Blood Sacrifice

Chapter Two

May and Agnus made quick friends. They were still chattering like birds when the orphanage women shoved us outside for some “fresh air.” Nobody in the orphanage believed that, except maybe the youngest of the kids. The older kids all knew that someone had broken a rule, and they were being punished for it.

I wondered who it was this time.

I blocked the thought from my mind as we wandered to the courtyard. A few of the younger kids had set up a game of kickball, thoughts of their horrible breakfast were far behind them.

May turned to look at me excitedly. “Can I join them?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

She smiled back and clasped her hands together in excitement as she looked at Agnus. May looked so much younger than she actually was in that moment. Even Agnus seemed to notice the change. The fragile girl’s eyes had widened at the sound of kickball. She looked terrified of participating in anything that involved so many other people. I could hear May gently coaxing her to play, and I wondered if her patience would pay off.

I parted away from them as May grasped Agnus’ hand gently to lead her towards the other kids. I could tell that she wasn’t comfortable joining in with the rest of the kids her age. I could understand Agnus’ feelings of terror. I was a loner myself. When May was making friends, I stayed by myself. My favorite thing to do was climb the one oak tree that overshadowed the courtyard.

I liked to abide by the unwritten rules of the older orphans. I didn’t bother them, and most of the time, they didn’t bother me. I eyed the tree from across the courtyard as I strolled slowly through the field of playing kids. I did my best to keep the mission from my steps so I wouldn’t draw the attention of the orphanage women.

I made my way over to it and hung by the base casually for a few minutes. I sent another careful scan across the courtyard. Just like at breakfast, no one seemed to take notice of me. Even May was too engrossed in her game to pay attention to where I had gone. I blinked and backed into the shadows that the branches casted the ground before I went to work pulling myself up into the branches.

I knew I wasn’t supposed to do it. I had been punished many times over for either ripping my uniform or dirtying it in the process of climbing the ancient tree, but that didn’t stop me. I climbed it anyways. It gave me an odd sense of freedom, of relief. It was the one thing that they couldn’t take away me. In the tree, I could see over the heavy stone walls that enclosed the courtyard. I could see the life beyond the orphanage.

I felt an aching in my heart as I wondered what normal life was like. How did people beyond the walls live? I watched as cars roared up and down the road that lined the front of the orphanage. None of them stopped or even slowed down. That was normal. People didn’t take the time to even notice the color of the building let alone to think about the kids that suffered inside.

I sighed and relaxed against the base of the tree as I peered down through the branches to observe May’s kickball game. She had already taken her turn and run to first base. Agnus was up at the plate. She seemed nervous as she stood there. Her long dark hair veiled her face from my sight, but I could see the hunch in her shoulders as she trailed her eyes to ground, away from the gazes of the other kids. When I looked close enough, I could see that she was shaking slightly.

I could hear a few of the kids whispering, most of them couldn’t believe that she had offered to join in one of their games. Finally, the boy with the rubber red kickball tossed it towards her. Agnus looked ready, but her foot missed the second she tried to hit it. Instantly, all the kids on the field began to laugh at her.

Their cruel laughter rang around the clearing, drawing the attention of all the kids, even the ones that weren’t part of the game. All of them except for May. When Agnus hung her head ashamed, May rushed across the field to her side. She put her arm around her shoulders and whispered something to Agnus before her angry glare turned to the rest of the kids on the field. I could hear her scorning the boy that had tossed the ball from where I sat.

Whatever she said must’ve offended the boy because he left, tossing the red ball angrily to the ground in the process. May seemed glad as she skipped over to it. She picked up the kickball and took his place. Agnus stayed at the kicker’s spot, and May smiled widely at her before she gently tossed her the ball. This time, Agnus kicked it, and May cheered her on as she took her base.

I smiled warmly at my little sister. I was so proud of her; her heart was the kindest of anyone at the orphanage. I knew she was a good person. Just like our Mom had been. The thought pushed away the momentary happiness and replaced it with sadness. I frowned as my mind searched for the blurry memories of our mother.

I hadn’t known her long; she died when I was seven years old. It was hard to believe an entire decade had passed since then. I could remember as clearly now as I had then the reason for her death. Doctors told me that my mother had been too old to give birth when she had gotten pregnant with May. They had told her the same thing as well, but being the good person she was, she refused abortion…even though she knew it would cost her her life to give birth.

