A shabby old building stood hunching in an isolated corner, in the gloomiest part of Haven city.

Like an old hag, lonely and miserable, it sagged. Shying away from the bright street light that shone with life, preferring to align with darkness that fits its mood and pitiful shape.

This shabby building housed more than 20 kids of different ages. All young, innocent, and beautiful but plagued with sadness that shreds their hearts into pieces every day. All hoped for a better future but they were too young to carve their own path in life, so they were left helpless at the mercy of others. Despite the hurt, the loneliness, and the colorful form of abuse, one of them never failed to lose hope...or courage!

***

"You ignorant, useless brat! Come here this instant or I'll chop off your pathetic limbs and feed you to the dogs!" A plump lady screeched in annoyance. Fury painting her red in the face, making her wrinkles stand out as she hobbled awkwardly after the scurrying lad, trying not to stumble on her frail feet.

The boy merely laughed in response, finding humor in the eighty years old, bloated tomato - as he dubbed her, based on her new red-dyed hair - with her arms stretched forward and her small legs moving fast, trying to keep up.

The floor moaned under her heavy steps, it's old and fragile state protesting to the current abuse.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" The boy exclaimed while he darted in front of his cheering classmates, trying to get away from the teacher's clutches. His footsteps skidded across the floor like lightning. Its echo is overpowered by the sound of his classmates' booming laughter.

"Markus! Markus! Markus!" They chanted in unison. Watching the scene unfold with a silly smile on their faces.

The teacher's face turned redder than it was deemed natural. With pursed lips and eyes narrowed with murderous rage, she started issuing threats left and right, but to her utter humiliation the children seemed to find it more funny and they continued laughing undeterred.

"Everyone, to your rooms at once! Unless you prefer to be tied down to the post outside and leave you to freeze and rot! " A new voice announced calmly. Piercing the joyful veil of laughter with a deadly threat. Unlike madam Jaqlean - the teacher running after Markus - the threat seemed to be taken seriously - and for a good reason - because madam Jaqlean might be unbearable but master Adam Mayfield is pure evil and his threats are always more severe.

All the children feared him. He doesn't waste time on issuing empty threats, on the contrary, he supervises the punishment himself and when the punishment has been dealt, he continues his assault verbally, inflicting hurt through words.

The fear was not only due to his brutal and unkind way of punishing - in which he likes to get creative at - but because he is a snake.

His wane appearance makes him look like a ghost, especially when he appears out of nowhere without anyone noticing.

His snake-like eyes hid indescribable darkness. With a luring cruel smile, he delivers his punishment while feeding you twisted words that make you believe it is all your fault and that you deserve it and more.

His two-faced attitude - one saved for visitors of the orphanages, all smiles and loving, while the other face, the one that promises pain is left for the children to instill fear and suffering.

Father Adam, as he likes to be called by the orphans in front of others - not that he is a religious man, but he has the image of a loving and caring manager to maintain - and master Adam when he is in the presence of the children.
Knowing master's Adam's impatience and short temper, they heeded his words immediately.

At a drop of a hat, chaos erupted. Like ants high on sugar, they scurried in all directions. Stumbling over one another in hopes of escaping his piercing gaze.

They toppled over one another, grappling to obey, for the consequence of not doing as he commands, are dire.

It is written on their skin and imprinted in their minds.

His voice spurred their tired limbs into action...to flee.

Within minutes, the bustling of children and the sound of joy dimmed to nothing but silence. None of Markus's classmates remained to stand by him. All left with a downcast expression and grim sobriety of what awaits Markus and anyone who stays behind to support him.

"What the hell is going on?"

"This useless piece of shit placed red dye in my shampoo!!! Now I look like a scarecrow!!" on the verge of tears, madam Jaqlean exclaimed. Her eyes shooting daggers at Markus who stood trembling in fear. Her silky blond hair, which was deep and rich - her pride and joy, the only thing that looked healthy in her aged appearance - is now a fiery red, short and thin (it seems the kids mixed other products along with the dye, making her lose some of her hair). Like a bird's nest, it stood surrounding her chubby wrinkly face, like a halo - as if she was struck by lightning.

However, Markus didn't expect the situation to escalate to this or for Master's Adam to appear.

He was supposed to be out on business!! Why did he have to come now!!

It is 10 pm, master adam's business often extends to after midnight, he wasn't supposed to have arrived early.

It was their chance to get back at madam Jaqlean's constant lies and false accusations.

Markus has a past record of keeping madam Jaqlean on her toes - and occasionally on her ass stuck to the floor, literally - so he was the one who initiated the dye incident. Markus antics always pump a small dose of happiness in the hearts of 'Haven orphanage' children at the snips of revenge they get from it in spite of the cruel aftermath they face for their actions: them for supporting and encouraging Markus and him for his mischief. However, the pranks were almost a monthly occurrence, despite the fear and the punishment they felt, they always participated in Markus ideas of payback, the thought of giving their tormentors a taste of their own medication was too precious to ignore. It was worth it.

