"Solice… Solice…" A faint voice echoes. Sam?
"Solice. Solice!" Something pokes my face, jolting me. A wet drip lands square on my forehead.
I blink my eyes open to find one of the orphanage boys staring at me. His nose is running, and a snot bubble bursts as he sniffs.
"Ew."
"Solice!" the children chorus, their excited voices blending into a chaotic cheer. I sit up, disoriented.
I'm back at the orphanage. It seems I have nowhere else to go. Around me, the kids are laughing and playing, some climbing onto my bed and bouncing like it's a festival ride.
I glance down. Gone are my old tank top and sweatpants. Instead, I'm dressed in well-made traditional clothing, loose-fitting but sturdy.
"A gift from Prince Ramidion," a familiar voice says from the doorway.
I snap my head toward the source. Alondra stands there, as radiant as ever.
"Alondra!" I blurt, but the memory of the festival crashes into me. The blood. The violence. Her expression when she stopped me. I look down, shame burning in my chest.
"It's okay, Solice." Her tone is soft, kind. "At the end of the day, you saved innocent people and gave the orphanage more time, regardless of your methods. Thank you." She bows slightly.
Her words feel sincere, but I wonder if she's just masking her fear.
"It was nothing, really," I mumble. "I don't even know what happened…"
The silence stretches, heavy with unspoken thoughts, until Alondra breaks it.
"Children, please go play in another room. I need to speak with Solice," she says firmly.
"She needs to talk to her boyfriend!" one of the kids teases, sparking a chorus of giggles as they file out.
Once the door clicks shut, Alondra sits beside me on the bed. Her demeanor shifts to one of seriousness.
"The clothes aren't the only thing the prince left for you," she says, reaching for a small bag at her side. She places it in my hand, the weight and shape instantly familiar.
I know what it is without opening it. A lifespan crystal.
"It's 15 years," she says quietly.
I stare at her, stunned. Before she can say another word, I push it back toward her.
"Give it to the kids. Please. They need it more than I do."
"Solice, that's… that's a ridiculous amount of time. It's yours. You earned it. You don't have to—"
I cut her off. "No. It's for the orphanage. No ifs, ands, or buts. If you don't take it, I'll toss it into the river."
Her eyes meet mine, those violet pools glistening with unshed tears. Then, in one swift motion, she wraps her arms around my neck, holding me tight.
The next week passes in relative peace. I spend my time resting and regaining my strength, playing with the children when I can. Their timers have all increased slightly. Alondra must be distributing the lifespan evenly and carefully—not too much at once. If she gave them too much, they'd become targets for lifespan thieves in no time.
Every so often, I spot the hooded figure from the festival approaching the orphanage. He speaks to Alondra in hushed tones, but they always step out of earshot before I can hear. His presence unsettles me.
-----
Another week passes, and my body feels stronger than ever.
But something feels off today. The orphanage, normally alive with children's laughter, is eerily quiet. I sit up in bed, unease settling in my gut.
The door creaks open.
A hooded figure steps inside, his dark cloak blending with the shadows. My pulse quickens. It's him—the same man who speaks with Alondra in secret.
My throat tightens. "Who are you?" I manage, my voice trembling.
The man steps closer, his voice low and calm. "Hanone Tsuki."
"What do you want?"
"You've been summoned by Prince Ramidion." He reaches into his cloak, pulling out shackles that emit a dark, unnatural aura.
Panic flares in my chest. "Where's Alondra? Where are the kids?"
Tsuki doesn't answer.
"What the hell is going on?"