The elevator ride to the tenth floor was like a snail's journey. The already slow elevator, moving at what felt like an even slower pace.
Ray, his mouth now clean from all the blood that was on it, courtesy Chad, had an incredulous expression on his face- his feet shuffling nervously as he gazed upon the back of mage Becky. In a bid to destroy the akawardness that had ensued the elevator, Ray had to speak up; if she wasn't going to, he had to- he figured.
"Listen...Miss Becky , hear me out on this one-". Ray started, but was abruptly cut off by a raise of her hand. It seeemed there was no hope to plead his case or at least explain the incident from his side.
*Sigh*
'guess I'll just have to eat the dust with this one' Ray thought.
*Ding*
The familiar sound of the elevator doors opening,brought Ray out of his thoughts.
His eyes scanning the familiar hallway of the tenth floor.
There were only two rooms, it seemed -the too doors opposite each other, attested to that fact.
The door on the left, was Miss Becky's room- how he knew?
Well, he had been a regular visitor to the orphanage's infirm due to his frequent brawls with Chad.
The door on the right, however was Miss Sterling's room.
'Chad and his lackeys should be in there'. Ray thought his mind briefly flashing back to Charles and Chad, pulling Sam's body into the elevator earlier, to head to the tenth floor.
The distant sound of Miss Becky's footsteps, snapped Ray out of his thoughts once more. He had been spacing out a lot of recent.
'Is this the side effect of being an adult? thinking too much?'. Ray muttered- promptly following Miss Becky, who had unlocked her door and entered.
Closing the door behind him, Ray took a quick scan of the room- The room was a rectangle of sterile white, the walls painted a shade of off-white that seemed to absorb all warmth.
Fluorescent lights, buzzing incessantly
overhead, cast a harsh, unforgiving glare. A long, rectangular table, its surface marred by countless scratches and of spilled coffee, dominated the center of the room.
Two chairs, with wheels that squeaked in protest, were haphazardly arranged around the table.
Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight that pierced through the grimy window, with enough effort on his part ,Ray could take a look at the city below- being so high up, he could enjoy the view of his city's landscape. There was a small bed by the side, adorned with a plain white sheet.
The bed, her patients -which were the kids at the orphange, mostly used when they came in for treatment.
There were two doors once again opposite each other- one leading to Miss Becky's personal chambers, and the other....
Well he didn't know.
But his attention was pulled to the image of Miss Becky sitting on her chair. Her legs crossed over in a seemingly relaxed manner-, her eyes locking with Ray, before a small grin broke out on her face.
"What you thinking about?" She mused, the playful tone in her voice betraying her curiosity about Ray's constant spacing out.
"Ah...Miss Beck-"
"Cut the crap Ray, I won't punish you or something. We're alone now- no need to act so distant with me" she cooed.
Her voice soft and reassuring, seemed to calm Ray down
He visibly relaxed- it seemed the weight of expecting a punishment lay heavily in his mind more than he would have liked to admit.
"Becks...." Ray started his voice trailing in thought as he watched her small grin morph into a big smile.
"There we go; so come on, don't just stand there! Sit! Sit!" She beckoned to Ray- pointing the chairs opposite hers.
Ray sat, briefly spinning on his seat- to adjust himself to the furniture.
"You know they would kill you right". Becky stated her voice dripping in tone symbolizing her seriousness.
"I know, but they had it coming I guess, and even if I go back in time again, I would still do the same damn thing". Ray said his voice full of conviction.
Becky eye's shined briefly, before giving a nod of approval.
"Not bad Ray- it seemed you've matured a bit now. It was high time you started standing up for yourself- the world is much more dangerous than whatever you experience In this orphange " Becky explained.
"I know Becks...I know" Ray responded absentmindedly. His thoughts fully on how he was going to avoid Chad and his lackeys;until the agent arrived at least.
Becky, as if reading his thoughts, spoke up.
"Ahhh come on Ray, you know you can just crash at my place for a bit- treat it like a gift from me to you - from one friend to another" she said. Her tone softening considerably as she got to the last part.
Ray was taken aback- he had been thinking of contingency plans, but sharing a room with Becky wasn't something he had actually put in his thoughts.
She had always lended a helping hand towards him whenever he can for his 'regualr' visits, but he had always refused. Opting to just tug it out, than intrude in her personal space.
Although, she was strangely persistent; perphaps it had to do with her back story of some sought, he wondered.
Becky, the only mage of the Hope's Haven Orphange, had awakeneded about six years ago, in the very same orphange- being an orphan, she had served and worked in the AA for about three years or so, before returning back to her roots- just like Miss Sterling had done; to 'give back into society '.
But unlike Miss Sterling, she had a choice to decide if she wanted to return back to the agency- that option,was nothing more than a fairytale dream for Miss Sterling, after becoming a cripple.