I was glad that May took so much after her, though I knew that both of us carried on bits of her personality. After our mother’s death, I had tried my best to fill her niche and watch over my little sister. I spent three years taking care of her on my own. I did whatever I could to support her in the tiny shack that we had called home. Most of the time, I begged for money on the street. People were quick to dip into their wallets for needy kids. There were some days where it was hard to come by anyone kind. When I couldn’t get any, I would steal. I wasn’t proud of it, but I did the only thing I could.

That was how we had ended up here. One wrong move, and I had gotten caught. The security of the routine I had built had been broken, and we had been taken to the orphanage where we lived from then on. I learned from then on to never ruffle too many feathers. Sometimes, I worried that May might have to end up learning that lesson as well. I shivered at the thought that this place was all that May really knew. She had been too young to remember life outside of it, but I did.

I missed it. It was a constant aching that tugged at my heart. That was the reason that I climbed the tree. It was an attempt to soothe the pain in my chest. Part of me was glad that May didn’t have to feel this way.

I could hear a creaking from across the courtyard suddenly. The sound broke me from my mind. I knew that whoever had been punished was finally allowed to leave. None of the kids moved as they watched the unfortunate victim stumble outside. The doors creaked shut behind him as if they had thrown him out like trash.

Nobody moved as their attention focused on the entrance to the courtyard. Finally, the victim made his appearance. It was a boy about my age. Short black hair adorned his head, and his skin was as pale as mine. I had only seen him twice since he had been here. I knew he only arrived a few days ago, and no one had bothered to get his name. New kids seemed to be avoided, especially older ones. His face was covered in a series of bruises, and one of his eyes had been blackened so badly it had swollen shut.

I wondered if they had used the belt or whip on him.

The kids playing kickball went back to their game after catching sight of him. May watched him as he passed with a worried expression on her face, but she knew better than to interfere. She clutched the ball tighter in her hands as she sighed and went back to her game. Most of the kids that were punished were often aggressive for hours after their treatment. Honestly, I didn’t blame them. I had gotten punished enough to know the pain and embarrassment was enough to make anyone hostile.

I watched as he made his way slowly across the courtyard. He didn’t stray too close to any of the kids he passed. I knew that he was ashamed. I watched him as he crossed all the way across the courtyard and approached the tree I sat in. He stood in the shade of the oak tree. He leaned against the bark for a minute before he turned and glanced up into the branches. For a moment, I wondered if he could see me.

“How did you get up there?” he called suddenly.

I blinked for a minute, unsure of how to respond. I was surprised that someone besides May was addressing me.

“You want me to help you climb?” I offered.

He nodded his head and looked up at me through the eye that wasn’t sealed shut. I dropped down a branch and looped my leg around the thickness of it as I reached my hand towards him. The motion was awkward, but I managed it easily. He climbed the first few footholes in the trunk on his own. I watched him uncertainly, wondering if he would be able to manage the small climb to my hand. He grunted and pulled himself up the bark before he grasped my hand. He didn’t weigh much; I easily managed to pull him up onto the branch I balanced on.

With a grunt, he balanced himself.

He looked at me. “Thank you,” he said.

“It’s no problem,” I replied, relaxing back into my crook to survey the courtyard.

“You know the tree’s forbidden, right?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’ve been punished for it before,” I replied with a shrug as I pulled myself back up to the branch I had been observing May from.

“As bad as this?” he asked gesturing to his face. I was surprised to hear him laugh.

“They whipped me for it, but I don’t really care,” I replied. “What did you do to get that punishment?”

“I dropped my bowl at breakfast, and it broke,” he said.

“They’re very harsh with that. May dropped her bowl once. It didn’t break, but they refused to give her more,” I said.

“May?” he questioned.

“My sister,” I replied pointing through the branches to her.

“Ah,” he said. He watched her for a minute. “She looks happy here,” he said.

I shook my head. “This is all she knows.”

He looked at me questioningly.

“She was three when we were brought here. She can’t wait to be adopted,” I replied.

“How old is she now?” he asked.

“Eleven,” I replied.

“She might have a chance today,” he replied shrugging.

“Today?” I questioned.

He nodded. “There’s a couple coming today to adopt.”

“Do you know if they’re interested in anyone in particular?” I asked him.

He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

“Great, that means it’ll be another lineup,” I said with a sigh.

The boy nodded. “I wish I could get adopted,” he said wistfully, “but I’m too old.”

I stared at him for a long moment with a sinking feeling in my gut, I knew the feeling.