The Kids, part I.

Paco breathes nervously. it has finally become official. he is an orphan. his parents used to be the usual couple that would argue about minor things. and after the silent treatment, they would run to each other begging for forgiveness. they loved each other like kids of spring deaf to anything else that wasn't their beloved.

his parents loved Paco. they used to spoil him.

the carriage is old and fragile. it shakes and moves abruptly at any given turn. Paco feels anxious as he thinks about his new life in an orphanage. as a twelve years old kid, it would be hard for him to get adopted. the worst part is that all his relatives were more interested in the inheritance that was never theirs. and none cared about him.

Paco wonders if he would make new friends. he thinks about his old friends. he thinks about the neighborhood girl he used to like. the daughter of the bread maker. he always felt like he wasn't good enough as his parents were only farmers. a farmer couldn't compete against the other boys, specially not against the son of the hunter.

Paco's hands sweat even more as he comes to the realization that he is getting close. it is a question of minutes before they arrive at his new home. are the kids in there going to be friendly? or are they cruel? so many things to think about.

"Don't worry about a thing child." finally speaks out the older man sitting next to Paco.

the older man in question is a middle-aged man with his head covered in white and gray. he has a friendly smile. there is a thick silver beard with ginger touches. the man presents himself as Benedicto, a priest leading the orphanage.

"Can I play soccer in there?" asks Paco unable to find any other subject. he is nervous and he is trying hard to forget about his parents. about their death. the smell of death.

"Of course, child. I am the captain of the local team. the Templar Knights of Delgado. I train every child to play like a professional." said Benedicto with a warm smile.

"Are mama? and papa in a better place?" asks Paco as he looks down at his dirty shoes.

"Yes, my child. they are on the Lord's reign. they are having a feast. meat and liquor. I can promise this much to you child. if you behave like a good boy, you will end up there with them. in the embrace of our lord. in eternal peace and love." 

there is some sorrow painted on the face of Benedicto who is like a grand ancient tree that stand weak by the turbulent slaps of life. Benedicto offers bread to Paco. the bread in question has a golden touch. it smells fresh. the hands holding the bread have multiple scars.

Paco stares at the scars. Benedicto with a smile exposing pain tries to hide the scars. Benedicto changes the topic. he starts to talk about the orphanage.

Paco smiles awkwardly. he nods not knowing how to answer. he feels exhausted for all the time he spends inside the carriage. then the carriage finally stops. Paco locates his hands between his brunette short hair. he feels terrified of the possible disappointment.

Paco gets out of the carriage. he walks slowly nervously. he meets a ginger girl. her hair is curly and covers a great part of her face. the ginger girl is walking with an elderly nun. the two of them seem to be welcoming. they are sweet. nice. Paco feels like smiling.

there is a sweet floral smell. the view of the field is green and fresh. the sky clear. there are sounds of happy kids coming from the orphanage. there are cricket sounds surrounding the area as if the crickets were an orchestra playing for the boy, welcoming the new boy.

the ginger girl has blue clear eyes. she has moles on the face. the ginger girl laughs. she presents herself before going back inside. the nun runs behind the girl. the nun reminds her that good girls behave and do as they are told.

"Sister Carlota is a good person. try to listen to her child. the lord took the gift of birth from her at a really young age. and she has dedicated her days to the youth. she treats every single boy and girl as if they were her own kids." said Priest Benedicto with a hollow smirk.

"May I know the name of the girl who was running. she seems friendly, and I want to be friends with her. it has been lonely lately." comments the boy.

"Marta. she is troublemaker. but a good child with a golden heart. you will make plenty of friends in here. I hope you can find yourself at home in here." said the old priest.

Paco advances slowly. he hears a loud commotion. the old priest grabs Paco from the wrist as the two of them walk inside the ancient wooden building. they find by the entrance two boys having a physical argument. a big thick boy beating bloody a thin shorter boy.

"Franco and Agustin, stop fighting. Franco this is the third time on the week that you start a fight with your friends. remember that you are more voluptuous than your friends. a single punch from you can leave them more stupid. be the smart one." said the old priest.

Franco stops. he says to be sorry. he turns around and leaves without turning back. Franco has teary eyes as he walks away. on the other part Agustin who has a bloody face forms a malicious smirk as he avoids eye contact with the priest.

"Agustin, I want you on my office tonight. I will give you a lesson. I am tired and done with your little childish acts. you are not a dog. act like a human for once." comments Benedicto unable to hide his anger any longer. then he turns towards Paco.

Paco is terrified. he feels like he is walking around savages. he questions if it was the right action to accept coming to this orphanage. there are many more things to do elsewhere than to be in this little orphanage full of savages is in the middle of nowhere.

Paco carefully with a forced smile presents himself. the other kids don't mind him. a short girl who seems to be around six or seven approaches Paco. she is blonde with pig tails. she has light brown almost honey eyes. she asks Paco if he wants to be her new big brother.

"What happened to the old one?" said Paco as a joke. then it all becomes silent. he feels the threat of multiple eyes staring at him almost like knifes unable to let go of a simple comment. a kid with wooden glasses walks forth and pulls Paco away from the entrance. he walks nervously as his steps led for his posture to feel artificial.

the two boys end up inside an empty room. "Hello, new kid. it seems like you met Alicia. she is a sweet baby sister. her actual brother was into dirty business with grave robbers. he died in front of her. it would be appreciated it if you don't mention anything about him in front of her. the name is Remo. I would gladly be your friend." said glasses kid in a friendly tone.

"I am Paco, Paco Servantez to serve you, and God. I mean my last name used to be Servantez, but I guess even that part of my identity will be erase." said Paco feeling melancholia.

"Get used to it. it happens all the time. kids who grow up with parents. parents who either die or can't care for their kids anymore and are gone. at least you get to know your parents. my sister and I, we don't even know what our parents look like."

"So, what is there to do here?" whispers Paco feeling nervous.

Remo smiles like a fool. he pulls Paco from the collar. the two boys are running towards the patio in which other kids are playing. Remo presents his sister to Paco. there are some kids reading fairy tales and other mature books.

Paco forgets about all the bad stuff. he tries to think positive. what happened to him and his family was a true tragedy. he wants to be positive. he wants to dream.

at the distance there is a dark figure staring at the kids. there is a trail of blood and decay surrounding the mystery figure. the figure turns around. it makes a terrifying sound. it sounds like a dying animal trying to laugh. then this figure vanishes into the forest. there are all kind of sounds and movement around this figure. but it seems like his tiny little world is meaningless when there is a bigger prey at the distance.

the deeper this figure of darkness and malice walks into the heart of the forest, the more noticeable that it becomes. the absence of life.