Chapter 8: Meaning of friendship

He explains life in an orphanage is very boring and his life such like a bird in a cage. But luckily, he doesn't alone in dealing with it because he has a good friend who is always there for him.

"Wow, you are so lucky someone like that." Gideon smiles hearing Bradley's explanation. His face is gloomy a few minutes later. "But for me, I am just … alone …."

"Hey, don't be so sad. I'm sure you will have friends. Maybe you haven't gotten it yet."

A few minutes later, the sound of a dog barking is getting louder and louder. Bradley turns around and sees Madam Theresa's dog running toward him.

"Hey Wolfy, calm down," Bradley said with a laugh. "You must be very happy after playing for a long time, right?"

"Is that your dog?" Gideon asked curiously.

Bradley quickly shakes his head"No, I just assign to take the dog outside to play."

"Okay, I like dogs too. May I?"

"Oh sure, but, Wolfy can be very fierce to strangers," Bradley gave a warning to him. "First time, Wolfy is very uncontrollable and maybe he will bite you."

However, when Gideon touches Wolfy's head, a weird thing happens. Wolfy looks serene and doesn't show any offensive moves. Bradley is astonished to see it because Wolfy seemed so obedient to Gideon's word.

"Wow, you are such a dog handler." Bradley clapped his hands and saw what Gideon has done. "I'm speechless, Gideon."

Gideon explains that he has the same dog as Madam Theresa's but of a different breed. His dog is a Malamute race, while Madam Theresa's dog is a Wolf hybrid.

"That's very impressive, I don't even know about that." Bradley's eyes widened as he heard Gideon speak like a pro. "How do you know all of that?"

"Because I often study it at home and I like animals, especially dogs," he said followed by a big smile on his lips. "Wait a minute, I believe this dog starts to like you."

"Wait, what?" Bradley is silent. "But, how do you know?" He wrinkled his brows.

"Yeah, this dog himself tells me," He said continuing to stroke Wolfy's head.

Suddenly, Gideon's eyeballs briefly change color from brown to dark yellow and make Bradley surprised for a moment. At first, he wants to ask directly ask Gideon, yet the color change is just so fast and temporary.

A few minutes later, Gideon stood up from his chair and smiles at Bradley. "Thank you for helping me, I am very grateful for what have you done for me."

"Oh yeah, I'm also glad we can meet," Bradley replied to Gideon's words with a smile. "Yeah, at least I'm not alone here in this place."

"See you later. We will meet again, I believe that."

On the way home, Bradley still imagines Gideon's eyes. He feels something strange about him, however, he probably assumes it is just because of the sunlight or something.

"Ah, Never mind."

Bradley shakes his head and suddenly stops his movement seeing something is hanging on the orphanage door. "Wait a minute. Whose put this paper?" Bradley took the notes. "Geez, it's from Madam Theresa.

"Clean Wolfy before comes in!"

"Argh! This old woman always makes my blood pressure rise."

Bradley clenches his fists, his chest feels tight, and his head starts to heat up. However, he must do it or he can get into trouble if he doesn't obey Madam Theresa's word.

"Alright, just come down."

He takes a deep breath and keeps repeating the words in his mind like a magic spell. It sounds ridiculous, yet it works. He feels more relaxed dan decides to carry Wolfy to clean up.

"Wolfy, it's time to take a shower."

Bradley takes the hose and begins to spray Wolfy and a few minutes later he has cleaned Wolfy and goes inside.

"Bradley, why are you taking so long?" said Madam Theresa while checking her nails. She then walked to him and takes Wolfy's rope from her grip roughly. "Wolfy can get sick if he's outside for too long."

"Yes Madam, but I believe Wolfy is fine." Bradley tried defending her words.

"Hey! Who teaches you to speak like that!" She slaps Bradley's cheek. "You've been taught manners, haven't you?"

"But I'm just …. "

His chest feels hot and his blood begins to flow until it reaches the crown of his head. Yet, he must be patient with it because his position is now less favorable. He takes a deep breath and holds his head down.

"Remember, this is my house! You must follow all my rules." Madam Theresa raised her voice and staring Bradley. "

Madam Theresa leaves and lets Bradley alone. A few minutes after Madam Theresa's footsteps don't hear anymore, so he runs to his room and immediately closes the door.

"Dammit! Why should I? Why!"

The words keep ringing in his mind because Madam Theres treats him like trash and not long after, someone knocks on his door.

"Brad, I just heard your voice with Madam Theresa." Caden enlarged his eyeballs and saw Brad's cheek. "Oh my gosh, Brad! What happened to you?"

" Yeah, you know Madam Theresa hits me." Bradley tried to lower Caden's voice. "But, It's fine."

"Brad, I'm sorry to hear that." Caden furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey, stay strong buddy."

Suddenly, they hear someone screaming from downstairs and rush down the stairs with thunderous steps. The voice comes from one of the children at the orphanage. However, the child's face looks pale with a small wound engraved on her lips. Her pupils are dilated with cold sweat running down her face and the blood stains on her shirt are also clearly visible.

"Hey kid, what's wrong?" Bradley asked her. "What happen to you?"

The child slowly turns her head towards Bradley. "Dorothy… is kidnapped by something." Her hands still shaking non-stop. "I shouldn't have left her!" Her eyes look empty and hollow.

Bradley suddenly remembered Mr. Paolo's words that the city is dangerous now.