Madam Jaqlean is currently number one on his who-to-prank-next list.

Markus, despite knowing the severity of the consequences, decided to do it himself. Especially since what she did this time is unforgivable in Markus books. But the brave fellow didn't anticipate master Adam's arrival, he thought that the punishment will be dealt with by madam Jaqlean and the kids will unite against her so she won't be able to punish Markus alone. And doing punishment together mean good times for them; the chores are split among each other, the conversation will be flowing...albeit a bit hushed - thank God for Madam Jaqlean poor ears - it will be a good change since master Adam demands complete and utter silence, it is like a graveyard when he is present.

"Markus..." Master Adams' eyes narrowed in accusation. His voice is as cold as a winter night in Alaska.

He was met by silence.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" He repeated, his left eye twitching in a failed attempt to remain calm.

The little troublesome brat who always had something to say about justice, unfairness, and all the ideal thoughts his small innocent head is filled with, stood as stiff as a rod, glaring angrily at the floor. Fuming in silence.

"I believe I asked a question and when I do, I expect an-" he sneered unpleased by the defiant attitude of the disobedient kid under his care.

"Answer, sir!" Markus completed unwillingly.

"Then out with it boy! I don't have all day! I -"

"All day?! You are only around to punish us," Markus muttered.

"Care to raise your voice?" Master Adam threatened with a tilt of his head.

"Nothing master,"

"That's what I thought. Now. Explain,"

"I...it wasn't...she-" Markus stuttered for the appropriate response but he was cruelly cut of.

"She what? Slapped you? punished you? It is called discipline Markus. She is your teacher and she has free rein to discipline you any way she sees fit!! Who are you to retaliate? Cant, you get it in your pea-sized brain that WE are the only people who care about you lot? We clothe you, feed you, educate you, put a roof over your head and this is how you repay us?"

Markus's head hung in shame, every word a sharp dagger plunged into his heart. "She hit my brother!" He defended feebly.

Ignoring Markus's claim, he continued, "Can't you see it is for your benefit? All that madam Jaqlean and I do is solely to mold you to be strong and be able to face the cruel reality out there." His voice rose as he pointed his finger accusingly outside the window, "You think we are evil? malicious? Who raised you for the past two years? Certainly not your freaky parents, or the people out there! We did Markus! We! Do you think if I throw you out people will take pity on you and take care of you?"

"Hmm...dodon't bother answering, I don't really care what you silly bastard think, I order and you obey. You shall be punished for what you did and I am going to let madam Jaqlean decide what your punishment is and after you fulfill it, I am going to give you a lesson on the history of slavery. Aren't I gracious? You will be able to experience the lesson first hand and I'm going to enlighten you myself," Master Adam lips curved in a mocking smirk after he was satisfied with Markus fear-stricken expression, he turned his gaze to madam Jaqlean. "Punish him to your heart's content and when you are finished, send him to me." with that he took his leave.

Markus shrunk a little more at the master's Adam exclamation. He still believes that madam Jaqlean more than deserved what she got for the things she did. A small worm in her soup or a red hair isn't that big of a deal to warrant him this brutal punishment. But who would help him? Who would care for an orphan's boy cries for help? Who would shed a tear at his suffering? Try to exact justice like all these heroes in stories and save him and his friends.

No one!

No one would care. People speak of humanity, mercy...they know the darkness that lurks outside their home; the suffering of the poor, the sick and homeless, and what they do: nothing.

Absolutely nothing!

They turn a blind eye to it, preferring the shelter of their own bubble, where everything is good and peachy, disregarding the pain their fellow humans are experiencing. Believing it is not their responsibility to aid, that it is the mission of others, but not them. Never them.

He hated it! God, how he hates it!

How can one escape from prison just to end in another one more torturous!

Why someone his age have to experience such darkness? The tainted side of life? Why couldn't he have belonged to a loving, caring, rich, and normal family?

To never experience hunger again, to not get beaten for any small mistake, he sighed wistfully.

If only...

Madam Jaqlean cleared her throat, "Well that was fun! Hmm... What shall I have you do?" she mockingly tapped her chubby finger on her thin lips, a second later she snapped her fingers and announced joyfully, "I'll have you start with cleaning the dishes, mopping the floor and doing the laundry. You know how my age affects my poor bones," she pouted and staged a poor act of being in pain, "Aww, my poor back! I think I am going to retire to bed now. Sleep tight...or don't, I don't actually care!" she passed him with a trot in her steps. Her echoed cackling surrounded Markus like a cocoon. A reminder of his miserable existence.

With a defeated sigh, he headed to the kitchen to start his first task. His eyes locked with the moon that hung weightless in the sky as he uttered silently a single vow.

Soon, I shall be free!

Very soon

Unedited