Probably because Becky had once been in Ray's shoes before, a subject to consistent bullying, she and Ray connected on a much deeper level than most children in the orphange- but unlike Ray, she had awakened- turning her life for the better.
Ray didn't get that chance- and she felt even more sorry for him, especially after Miss Sterling told her about Ray's body state yesterday - "He looked like he took a bath with blood" she said.
The little conversation they had in the night still rang in her memory. Causing her to make her decision.
Ray would stay with her, and there was no excuse he would give, that would make her budge!
"Uhhh Beck's...I dunno..." Ray started.
"Ah come on Ray....it's just for a few nights, and if I delay your obvious death sentence by a couple of days, I would do that" Becky interrupted.
"And besides, you would be out of here in about six days or so, so if I can help a friend out why can't I?". Becky shrugged, brushing off Ray's response as nothing but a filial matter.
"Oh before I forget" Becky suddenly said, her hands pointing towards Ray, as a stream of bright green mana, began to flow into him.
His body, which had been in a constant state of injury and recogery, since yesterday, visibly eased.
[Your Health Points have been Fully Restored]
[HP:100/100]
The words of the system, as if to confirm his thoughts, rang in his mind.
'oh yeah, there's still that'. Ray thought
Becky stopped channelling her magic, seeing that it's was having no additional effect on Ray's body.
"So? What about it? I can tell Bryan and Cilia to move your stuff here".
She said, her voice calm and steady, despite the shine of her eyes betraying her excitement.
"Sure... Beck's you do you, but we haven't considered the most important question"
"And what might that be?"
"Where would I sleep?" Ray questioned.
Moving in was fine and all, but what's the point If you have no place to sleep?
"You can sleep in the spare room".
"What spare room? Scratch that- you have a spare room!?". Ray half shouted his eyes bulging as he skimmed through his memories.
Although he could not remember ever seeing this 'spare room' she talked about- perhaps she was pulling his legs or something? He thought-
Becky, taken aback by his sudden surge of e
motions, took a moment to compose herself.
Her tone visibly softening as she pointed to the door on Ray's right.
"It's that one over there"
Quickly getting up from his chair, he moved- instantly appearing in front of the door
His eyes widened as he opened the door-The small bedroom, smelled of dust and reeked of loneliness. Sunlight, a timid intruder, struggled through the grime-coated windowpane, illuminating a chipped paint job and a bed draped in a plain white sheet, just like the one in her office .
A lone chair, its legs weary from years of service, stood sentinel beside a window- providing a serene view to the world outside.
"So? How is it?" Becky voice sounded from behind him.
While lost in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed she had appeared so close to him.
"It's perfect Becks, thank you". Ray said,.a rare smile gracing his lips.
With a nod she walked out off the office- maybe to check on Chad and his crew, or inform Miss Sterling on the latest development?
Ray didn't wonder too much thought- his mind occupied by the silence and peace the room gave him.
'Old but beautiful '. Ray thought, laying on the bed as he drifted off into a much deserved slumber.
______________________
*RING* *RING* *RING*
The constant ringing of bells, echoed round the orphange- every floor, busy with a flurry of activities.
The little ones, had been given the procelain task, to assist the teenagers and adults in running little errands on their respective floors.
The orphange, once dirty and musky - had now transformed into a sizzling chamber for the young and hopeless. The building no longer giving off the feeling of darkness and gloomness- a rare sight, Ray thought, as he hurried to get dressed.
Today would be his last day here, his thoughts wandering to all the events that led to this very moment.
'time sure does fly huh'. He thought, reminiscing on the time he got here till now.
Ray sighed, grabbing his bag - which was very light as there wasn't much there to begin with.
'Well time to go I guess'.
"What? You're still here?" Becky voice sounded, her room door opened as she looked at Ray.
'He was finally about to leave, there's no protecting him now'. Becky shuddered- worried about Ray's future.
As if reading her thoughts, Ray promptly pulled her into a hug. His hands patting her back in a reassuring manner.
"I'll be fine Becks". He said
Pulling out, Ray could see her expression had visibly relaxed.
"You better be!" Becky said, lightly punching his shoulder, while letting out a teasing laugh.
"I'll be going now" Ray said, adjusting his bag over his shoulder.
Receiving a nod from Becky, he walked out the door.
'Guess my days in this shithole are finally over' Ray thought- his black eyes, not the slightest bit fooled by this fake positive and serene atmosphere.
*DING*
The familiar doors of the elevator opened to reveal a crowd packed at the front door.
The symbol of the Double AA's on the back of the Agent, a sign that his moment had arrived.
- His journey to freedom, or potential slavery would start as soon as the agent bundled them up.
'Wait.why is this person looking so familiar '. Ray thought, his gaze lingering on the man's face as his brows furrowed I thought as he tried to recall where he had seen this man with such piercing blue eyes.
'Wait! Isn't that...
Eric?'