PATCHED SOUL

Cage, was the first thing I saw when I was conscious. I can recall the feeling of a waving motion, cries of children, and motion sickness. It was a shallow memory. I even thought it was a dream.

20 children were carried in every ten carriages on the road surrounded by dried dead trees. Their pleas were unheard but just like the caws of crows, it became unbearable. I can vaguely recall the events because of my tender age. As time passed by the once dead pathway becomes lust, and the dried trees birthed lively leaves. We were told to get off the carriage and they lined us up. When we were properly lined I saw the very first building since like I was born. It was a tower made of marble-colored blocks. It's fascinating even though how many times you saw it.

A hunchback man went out the gate carrying a small blue sack. He handed it to the leader of the men who carried us here. He checked it before beaming, waved at his men, and went back to that dead road.

"May I have your attention children." the hunchback called. As he has each of our attention he continued. "Welcome. This will be your new home. You are children of war, orphans, or forcefully taken as slaves. You're here as we ordered those men to bring you here. You will not be treated here unfairly, far from the reaches of conflicts in the human world. We only need you to cooperate and there will be no problems with your stay here. Now follow me, everyone be organized don't push."

The door slowly opens showing us a magnificent view. It was so filled with vibrant colors. From colored glasses to silky carpets and curtains, and expensive stones embedded in the walls. We never saw any stairs that leads up the tower. It only has a ceiling and at the center is a wide circular platform. As we arrived at the platform of the first floor the hunchback man stopped. He waited for all of us to arrive and instructs us to enter the platform. He taps his foot 5 times. A click was heard followed by a rumble.

The platform descends slowly as the children's cried in amusement. Bellow the first floor is another floor. It's a dimly lighted floor full of rows of rooms surrounding the platform. As the platform fully descends the hunchback man faces all of us. "My name's Fred. I'm the master of this floor. You will meet the others soon. For the time being, I want you all to wear this at your necks." Mr. Fred took out another small blue sack and pointed to his forehead before pointing at the bag. The bag brightens then a series of flashes shot out of it, those flashes headed to each child. When the flashes stopped each child has worn a necklace on their neck.

"Please look at your pendants. Your pendants have different symbols. These symbols were fire, grass, staff, beast, and devil corresponding to the 5 blocks of this floor. The 2 digits above are the number of your rooms. It indicates where you will be staying in the 50 rooms around us. Each room can accommodate 4 people. The other digits below your room number are for your names. You will be abandoning all your past names and will be having new ones. There are five books of names in the library on the west side of this floor. Each book will have the same numbers written on your pendants. The first book you open will be your official name. For now, go to your rooms and have a rest, a bell will ring to inform you of your dinner. Head to the dining hall on the east side of the floor." As Mr. Fred finished explaining he headed towards the southern door.

Five people wearing the same form of robe with five different symbols are waiting on the path to the rooms. They all are standing there instructing us to look at our pendants. If there is a symbol in it the same as those people in their robes, they are asked to line next to that person. That person will then lead us to our designated rooms.

My symbol is green grass with a number of 21. Before that person lead us to our rooms he opened a book while pointing each of us on the line calling names that will be assigned to us. I don't remember what my parents called me. I can't even remember their faces.

I grew up in an orphanage where they didn't even give us names. I was taken by those people and placed inside a cage.

"Lorenzo will be your name. You will be taking the last name of the Forest." said the person while pointing at me. I was named Lorenzo of the Forest.

Forest was the name of the grass symbol along with the fire as Flame, staff as Spell, beast as Wild, and devil as Sin. This will be our last names that we will be carying from now on.

The man keeps on pointing to each child while saying their names. When he was done naming us 20 of the Forest he lead us towards our block. It has 5 rooms on each side. My room was the last room on the right side. Along with 3 children we went inside.

2 double-decker wooden beds placed on sides fit enough to provide us a passage in the center. The bed has a pillow and a blanket and a hidden cabinet. We were instructed to check the cabinets it's under our pillows. It has 2 sets of sandals and sets of clothing. Those persons who were called Guards of the Five stayed right at the center of each symbol they were assigned. The bathroom is also near their rooms. Everything was prepared for us but we don't know why we are here.

A minute later a bell rang loudly. It was dinner already we were so hungry that I didn't get to know my roommates. We all rushed like a flock of chickens on a pen being feed.

The dining hall was located on the east door of this floor. When the door was opened we were surprised again. Such a massive floor and it still has this spacious dining hall. Now we are curious about what's inside the other doors.

We went to the canteen falling in line while the two grandmas serve us dinner. It's a mashed potato, steak, and bread with milk as our beverage.

I never taste this kind of food in the orphanage. I gobble it up like a wolf.

This is bliss.

As all of us enjoyed the dinner, Mr. Fred entered along with the Guards of the Five they went inside the canteen having a room for them to eat their dinner also.

After eating our fill the 2 grandmas told us to stay as instructed by Mr. Fred. We waited patiently some of them had already built friendships and gossiped. Meanwhile, my 3 roommates seem to get along and I was left out. I tried starting a conversation with them but words won't come out of my mouth. They will look at me smiling but I can only shake my head. Now, I'm awkward toward them so I decided to stay on the side of the dining hall where there are only a few children sitting on their own.

"They didn't even notice I moved to another table," I whispered.

"Because you're a wimp that's why!" someone whispered on my ears.

I was shocked and looked at the person who whispered. He is a good-looking boy with green eyes and snow-white hair smirking at me. "The name's Marco of the Sin. Young man, I like your aptitude, become my henchman," he said.

"Yo. . . . young man? Aren't we at the same age?" I stammered while asking.

"Ho ho ho, stop asking and be m…" before Marco can finish his sentence Mr. Fred went out of the room at the canteen and announced, "Children, may I have your attention, please. I hope you are all satiated. Now before you all go to bed I would like to inform you all to gather at the center platform of the floor tomorrow morning when the bell rings. For we will be having our morning exercise and after it, you all be taking your bath. When you're all done taking a bath you will head to the west door, the library. There I and the Guards of the Five will be educating you. Now go and have your good night sleep."

I started walking out of the dining hall with the children heading to our rooms. Out of nowhere Marco faced me and said, "My henchman, see you tomorrow and join me as we exercise. Ha ha ha ha ha!" He then ran out racing towards his block laughing like a maniac.