Clair exits the park with April leading. April goes inside as Clair stops in front of the stairs to the park. "Clair?" April asks. Clair was staring at the boy that she glanced at when she entered the park. He hasn't moved at all.. April walks over with a smile. "Got some interest huh?" April says resting her chin on Clair's shoulder. "He's been there for over an hour.." Clair states. "Yeah he does that all the time." April informs.

April laughs. "Why don't you go over there and talk to him? Might learn something." She chuckles. "Okay.." Clair says as she walks over. "H-hello there.." Clair greets. He simply glances over. "What is it.." he questions in a near monotone voice. "You've been standing there for a while.. I was wondering what you were doing.." Clair explains. He sighs and returns his look to the street "I'm waiting." He says. "Waiting?" Clair asks with the tilt of her head. "Waiting for the newspaper." He says. "Oh. The news paper? Why are you waiting for that?" Clair questions further taking a step closer. He in return takes a step away keeping the distance the same and says "it's how I find out about what's going on outside of the orphanage. They hardly ever let me leave." Clair glances at April who gives a smile and two thumbs up before walking inside. Clair takes a deep breath and walks in front of him getting his attention entirely.

"They hardly let you leave?" Clair asks with confusion and a bit of concern. "Yeah. I don't really get it myself but whatever.." he says looking Clair in the eyes then looking away. "Huh... so what's your name?" Clair questions. He pauses for a few moments. "I won't say.. so you can call me what all the other children call me.." he states. "What the other children call you?" Clair questions. "Oh right.. your one of the new kids from last night.. the other children call me: paper boy.." he says. Clair looks at him completely puzzled and asks "paper boy? Why paper boy?" "It's because how often I wait for the paper." He explains. "It doesn't matter.. I don't care." He continues. Clair shakes her head making him look back at her dead in the eyes. "Well I don't like that. So I'll have to call you Paper." She says with a smile. His expression doesn't change and he simply says "call me what you want.. I don't care.."

Clair then steps a bit closer. He appears a tad uncomfortable and takes another step away. "Well paper. Let's say you are allowed to leave the orphanage. Where would you want to go?" Clair questions still smiling. He looks up at her looking almost shocked.

He then says "well there's rumors that a house burned down last night. That would be interesting." Glancing down the road. "Then let's go!" Clair says trying to get him excited. "Okay.." he says starting to walk. Clair follows before stopping abruptly. Paper notices and glances back "what's wrong." He asks with little concern in his voice. Clair scratches the side of her head slightly embarrassed and says "I never told you my name..". He glances back the way he was walking and let's out a "then get it over with" and begins walking slowly. She quickly catches up and says "my names Clair. It's nice to meet you paper!" She slightly holds out her hand with a smile. He glances at her hand and keeps walking.

After walking a few blocks they made it to the burned remains of a house up in the hills. Clair stops at the beginning of the drive way while paper enters without hesitation. Clair walks over to the mail box and wipes off the ash from it revealing the address. "W-what happened here.." Clair asks out loud.
"Freak accident. And since this place is so off to the side and secluded no one knew what was happening until it was too late." Paper explains. "Oh was it in the news paper?" Clair asks surprised by how much he knew. "Yes but it was just about everywhere last night and today. Tv, the paper, online, even through gossip." He states while climbing some wreckage that appears unstable. "Woah be careful up there!" Clair says nearly shouting. He walks inside the burnt building without a care that it could collapse at any moment. Clair watched helplessly. She sighed and shook her head and read what the mailbox had printed on the side. It was a simple address but this was familiar.. and yet Clair just couldn't put her finger on it. She then entered the gate and stopped dead in her tracks. There was a burnt sign on the ground but it was perfectly readable. It read "the vinsons". Clair's memory began rushing back to her. Her name is Clair Vinson and this is her home.. what's left of it. She remembered the night in great detail. The smell and the way her parents yelled to get out of there.. she had to find paper. She needs to tell him. She runs full speed into the burned up building. She runs into something, or someone. She rubs her head and looks up to see paper holding something. He holds his hand out to help her up. She takes his hand getting up and catches her breath.

"Paper paper! I just remembered something important!" She yelled.
"This is your home." He states looking at what he's holding.
"Yes it is.. paper how did you know that.. what are you holding.." Clair asks trying to get her head to stop spinning. He simply hands it over and what Clair receives brings her to tears. It was a framed photo of her and her parents. She fell to her knees holding the photograph close. "Where did you find this.." she questions wiping her eyes. "Master bedroom upstairs to the left." He says patting her back and exits. "I'll be waiting at the gates." He states as he leaves. Clair stands and walks upstairs. The stairs creaked and groaned. She didn't care that they could collapse out from under her at any moment. She needed to get upstairs. She arrives and enters the bedroom. Nothing was recognizable. It was all burnt beyond belief. And yet.. not a single sign that there were humans here.. Clair exits promptly and reunites with paper. "Let's hurry back before we get into too much trouble" He states and begins walking.

"Okay." Clair says wiping her eyes one more time and regaining her smile and following him.

(Howdy y'all it's me the writer guy: cowboy kid. And my friend and plot planer this story would be a wreck without him: Edgelord2020 is making a spin off with a character of this series who hasn't even been introduced yet. He's a great writer leaps and bounds ahead of me. Check it out if you dig this. K'ay now. Stay wild like the west now y'all)