"I have."
"Delightful. When can I get it?"
There was a nonchalance to the man I hated. As if the book didn't really matter, as if he was just doing everyday business. As if our lives didn't matter.
"I will have to return to India and make sure all my people are safe before I hand you the book. Of course, I plan to hide the book and come to you without it. When I am sure they are all safe in my side, I will tell you the location."
Bloodroot said: "You jest. You don't have such a choice here. All you can do is trust us that we will let you all go once we have the book. Or well, forget the book and we…" he showed me the girls. "These are young, unmarried, beautiful women you know?"
That was the needle that broke the camel's back.
"In 3 days, I will be back in India. I will contact you once I am there. I have to get my passport and tickets ready and that's the fastest I can do. And I promise you, Bloodroot. You lay a hand on one of them, you will never see the book."
"…Fine. 3 days and no more."
"I will contact you."
I cut the call.