HIS SALVATION

Episode 2: OTIS

OTIS P.O.V

Growing up in the orphanage is harder than you might think and there are also good times, and one of the things the orphanage gave me were my brothers, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

The orphanage was all I know of, growing up I didn’t know of mum or dad, I was told that someone dropped me at the door of the orphanage, that was how I came to be part of the orphanage home.

Life at the orphanage was far from easy. The days blended together in a blur of routine and discipline. I and the other children were woken up early every morning for chores, followed by breakfast, and then school.

The orphanage provided us with basic necessities, but emotional support was scarce. I often feel like I was just another face in the crowd, a statistic in a system that struggled to provide individualized care.

As I navigate life at the orphanage, I began to realize the significance of my circumstances. I had no family to turn to, no one to share my joys and sorrows with. The other children in the orphanage became my surrogate family, and together we formed a support system that helped us navigate the ups and downs of life. We shared the little we had, looked out for one another , and found comfort in our collective struggles.

My determination to succeed academically paid off. I was noticed by the man himself, Mr Blackwood.

Mr Blackwood sponsor all our daily needs at the orphanage, he was looked up to by us all, and to be noticed by him was a joy.

Infact I would say a joy was an understatement, who doesn’t want to get acknowledged by the man himself, A demon of the business world.

He sponsors all the needs at the orphanage but he hardly pays a visit to the orphanage, so it was a shock to us all when he did this particular day, and I was glad I took my studies seriously because at the end of the day, the man looked at me with his purple eyes and told me I’ve done well, then he proceed to tell me to aim higher, which I was planning on doing by the way.

But his acknowledgement of my effort made me proud, no one cares in the orphanage, though the care givers are really doing more than enough, they don’t care to motivate the way Mr Blackwood does.

I still don’t get why he’s called a demon of the business world and not the God of the business world.

The orphanage is connected to Mr Blackwood house by fence, so it’s very easy to sneak in if we wanted to, I and some of the children at the orphanage do sneak into the garden to play. We’ve been caught by the head maid before, but rather than chasing us she asked us to be discreet and still proceed to give us cookies.

The head maid was also the reason I was able to sneak into Mr Blackwood’s kitchen, she would leave the kitchen door open and at night, and she would notify me in the afternoon to come later at night to get cookies for I and the other children at the orphanage.

It’s Mr Blackwood’s birthday today and he sent an invite to us, but we were not allowed to go, only the caregivers were allowed to and the directors. But still I was planning on sneaking in when it’s late, because the head maid asked a day before.

She knew we wouldn’t be able to come so she promised to keep some cookies and cakes down for us, she told me she was going to leave the kitchen back door opened as usual.

I had informed the other kids of my movement, that same night and I made my way over to the Mr Blackwood’s kitchen.

On my way to the kitchen, I had this nagging feelings that I was been watched but I shook it off, I had opened the opened the kitchen door when I was met with prettiest pairs of purple eyes I had ever seen and I froze.

I wasn’t expecting anymore to be here and now I had met someone with the same eyes as the owner of this building, so being shocked was an understatement I was terrified, but I also couldn’t get over her looks.

“Her eyes were so beautiful”, I’m surprised how a human could own those set of beautiful eyes. No she’s not human, “she’s an angel”, I had thought.

Who are you? She’d asked.

But i couldn’t reply, I stood there with my both my mouth and eye opened wide.

Her eyes, her voice its perfect.

I was right, God seems to see so much darkness in my life that he sent an Angel to me.

She signaled for me to come closer, without even hearing the answer to her question, and I moved closer subconsciously, who wouldn’t answer to a call of an Angel.

She placed the jar of cookies on my hand and also the milk, I took both and held it tightly while still staring at her.

I thought I asked you a question, she said bringing me out of my illusion.

Who are you and how did you get in here she asked while taking back what she had placed in my hand initially.

“OTIS”

That was all I muttered to her and I couldn’t even say my reasons for sneaking into their kitchen, I didn’t want to get the head maid in trouble, all she did was help us.

She stretched out her hand for a shake and i quickly cleaned my hand, before taking her hand, i don’t want to taint her in any form.

She gave me some cookies which i kept in my pocket, its was actually the reason why I’m here so i would keep it and give it to the children later.

She looked at me, but didn’t give a comment on me putting the cookies in my pocket.

It’s was nice to meet you Otis, she said with her angelic voice. The next time we are meeting again I would love for you to learn how to speak by then she said with a smile, and I gave an affirmative nod, I could not talk, I guess seeing an angel comes with a price, maybe my voice is the price.

I had sneaked back out of the kitchen, the exact way I sneaked in.

The longer I stayed the more I taint her eyes, which I didn’t wish too. I had left the kitchen when i realized I didn’t even get to hear her name, I guess I would stick to angel for now.

I made my way to the fence that connects the orphanage to the Blackwood house, when i noticed a silhouette standing in my way. I was so lost in thought thinking about angel that it was too late for me not to be noticed.

Facing me was another purple eyes, this one was deep and held a lot of experience and sadness unlike angel soft and happy ones.

Mr Blackwood happy birthday to you, I said because I have been caught red handed, there’s no justification for me.

You sneaked to house, just to wish me a happy birthday? He asked with a sinister smile on his face.

Now I know why this man was called a demon of the business world, he’s so different from the Mr Blackwood I met in the afternoon.

“This man right in front of me is a Chameleon”, he’s not to be trusted.

I thought I asked you a question?

Was the reason why you sneaked into my house late at night was to wish me happy birthday?

No sir, I had said.

Because there was absolutely no reason to lie to this man, I’m even sure he knew of my encounter with his angel which I had come to realize his is grand daughter.

I came for cookies in your kitchen sir.

And did you get them? he inquired.

I did, a girl I had met in the kitchen was kind enough to give some to me, which I’m sure you know of our interaction already.

And he laughed, Mr Blackwood laughed.

I looked and him and I wondered why I have ever thought this man is anything else but a demon.

I was wrong, even his laughter is sinister.

There’s a reason why you would be here waiting for me, Mr Blackwood.

Don’t be in a hurry Otis, you would in due time, for now you can go. Mr Blackwood said.

I climbed the fence and made my way to the orphanage, looked back one more time and saw Mr Blackwood with that cringey smile still on his face.

I shivered and rushed towards the room, the others were already waiting on the cookies, while I noticed some fell asleep in the course of waiting for me.

I shared the cookies, asked the others to keep some for those that fell asleep.

I made my way to my space, I thought of the angel I met in the kitchen and the demon outside and I also prayed that that the head maid was not caught, I fell asleep during this process.