Bracelet

--------- 1 Week Later ---------

It's been a week since I talked to Clowey. What she said made me relax a little, I realized I was stressing too much, this place didn't look like a death game, but I was still on alert. After I talked to her I played tag with all of the kids during recess then ended the day with dinner, just to go to sleep right after. 

I've been following the same routine for the past 7 days, pretty much the same as the first day, though I was able to make it to breakfast. My test scores went up to the 250s, and everyone was surprised. Aunt Erica even called me a late bloomer.

I was now eating dinner with everyone, we were having the party with Drake to say our goodbyes, after this party is over Drake will be sent out, he was already in a nice suit to be sent out in. "I'm really going to miss you, Greg" Drake gave me a bear hug, Greg was his nickname for me, I tried protesting it but he insisted. I just smile back and hug him. "Hey, do you know where Aunt Erica is? I haven't seen her all day". I say back to Drake. "I heard she was sick, hope she'll get better". Said Drake back. 

I turn my head to Mom and say "Mom! Why isn't Aunt Erica here?" Hearing my voice her head props up and turns over to me giving me a kind smile. "She was sick so she decided to stay upstairs, please don't bother her, we wouldn't want anyone else to get sick," she said then went back to what she was doing.

"I guess that answers that question," Drake comments beside me. "Oh here Drake, I got you a gift," I say while taking out a bracelet that I made. "What's this?" He said while grabbing the bracelet. I just scratch the back of my head and say "You know all those books I read, well one of them taught you how to makeshift a bracelet, so I made you this…" I say sheepishly. "hehehehehehahahahahah" he started giggling. "You're so cheesy," he said while cackling. I just pout and say "Well if you're not going to wear it then I'll wear it," I say while sleeping at the bracelet in his hands, he dodges my swipe and raises his arm into the sky, he was abnormally tall for his age so I would have to jump to reach it. "No sir, I'm keeping it" he gives me a cheeky smile and puts the bracelet on his wrist. I just start chuckling. 

"What are you two laughing at?" The deadpan voice of Clowey came from our right. "Greg made this bracelet, hehe," Drake said while showing off his new fashion. "Hehe, that is funny" Clowey smirks, the first time in years she has shown emotion. 

"Ok everyone, time to say goodbye to Drake" the authoritative voice of Mom came out, not all of the kids were there, some of the younger ones couldn't make it, and were sent to sleep. We were all now standing in front of the front door, saying things like "I'll miss you", "Come back to see us", and "I hope your family is nice" were said. I already said my goodbyes so I let the others say goodbye. Some were even crying.

"Ok everyone, time for bed, I better see everyone asleep when I get back," Mom said as she guided Drake through the front door. "Wait!" I yelled as I sprinted up to Drake and gave him one last big hug. We said nothing to each other and after we were done I turned around thinking I might never see him again.

I make my way through the halls, up the stairs, to the bedrooms, and change into my PJs. All of it very slowly. I was hesitating… a lot… with every movement I was thinking twice… It was like something was wrong. But I ignored it, as the words of Clowey came to my brain, 'just spend your time as best you can until you get selected for adoption, it's better than stressing over useless things.'

So I just sank into my mattress and closed my eyes… but something unexpected happened, instead of the pitch black that came with closing your eyes, there were words on the back of my eyelids illuminated by a neon red light that said…

[Side Quest - Save Drake (Extreme) ~Failed~]

My eyes immediately shot open and the words disappeared with them, I closed my eyes again, and the words appeared again. I quickly got up out of my bed and said "I have to use the bathroom" in a monotone voice as I rushed out of the bedrooms, down the stairs, through the hallway, and out the front door. There was no hesitation this time, I wasn't moving slowly, I was practically sprinting through the orphanage, a stark contrast to earlier. 

When I got out of the orphanage it was dark, I could barely see my feet.  I didn't have any shoes on, I was in my bare feet, I ran as fast as my little legs could go. I knew this was stupid, this might even get me killed, but I didn't care, I had to see him alive, my best friend that I had spent years with I had to see him alive.

I ignored the pain in my feet as I panted and stumbled over the terrain north to the gate. It took me 5 minutes to get there, it would have taken a shorter amount of time if it was day, but I did make it. Lamps hung on the inside of the gate illuminating the interior. The gate was open, I've been here before and it wasn't open, but closed off by bars caging me from passing. Inside was only a cart, nothing else.

I slowly approached making sure my steps were as quiet as I could make them, my heart was banging against my chest. *Ta-Thump* *Ta-Thump* *Ta-Thump*. The cart was right in front of me, the only thing blocking what was inside was a curtain. My hand shook as I reached out and pulled the curtain out of the way.

What I saw made me terrified. It was Drake's corpse, his dull green eyes stared at me, a bright red flower was jammed in his chest, and he was haphazardly thrown inside, the bracelet still worn on his wrist and blood spewed on the cart.

I was frozen in place, hyperventilating, and tears rushed out of my eyes. What finally made me move was the echoing of footsteps coming from far down the gate, the only thing I could think of was to grab the bracelet and run, run as fast as I could, still in my bare feet hurting from stepping on the lego-like ground. I was moving on instincts from knowing the landscape as I couldn't see anything. 

*Crack* The sound of a stick cracking came from behind me, that only made me more terrified as I knew someone was following me. 'Fuck fuck fuck fuck, ok ok what do I do? Is that Mom? No! Not important, not important, uh l-let's just get to my bed'.  My mind raced but was ultimately unable to concentrate. I saw the dim light coming from the orphanage ahead of me, I was running faster than I have ever in my life. When I got to the front door, I opened then slammed it behind me, finding the latch for the lock. I lock the door behind me.

*BAM* Someone slams into the door just as I lock it. I waste no time as I rush my way through the hallway and up the stairs. When I got near the bedroom I slowed down so as not to make any noise, I carefully opened the door, using the trick of pushing up the handle so the door wouldn't creek. Stepping on the wooden boards I quietly make my way to my bed at the end of the room, it looks like everyone is asleep. 

When I do make it to my bed I quickly cover up with the blanket, put my head on the pillow and make my face as relaxed as possible. *Creeeeeeek* The sound of the bedroom door creaking and to my ear, the person didn't know the trick to keep it from doing that, or they just didn't care. *Step* *Step* *Step*. Stepping came from the door as some person was walking down the row of beds, and my heart rate increased with every step. *Step…* it suddenly stopped right at my bed, I was trying to act like I was sleeping.

*Sigh* "Who was it…" the whisper of Mom echoed in my ears. After what seemed like an eternity, the steps slowly made their way back to the door, the door screened as it opened and closed until mom was out of the bedroom.

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