"You make all that up on the spot just like that?" Jack asked with raised brows, a bit surprised.
"A swift and steady tongue is essential for such a position of city head. Coming up with stories so suddenly that makes sense is apart of the job. Now I must tend to other pressing matters. Captain Issac, see to it they all get to the orphanage and settled in without issue."
"Yes, sir Goldshier. " captain Issac responded watching him leave.
"Well, ill be off as well. I still have much harvesting to do. My shrubs aren't going to pluck themselves. "
"Becareful Jack, we dont know what or who we are dealing with. Its a great chance they target you and your field of shrubs after your scuffle with one of their own." Captain Issac said warning him.
Jack laughed while rubbing his head.
"We do know a few things about them mate, they're kidnapping murderers. If they come for me so be it, I've never lived my life in fear or afraid of being caught by an enemy alone and I won't start now." He responded waving captain issac off as if he could care less about his warning.
Captain Issac officially introduced himself. Most of the kids were done eating and just sat there exchanging confused glances at eachother. While some conversed like the entire situation wasn't a big deal. Damon, Raya and Jasper sat amongst eachother, only separated by a few kids at the same table.
They paid eachother no mind as to them, it was the first time seeing everyone there. Damon shuffled his feet nervously while looking around. A heavy feeling weighed in his chest. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something wasn't right.
"Apparently all of you have been through alot. For the time being you will be sheltered at the Capetown orphanage until the true whereabouts of your family has been discovered."
"Family, I have no family. I've always been an orphan. " a chubby brown headed boy spoke.
Many others agreed without hesitation stating they never had a family while a handful could faintly recall having loved ones, but no clear memories of them.
Damon, Raya, Jasper. Also, a brown skin boy with braids that had a pale white patch on his arm that looked to be eating away his skin and a overly strong looking tan girl with crimson short hair and eyes were the only ones that could recall anything.
The rest of them acted as if everything was fine and it was another day. Like the rags of clothing they were wearing wasn't a big deal or the fact they were suddenly in a room filled with people they didn't know was nothing of concern.
"Its clear whatever was done to them affected more than their memories. The lack of common sense escapes them. What type of beast or person could do this." Captain Isaac thought.
Captain Issac tried jolting their mind by sharing they all had a brand engraved in their skin. Jack had realized it immediately and shared his thoughts with captain Issac earlier.
They all located the brands and discussed it among themselves how strange it was to have. Yet none had no memories of how they had gotten them. Damon looked all over his body for a second before reaching over his shoulder feeling the scar and peeling skin of his own brand.
"This is familiar, but why?" He questioned.
"Woahhh, yours is huge." Said the boy with the arm that looked to be losing its brown pigmentation.
Damon looked at him for a moment before asking if it was the same as everyone else's.
"Yea, well besides the letter M right above it. Other than that its the same, just way bigger."
"The letter M, mines has the letter G right above it." Said Jasper who over heard the boy speak.
Damon and Jasper's eyes met and for a brief moment the same heavy feeling came back to him.
"Im Jasper." He said holding out a hand.
Damon eyes lingered in deep thought for a moment almost turning the scene awkward as Jasper brows lifted in confusion. His hand began retracting, unilt it was firmly grabbed.
"Im Damon, Damon Blade." He responded with a smile.
"Oh and you can call me Sin." Said the boy with the skin patched arm.
Damon greeted him as well before turning back to the big brawn red haired boy that seemed so familiar.
"Heck of a grip, you're pretty strong aren't you ? Im strong as well, a real man should always show his strength with a manly handshake." Jasper said proudly puffing his bare chest upwards.
"A real man." Damon repeated with a smile that turned into a sudden frown. He looked at Jasper with crazed eyes just before a sudden pain jolted in his head making him grab his face.
"Hey are you ok?" Asked Jasper, Sin slowly placed his hand on Damon's shoulder and the next second, Sin was being flipped on his back as Damon moved with a fluid motion twisting his arm and flipping him forward.
Dropping to his knees beside Sin, he began to convuls. Black foam bubbled from his mouth and his eyes rolled backwards. Some people watched with confused expressions wondering what happened while others screamed to the top of their lungs in a panic.
