Walking up to the stairs leading to the big door of The Hope's Haven, Ray took a look around his 'home' the wood creaking under his weight. The sound of his footsteps, sharp and piercing in the otherwise calm night.
He made it to the door of his home. His hads shuddering in fear, as to what would face him as soon as he opened these very doors.
With a deep breath, Ray opened the doors. The creaking of old wood was an annoying sound cutting the subtle silence- the doors told long tales of overuse; having felt the touch of many children across generations.
Walking in, Ray was met with his caretaker- she had been expecting him, he assumed.
With an annoyed face, followed by the constant tapping of her heels on the creaking wooden board. One didn't need to be a genius to know, this woman was pissed off.
And Ray had a good guess why she was.
- He was supposed to be back at the orphange, hours ago!
Taking a quick glance at the clock behind his caretaker, he could see the old analog clock, resting on the shelf -the clock sure had seen better days- the rust around its edges, showed signs that the clock has since served its purpose. But why it was still kept around, was something Ray never understood.
'8:45pm...shit'.
It was an unspoken rule around the streets of Caprio that Non-Awakeneds had to be in their houses, on or before 7pm- why?,
Imagine a dungeon spawning next to you while taking a late night walk in the park.
Yeah...not the best scenery in your head is it?
To avoid, such tales of people getting killed off randomly, because of a sudden spatial fissure opening up and sucking them in, or the sheer aura of these creatures destroying their bodies , the government had decided to initiate this new curfew to prevent not only weak awakends,but also the ordinary folk.
With the advent of new technology, researches managed to create in working devices in homes, capable of locking the space around important buildings and industries.
Ray took a quick glance at his caretaker- his eyes meeting her green eyes; her sharp pointed nose, accentuated with red rosy lips, made her a sight pleasing to the eyes- her eyebrows, creased in annoyance, a sharp contrast to her otherwise innocent looking face. Her black hair, now had a few gray strands muddled in them- it seemed managing the affairs of this orphange taking a toll on her.
Her eyebags, dark and heavy, showed severe lack of sleep.
The woman who didn't look older than thirty, looked like she was at death's door at the moment.
Any normal human would have long collapsed from exhaustion.
But she hadn't - she was a gifted after all.
Although a low D-Rank Assassin, she had served and protected this city, helping where she could - until a grave injury crippled her.
Not wanting to become useless and still trying to serve the city she once grew up in, she had offered to be a caretaker in an orphanage.
She loved children..she said
'bet she's regretting her words now '. Ray thought with a chuckle- his mind flashing to when this woman first arrived at the orphange.
His former catrtaker, an old granny, had to be let go - the stress and her old age finally getting to her.
The new catrtaker, walked into the orphange professing her love for kids and how they would have a good time.
Ray found this amusing; naive as this woman looked, she was somewhat pleasing to the eyes.
Although he sometimes wondered why she didn't just get married and live a calm and serene life till the end of her days.
But oh well, her life, her rules I guess.
The very children she 'loved' now an impedance to her sleep and mental health.
"Oh and where might you have been young man" she said, her emerald eyes locking onto Ray's own- in a subtle challenge; as if begging him to lie.
Ray was taken aback. It seemed he had overplayed on his part.
However, taking a deep breath, Ray, forever the embodiment of composure spoke:
"Ah, Miss Sterling, would you believe me if I told you I got lost?" Ray responded smoothly, his lips dripping with honey filled lies.
His body language betraying none of his emotions.
"Bullshit!" Miss Sterling shouted and with a casual step closing the distance between her and Ray- promptly grabbing his ear and pulling him into the elevator - it seemed they were about to have a long talk, back in her office.
"Talk". Was all she said as she looked at Ray intently before releasing Ray's ear promptly after- the elevator, moving slowly perhaps even a snail was faster than it at this point.
But remembering he was stuck with an angry middle aged woman, who looked like she was about to tear him to shreds any moment now, if he didn't start talking, Ray threw what ever useless thoughts he had-
"Well, first of all, it turned out I could not awaken, then I broke my leg, and met an ember coloured eye bit- I mean woman, then..."
