A figure in a cloak walks down the main street in the village. Its steps are unsteady and unreliable. It's dark and the village is silent except for the small amount of pubs with the lights still on and the music still playing. The normally noisy stones that showcase the powerful steps of horses are silent, not making any sound. The figure is annoyed, muttering to themselves. A coin pouch bounces against their clothing, coins clinking together as the figure slowly walks.

  A faint sound can be heard as the figure inches closer and closer away from the main street. It's quiet and soft. The figure barely hears it at first, but it gradually grows louder as the figure gets closer to the source. It's soft and sweet, the melody on the wind. As the figure gets closer, the trees are greener, and the flowers are brighter. The figure moves forward, almost as if in a trance until it reaches where the music is loudest.

  A garden. Filled with overflowing greenery. Carrots, Potatoes, Tomatoes, flowers of almost every kind, and in the middle of it, is a little girl, singing. She almost looks invisible in the moon light, like she was made of it. Her silver hair flowing down her back as she sings with her eyes closed. The figure looks around, seeing the green garden that just the other day was brown. The figure walks forward, faster than before. It's steps now steady, as if the song healed it.

  The figure tries to get the girl to notice it, the girl seems almost asleep, not noticing a thing.

  "Child. Girl!" The figure says, trying to get her attention. The girl gives no sign of noticing, she just keeps singing.

  The figure can feel itself healing from the girl's song, it feels as if all the pain in its limbs and joints were disappearing by the second. It can feel its vision get clearer and its glasses become meaningless.

  The figure reaches towards the girl, but right as it is about to make contact, the ringing of clock tower shines out over the village signifying the time.

  "Shit."

  The figure races back towards town, finding a poster with the girl's face on it.

  It reads:

  Is this child bothering you?

  Please Contact Ms. Delia at the Orphanage

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  She is not supposed to be outside.

  The figure pockets the notice and runs of into the darkness.

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  "Have you seen the new caretaker for the kids?"

  "Yes, she looks so nice, like a sweet grandma!"

  "Such a shame Delia's gone, but the new caretaker looks rather promising."

  "I agree."

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  The girl wakes up after a short sleep. She feels her pillow, it's wet. Everyone else is up already. Breakfast has been served and the kids are up playing. She crawls out of her bed and grabs a plate of whatever the mush is made of. The table creaks under her small amount of weight and she eats slowly without much thought.

  "Everyone gather around!" a man who helps out sometimes had called out for the children's attention. The kids come out from the yard, battered toys in their hands. The kids at the table look up at the man, mush in their mouths.

  "I know you are all very sad about the departure of Miss Delia, but I am happy to introduce the newest Orphanage Head who will be taking care of you from now on. This is Miss Sheila!" The man announces.

  The Miss is an old crone with a gray cloak on her back and a pair of glasses in her front pocket. She probably dyed her hair brown because of the mass of grey roots sprouting underneath. She has a sweet smile across her face.

  The man enthusiastically claps for the old lady and the children half-heartedly follow.

  "Alright, children! Say thank you to this nice man!" She pipes up with the sweetest smile on her thin lips.

  "Thank you!" all the children say unanimously.

  The man exits out the backdoor after doing his job, he will probably go the pub after collecting his coin.

  "Hello, children! So, you must be very sad after your previous caretaker left, but I will do the best to take care of all of you. Now we be making a few changes around here, I bet you don't like eating this mush very much, do you?" Miss Shelia asked.

  The children shook their heads.

  "Well, good food costs money, so we're going to have to work hard to eat good food, alright?"

  "Yes, Miss Sheila!" The children responded.

  "Alright! Can you please raise your hand if you are above the age of eight?"

  Several children raised their hand.

  "All right! From now on, you will be assigned chores around the orphanage to save some costs, so we can eat nice food! Is that alright with everyone?"

  "Yes, Miss Sheila!" The children responded.

  "That's great! Alright, everyone who raised their hands, come find me after meal time and I will assign you chores. If you are above the age of eight and you raise your hands, Ifind out. Remember, I have access to of your records!" She smiled sweetly. "Oh, and Silver Hair, see me after I'm done."

  "Yes, ma'am." The girl answered meekly.