Prologue (2)

"Law enforcement are on their way, please stay on the line and try your best to stay hidden," instructed the woman behind the phone. Several minutes later, two police cars pulled up in front of the building and four officers walked in.

"Sir, please give a description of how you and your mother look, as well as the men holding her at gunpoint." The sudden voice stuttered Bruno, but he quickly regained his composure.

"S-She's wearing a yellow dress and w-was accompanied by four other women. The men were all wearing suits, and looked fairly old."

"I-I see."

A split second later one of the police officers listened to something over his comm before talking to the woman at the front desk. After conversing for a bit the woman led the police officers up a flight of stairs.

Bruno counted the seconds as he waited outside for the police officers to come back, his fingers dull from all his nail-biting. After several minutes two ambulances pulled up in front of the building and several paramedics ran pushing gurneys.

It all felt so odd to him, it was as if he was vaguely aware that his mother had been involved in this accident, but his body just couldn't accept it. It moved of its own accord, inching him ever so slightly towards the building.

The front desk was swarming with men in uniform, constantly talking over their comms. As the paramedics were securing the women's bodies, the police officers were moving out several hand-cuffed men.

"What are you doing out so late? Where are your parents?" asked another police officer, worry audible in his voice.

"M-M-My mother," stuttered Bruno, his little finger pointed to the brunette lying lifeless on the gurney, white foam fizzing out of her mouth. Tears began welling up as he confirmed that the clothes the woman was wearing matched those he had seen his mother with.

Words couldn't describe the emotions that flooded Bruno at that moment. The police officers began muttering something into their walkies, but Bruno couldn't care less about what they were saying.

He struggled and jerked as the police officer picked him off the floor, his tears soaking the man's uniform as he cried for his mother.

"A kid shouldn't have to go through this," whispered the police officer as he put Bruno in the back of his police vehicle. After crying for several minutes, Bruno went to sleep, exhaustion getting the better of him.

"Hey kid, wake up."

"Huh?"

Right next to the police officer was a woman holding a clipboard, the smile on her face seemed forced.

"Hi, I'm Celine, a social worker... I have a few questions to ask you."

The woman asked for Bruno's name and asked if he had any other relatives. He answered her half-heartedly, everything seemed muffled to him, as if it were all just some vivid dream. She went on to ask other questions, but Bruno could hardly process them, answering mostly with a "yes, a no, or a maybe."

After the social worker was done with her questions she said something to the police officer before coming back to Bruno.

"I'll be taking you to a place where you'll be taken after until we sort things out okay. You'll have someone talk to you on how to cope with... You must be tired, just follow me," said the woman, a look of pity in her eyes as she took Bruno to her car.

After driving for several minutes they finally reached a massive building with dozens of small windows shining light from the inside. A group of men dressed in white, and a woman dressed in a black suit were waiting at the gates.

"This is your new home," said the caretaker after she opened the door.

"And I'm your new caretaker," added a woman dressed in a black suit.

She looked to be 30, but with all the makeup she had on, there was no telling her actual age.

"I-I don't want a new home," muttered Bruno, shuffling his way to the opposite side of the back seat.

"Don't worry, they're always like this at first. We'll have him speak to one of our therapists first thing in the morning, poor soul," the woman said, before two men reached into the vehicle and dragged him out.

As he was carried off into the orphanage -screaming and jerking all the while- the social worker seemed to look at him with a sort of worried expression, before quickly disregarding it and driving away.

"Dump him in one of the rooms. I have to go edit the numbers to receive more funding," the woman ordered in a cold tone before walking off to her office.

The two men did as instructed, shoving Bruno into one of the many rooms within the orphanage.

His room seemed small, even in comparison to the shack he grew up in. A single desk stood at a corner of the room, while a bunk bed stood at another corner.

"Welcome to hell newbie," said a groggy voice from atop the top bunker.

Bruno made for the door, turning the handle with all his might, but to no avail.

"They lock the doors at night, so we don't escape. Just go to sleep, you're only wasting your time," the voice continued.

Bruno didn't stop, clawing and banging on the door, shouting for them to let him out.

"I hate it when the newcomers make a racket."

***

Morning came, and Bruno was woken up by the light tapping of a black-haired boy around his age.

"You have fun last night?" the boy teased, before walking out the door.

"It's open?" asked Bruno, his voice weak.

"Yeah, but the main door is still locked. Don't try anything funny, you're not the only one thinking of running away. And you won't be the first to be disciplined for trying either," the boy said, a bitter smile on his face.

"My name's Randy, what's yours?" the boy asked, holding out his hand in gesture for a handshake.

"B-Bruno."

"Ahh so Bruny, got it," replied Randy with a smile, before pulling Bruno off the ground.