"Maybe you're right… my birth was a mistake…"
I opened my eyes, feeling like I'd just had one of those weird dreams again—though, as usual, I couldn't remember a thing.
Staring at the ceiling, pondering the meaning of life through the gaps in the wooden planks above me, the door suddenly flew open—or, to be precise, nearly off its hinges.
"KIAN! RAYAN! ARTHUR! GET OUT HERE! BREAKFAST IS READY!"
"Mmm… chocolate cookies…"
"Five more minutes… just five more minutes…"
I looked around like a lost puppy.
Unlike my two roommates, I'd had the good fortune of waking up thirty seconds before Rita barged in.
Why fortunate? Simple.
Anyone who wasn't already awake when she arrived… mysteriously fell off their bed.
THUMP.
"I'M AWAKE! I'M AWAKE!! HAVE MERCY, RITA!!!"
"If you're awake, then get moving—while I'm still asking nicely."
"And when exactly were you asking nicely—?"
SLAM.
"Did you say something?"
"Ugh… I was just thanking our angel Rita for waking me up so gently again today!"
"Exactly what I thought."
…Thanks, Arthur,for thepracticaldemonstration. Definitely glad it's not me.
I blinked a few times and got to my feet, even though I'd rather sleep a little longer.
Glancing around, I saw a girl with short green hair and black eyes "gently waking up"—her words, not mine— a boy with blue hair and blue eyes.
Obviously, that was Rita and Arthur.
I walked toward the window, passing our third roommate, who, judging by his closed eyes, was still peacefully dreaming.
You'll regret that soon, Rayan.
Rayan had ash-gray hair and red eyes. And very soon, he would become Rita's next official victim.
Catching my reflection in the glass—black hair, brown eyes, sleepy expression—I paused to ponder a matter of utmost importance.
How on earth could a twelve-year-old Rita throw Arthur—who was twice her size—out of bed like he was a pillow?
Science had yet to answer that one.
I continued pondering as birds chirped happily outside.
Maybe when I turn twelve in two years, I'll gain the strength of a gorilla too? Or is that ability exclusive to Rita?
Another mystery of the universe.
Perhaps I was thinking too hard, because Rita suddenly turned to me with a smile that promised absolutely nothing good.
"Kian… are you thinking something rude???"
A shiver ran down my spine.
My instincts screamed submission.
My brain yelled for escape.
My heart? Temporarily out of service.
I was only slightly intimidated, only slightly.
But in my defense, I had just woken up, and until a few seconds ago I didn't know gorillas could read minds.
No. No. No.
Erase the gorillas from your thoughts.
Alright, Kian. Breathe. Act like a man.
I met her gaze with fake determination.
"Me??? Thinking something rude??? Never!!! Oh, breakfast is ready, I have to go! Rayan, Arthur, see you downstairs!"
"…Co…wa…rd…"
"Hm? What was that? Oh, Rita… I see… yes… I accept my fate."
Ignoring Arthur's lament and engraving Rayan's last words into my heart, I grabbed my book from the bed and dashed toward the orphanage common hall.
Ah, my heart had started beating again.
Good signmy life was not officially over yet.
THUMP.
I could've sworn I heard another thud from the room.
Surely just my imagination.
I needed to focus on more important things. Like… counting the floorboards.
THUMP!! THUMP!!
23… 24… 25…
Yes, definitely a lot of wooden planks.
At least keeping count distracted me from imagining Rayan's inevitable screams.
And speaking of screams…
"I'M GETTING UP!!!! I'M GETTING UP!!!!!!"
Hmm… was that Rayan?
No, probably just an auditory hallucination.
"MY ARM! MY ARM!! IT'S BREAKING!!!"
"RAYAN, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE! KIAN AND I WILL ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS FOR YOU TOO!"
"N…o…h…e…l…p…m…e…"
Quick footsteps sounded behind me.
I turned and saw Arthur catching up at surprising speed.
"Good morning, Arthur."
"Good morning, Kian."
"Today was Rayan's turn. What a shame…"
"We have to move forward for his sake too."
"I completely agree."
As we walked down the hallway the morning sunlight spilling through the tall windows made everything look… almost peaceful.
Almost.
And yet, I knew better.
Within minutes, the peace would shatter, and Rayan would be screaming again. But for now… just for now… it felt like a quiet moment.
And so, without a trace of pity or remorsefor our fallen comrade, we went downstairs for breakfast.