Captain Issac appeared in a flash as if he was already standing near them. Two people in white lab coats rushed to the scene fighting Damon limbs as he thrashed around uncontrollably. Sudden images flashed in his head of Raya, Jasper and a dark haired boy with red eyes walking in a forest.
One of the lab technicians took out a syringe stabbing Damon in his thigh. Almost instantly he stopped moving, tilting his head to the side, they allowed the black foam to exit. Captain issac pushed and gestured for everyone else to stand clear as they rushed him off.
Groggy with a dry mouth, Damon was awake looking around. He was in a small room plastered with rainbows, vibrant trees, and colorful flowers painted on the walls.
Moving slowly, he pushed and positioned himself up, his head and back resting on a iron headboard. There were pink and green small furry cute beasts that resembled rabbits and squirrels along with clouds, a blue sky and a bright yellow sun painted on the ceiling of the room.
"Someone needs to get out in the real world, I hope they don't really think life is all sunshine and rainbows." He thought to himself closing his eyes when a sudden image drifted in his head.
It was an image of a dark room and long corridor with a shadow of flames dancing on the walls partially lighting up the hallway. The sounds of screams and chains violently clanking about snapped into his ears. Jumping out fright, he blinked a few times and looked around, only to find a tall woman with turquoise hair entering the room.
"You're awake, how do you feel?" She asked with a pleasant and comforting smile.
"I feel fine, a little loopy, but I guess im good." Damon said rubbing his eyes.
"Well, all your vitals are perfect, you were very dehydrated but after a three days of sleep and the proper hydrating treatment you should be good to go my dear.
Damon frowned in disbelief then looked around as if he was looking for something, like there was no way he'd been sleeping that long.
"Three days." He shouted without realizing.
"Yes, all of your little friends have settled in at the orphanage. Captain Issac gave me strict instructions upon you waking up. He should be here shortly. There's food down the hall, take a right and you'll see the cafeteria directions from there. My name is Georgia, ask anyone in uniform to contact me if you need anything. A nurse will be in shortly to release you."
Georgia walked out as fast as she walked in and immediately was called to help someone in another room next to Damon's.
After taking a ride in a buggy, captain Issac and Damon was now standing in front of a large three story dark orange brick building with several six feet wide windows. Dark green vines climbed and crawled all around the front of the building. Small blue roses could be seen blooming out many of the vines and dead rose petals covered the part of the walk way leading to the front door.
"Here we are, Capetown orphanage." Spoke captain Issac.
They were greeted by a slim man with dark brown hair. Looking at Damon while gently pulling his long goatee that nearly reached the middle of his chest. He smiled before speaking.
"Hello Damon, I've heard you had a rough arrival, I am Dr. Res and the caretaker of this place. I am also your new guardian so to speak."
"My....what large hands you have for someone so young, how old are you?" He asked while shaking Damon's hand gently.
Dr. Res brows shot up in surprise after learning Damon was only ten years old. Dr. Res carried on about himself for a bit before setting a few things in order. Dr. Res was a mid-size man in his forty's with dark brown hair. He wore simple Tan slacks with brown dress shoes and a white long-sleeved button up collar linen shirt. His small round glasses over his brown eyes were a bit odd, they seemed to look a shade of silver one second, but then bronze or gold seconds later.
"Your room is upstairs on the third floor, with the number 7 engraved on it. Dinner is at 5pm everyday and I would like you out of bed before 8am. Your closet is filled with clothes of many sizes so im sure you can find something decent after cleaning up a little. I will fill you in on the house rules after you've settled in." He said nicely with a smile.
After thanking him, Damon walked into the house expecting to see multiple kids lounging around, conversing in the living room or something, but it was the complete opposite. A large spiral, Grey staircase was the first thing that caught his eye upon entering the quiet house.
Looking around, from what he could see the place was very clean. Tables and all wooden furniture such as cabinets were cleanly polished. sofas and other small furniture including the lamps and decorative fixtures had zero dust on or around them. The entire living area that connected with the stairs was colored Grey and white with polished marble white flooring.
Damon could immediately guess one of the house rules would be to clean the large house as he doubted Dr. Res would do it all alone.