"I've always loved you, Amora."
Eight years ago:
A boy with blotchy blue hair sat in a cellar, curled up and shivering in a futile attempt to heat himself up.
"Stupid nuns." Chase muttered. The eight year old boy's lips were dried to the point of bleeding and his tattered uniform-style pajamas weren't helping him either.
Suddenly, the door opened. A nun opened the door, "Child, have you learned your lesson?"
er stern, cold voice was the thing Chase hated most.
"No." Chase spoke through his chattering teeth.
"Your defiance is futile, child." The nun shook her head. She wore a gold necklace with a pendant in the shape of a scythe. Chase never understood why it was a scythe, but he hated it just as much as her voice.
She closed the door, leaving Chase in the dark again.
"Screw you." Chase muttered under his breath. He continued to shiver until his eyes gave out under the weight of his tired mind.
He awoke in the morning to another nun opening the door.
"Oh, honey. Are you okay?" This nun looked around before entering. She spoke with a somewhat warm voice, not enough for Chase to like her.
"Yeah. Can I come out?" Chase asked.
"Yes. They'll make you cut off your hair soon. If you keep dyeing it, Grand Mother will keep making you sleep in here." The nun looked around the cellar.
Everything was made of either concrete or metal. The cellar would be completely empty if it wasn't for the empty shelf stuck to the wall with a million spider webs.
"Thanks." Chase stood up.
"You have to say 'thank you Mother 23'!" Mother 23 smiled.
Chase shook his head. He hated those number names just as much as he hated Grand Mother. He also hated that him and every other orphan in the orphanage weren't allowed to be named. They either waited to get adopted or sent off to the unknown place the orphanage takes them once they turned eighteen.
There was almost no hope in the orphanage. Adoption was the dream for most of the kids, but it seemed like a pipe dream.
He fixed his blotchy blue hair. He liked when it spiked up like the action figures he found in the trash.
"Alright, let's go get you fed, child." Mother 23 grabbed the boy's hand, leading him out of the cellar, down the hall, and into the cafeteria.
Chase was dropped off in the lunch line, where Mother 23 smiled and left.
After he got near the front of the line, he noticed Grand Mother walking in his direction. He tried to keep her attention off of him, acting preoccupied.
"We'll get that clown hair off of you soon." Grand Mother spoke as she passed the boy. He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his mouth shut.
Grand Mother noticed this, slowing her pace and turning her head.
"Did you say something?" Grand Mother raised an eyebrow as she awaited an answer.
Chase went silent for a few moments.
"No, ma'am." Chase spoke weakly.
"That's what I thought." Grand Mother turned the corner, walking out of sight of the boy.
"Tsk" Chase made it to the front of the lunchline, grabbing his scoop of pork and beans.
He sat down at an empty lunch table as he immediately dug into his food.
While he chewed, he looked around the cafeteria. Most everyone was grouped up.
Chase had been at this orphanage for as long as he could remember, but his antics always kept him isolated, if not worse.
"Hey, guys, come look at this! Bluey did it again! Did you sleep in the cellar last night?!" A boy with a scar on his cheek cackled. Two of his friends soon joined the laughter. They surrounded Chase's quiet table, laughing and pointing.
"Don't call me bluey, scarface!" Chase stood up, pointing his fork at 'Scarface'.
To his surprise, he heard a chuckle from his side.
Chase looked over to see a lone girl covering her mouth. Her eyes, looking down at her plate, smiled with laughter.
She was tan in complexion, with cheeks full of freckles. Her dirty blonde hair flowed well past her shoulders, waving with each small gust of wind. Suddenly, Chase couldn't help but grin. Someone finally appreciated his jokes, and it was a girl this beautiful.
The girl looked up to find Chase staring at her. She quickly looked away, picking at her food while she tried to keep her gaze off of the boy.
"What did you just say to me?! Don't get all riled up just 'cause you can't sleep in a bed!" Scarface grabbed the collar of Chase's uniformed pajamas.
This scarface was much bigger than the eight year old Chase. He was about two years older and much bulkier.
"Get your stupid hands off of me!" Chase punched the boy.
To Chase's dismay, Chase ate the strike with ease.
"Oh, you just dug your own grave, bluey!" Scarface raised his fist, bringing it down with the might of the gods.
Chase felt a sharp pain on his left cheek. He began to throw punches at random, hitting whatever part of his attacker he could.
He tried to open his eyes, but only one would open fully.
He felt another punch, then another. Scarface didn't punch like a kid.
"Stop it!" Chase shouted.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Grand Mother's voice made everyone freeze.
"Grand Mother, this boy threatened me! I had to defend myself!" Scarface exclaimed.
"Nuh uh! Not true!" Chase felt a tug on his collar.
"Back to the cellar with you! Clearly you haven't learned your lesson!" Grand Mother dragged Chase out of the cafeteria.
"No, please!" Chase began to squirm, tears welling up in his eyes.
Grand Mother threw the boy into the cellar. He hit the cold ground hard, shuffling into the corner.
"You will stay here until I've decided that you've learned your lesson, understand me?!" Grand Mother held the knob to the door.
"Yes- Yes ma'am." Chase spoke between his sobbing.
Grand Mother let out one last hmph before slamming the door closed. Chase sobbed loudly.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Chase buried his face in his knees, crying even louder.
He hated everything about this place. What was with this stupid God everyone talked about? All of this talk about being saved through death was stupid. Why doesn't God come save them while they're alive? All of the nuns wore scythe pendants, but for what? Chase's mind raced.
After about an hour, the broken door seemed to open on its own. The knob rattled as it shook out of place.
Chase looked to the glimmer of light shining in from the hallway outside, hoping it was Mother 23 and not Grand Mother.
The girl from the cafeteria peaked into the cellar, one eye showing from behind the door.
"You!" Chase exclaimed. His dried tears stained his cheeks, but his eyes smiled.
"Do you wanna come outside and play?" The girl whispered. She was so obviously nervous that it made Chase chuckle.
"Yes please!" Chase stood up with a renewed vigor. He ran to the door, grabbing the nervous girl's hand, "C'mon, let's go!"
They ran out to the backyard, where the rest of the orphans were enjoying recess.
"So, what do ya wanna do?" Chase turned to the girl, still smiling in excitement.
The girl pointed to the swings timidly.
Chase smiled and nodded, dragging the girl over to the swings.
After a few seconds of nervousness, the both of them played on the swings, laughing all the while.
This was the first time Chase hadn't played alone at recess. He was grateful for this girl. He could run around with her forever.
From across the yard, Chase caught a glimpse of Scarface talking to Grand Mother. He was pointing at Chase and his new friend.
Chase gritted his teeth, preparing for the worst.
Grand Mother made her way over to the swingset, walking with a stern look on her face.
"Child, what are you doing outside of the cellar!" Grand Mother awaited an answer. After a few moments of silence, she looked over to the girl next to Chase.
The girl looked away, both in fear and guilt. Grand Mother let out a tsk as the puzzle pieces connected in her head.
"You're going to spend the night in the cellar!" Grand Mother exclaimed.
"Yes ma'am-" Chase was ready to accept his fate, but he was interrupted.
"Both of you!" Grand Mother reached her hand out to grab the arm of the girl.
The girl flinched, terror filling her eyes.
To the surprise of everyone, Chase slapped Grand Mother's hand, running in between her and the girl.
"No! Don't touch her, you fossil!" Chase exclaimed, holding his arms out in an attempt to protect the girl.