....quickly recounting the details of what happened minus getting totured by a gang of course.
The gang would feel his wrath soon enough, Ray just needed time and strength first.
Miss Sterling's sour face subtly softened as she heard Ray's tale. It seemed the boy had been through a lot- from failing his Awakener's test, to getting attacked by monsters from a dungeon spawning, to getting robbed.
The least she could do was at least console the kid.
"I see..."
Taking a breath, she quickly changed the floor, the elevator wwws heading to- promptly pressing the sixth floor.
"Although what happened was unfortunate, i am still glad that you're at least alive- remember Ray, when there is life, there is hope- no matter how small it may seem. I'm sure you would achieve great things even though you're a non-awakened" . Miss Sterling said with a smile.
"Thank you miss Sterling, I would try my best not to let you down". Ray said
Mirroring her smile as well, before promptly steeping out of the elevator that had reached the sixth floor- he looked back to at Miss Sterling, "stay safe Ray and remember the agents are visiting next week" she said- as the doors closed.
The instant the door closed, the smile disappeared from his face.
"Yeah, achieve great things my ass... seriously what are these awakends thinking , saying such a blatant lie" Ray said out loud.
Although his mind was going through her last words - the agents were coming to pick him and anyone of them that had turned eighteen regardless of whether they were Awakends or not. It seemed their journey through life as 'adults' would begin next week.
-Some would end up under the tutelage of powerful awakends for mentors, some eould end up miners, some as porters. Such was the cruelty of fate.
Ray shook his head- ridding it from such unnecessary thoughts. His eyes refocused on his surroundings-
His eyes promptly scanning the floor. In this ten story building, the first four floors, housed the kids and from the fifth floors till the ninth floor, housed the teenagers with the tenth floor being the personal space of Miss Sterling amd Becky- the healer of their orphange.
On his floor, he could see two doors on each side, with one door directly facing the elevator.
The still silence broken by the creaking of a door- a clear indicator that someone was taking a peek outside.
Perhaps to check on the little noise Ray had made when he spoke.
The door on his right opened- revealing a boy with firey red spiky hair who was immediately taken aback seeing Ray's figure. He had an above average build, his muscles brimming with power at such a young age. It seemed this kid was definetly going to be a miner, come next week. He had turned eighteen afterall, thus he was ripe for picking.
Before bursting into a small chuckle- looking back inside the room his voice low, to prevent excessive noise, spoke softly- the words unheard by Ray, due to distance.
But Ray didn't need to wait long before seeing what this red haired kid had in store for him, as two more kids walked out- one bald, and the other a blonde.
Again, their body, chiseld, and full with power was a stark contrast, to Ray's own-a vast difference between their sizes, despite getting the same food in quantity and quality - guess they were blessed with somewhat good genetics. Ray had concluded.
Instantly they surrounded Ray, their faces plastered with shit-eating grins.
The red haired spoke immediately
"Oi Ray, a little birdie told me you were out for THE test today, was wondering why i hadn't seen you all morning" . The red haired spoke.
"Judging by your face, it looks like it didn't go well huh" The red haired continued. His hand resting on Ray's shoulder in an almost friendly gesture. If one didn't know otherwise, they would think Ray and the red haired were best of friends.
"Of course he didn't pass! Just look at his face- a failure like him can't achieve anything!". The bald one spoke next. His unusually big eyes glowing fervently.
"Listen Chad", Ray said to the red haired
"I don't want any problems with you guys" Ray spoke- hoping to diffuse the situation while trying to shrug off the hand of Chad off his shoulder. He wanted to get the hell out of here and got to his room, for a much needed rest
Thus he had to act now! -before these weirdos did something to him...again.
"Oh? would you look at that, our dear friend Ray thinks all we bring is trouble....how lowly he think of us" Chad said.
A dark chuckle escaping his lips.
Instantly adding force to Ray's shoulder, which the latter had previously failed to shrug off earlier. Causing Ray's knees to lightly buckle under the force.
Chad eyes, flashing in a cold light as he looked intently at Ray.