"Are you okay?" Marcus said as he patted a coughing Ray's back.
Ray had started up with a coughing fit soon after running around and was now crouching in the grass.
"Get....Nan...." he managed to spit out.
Marcus ran as fast as he could to Nan, who had gone inside momentarily to get lemonade.
Marcus ran through the interior of the house until he got to the kitchen then clutched the dress of a stout human woman with unruly brown curls tied down into a braid.
"Ray...coughing...needs...help..." Marcus panted, barely getting the words out.
Nan immediately turned and went, speed walking to get to the backyard.
She found Ray unconscious and laying in the grass. She gently picked him up and thanked Marcus for going to get her.
Marcus followed her inside as she layed Ray on the bed and put a damp cloth on his forehead.
"He's going to sleep just now, hun. Why don't you run along home? I'm sure your parents are wondering where you've been all this time."
"They know." Marcus lied. He didn't want to leave yet, and it wasn't like he had parents to wait on him anyways.
"You're not going to miss anything. I promise. He'll likely be asleep the whole while you're gone." Nan patted Marcus's head.
Marcus let out a deep sigh. "Alright. But I'll be back tomorrow."
Nan smiled. "See you tomorrow then, Marcus."
Marcus reluctantly walked out of the room, looking back several times. Then, when he was out of the house he ran down the street as fast as he could.
He'd likely be in trouble with for sneaking out. Most likely a spanking. Marcus shivered at the thought.
The daylight was starting to fade now. Marcus could see the moon in the sky. He slowed to a walk and decided the he needed didn't quite want to go back to the orphanage yet.
He held his arms above his head, taking in the dirty city. The sun was beating down on him. But not an apple tree was in sight. He sighed.
Having nothing else to do, Marcus thought back to Ray.
Poor Ray, he thought.
Marcus sighed once more as he started to see the orphanage in the distance. He frowned and kept walking even though he had the urge to turn around and check on Ray.
He thought that he'd better get this over with and knock directly on the door instead of sneaking in.
Marcus stood there, hands shaking at his sides. The door swung open and a gaunt demon peaked through.
He quickly snatched Marcus by the arm, frowning under his mustache.
"Where the hell have you been, you scum?"
He dragged Marcus inside and threw him onto the ground.
Then he bent over Macus and slapped him.
"You are not to go out of these doors! What do you not understand?"
The man drew every word out. The he rose and straightened his clothes. Now speaking calmly, he said:
"Get your turn in shower and go to bed. No one is to know of your little adventure."
Marcus nodded quickly and scrambled to his feet. He'd get a worse punishment if the headmistress knew, and was glad that the man was sparing him.
He walked, not ran to the vast room of beds where the rest of the children were.
He didn't get along with most, as he had a knack for getting in trouble. He got his pajamas from under his pillow and went to get a shower.
All the children had already had theirs by now and he was the only one there.
He shivered when the cold water touched his skin but it was bearable. He didn't take his time, but instead ran the barely soapy rag over his body and got out.
He lay down in bed looking through the window that was next to him and hoped that Ray was alright.