Chapter Text
“Get up, you’re blocking the hallway.”
“Don’t ignore me, you little piece of shit.”
What the hell is going on… My head was killing me, and I could barely open my eyes. All I could hear was a ringing noise in my head, and someone apparently shouting at me for some reason.
“I said get up, you freeloading reject.”
I had so many questions suddenly filling my head, but before I can even begin to think of any kind of response to whoever was shouting at me, I felt myself being pulled up. I hadn’t even realised that I was laying down, but I was now being basically pulled to my feet.
As I managed to finally open my eyes, I actually take a step back in surprise. I knew someone had just picked me up, but I wasn’t expecting to be almost face to face with him… Well face to chest, he was definitely bigger than me. He looked older enough to be my dad.
“I swear, if you start crying, I will give you a reason to cry.”
Holy crap… What was this guys problem. What the hell did I do to him, and I’m not even crying.
“I don’t care what you have to say Henderson, go get changed, and come to my office… it’s time you and I had a talk anyway… You have fifteen minutes… Don’t be late.”
He then tells me, as I just find myself standing in shock. Who the hell is that guy, and where the hell am I? The last thing I remember was going to bed, and this was definitely not my bed.
Now that I take in my surroundings, I just find myself getting even more confused… I was actually in a hallway, and as I look down each end of it, I can only assume I am in some kind of hotel or something like that.
Well, there were doors all along on either side, so they had to be rooms. They even had numbers on the doors, as I walked in the opposite direction the angry old guy went. He had to be one of those crazy old guys, that turn up old horror films.
That thought actually sent a quick chill up my spine, although it only lasted a moment, and I had to mentally slap myself. This isn’t a horror film, this is real life, and someone is probably just playing a trick on me.
Although I almost felt as stupid about that, than I did about being in a horror film. Who the hell would play a prank on me, and how? I was at home, in bed. So how the hell do I end up in the middle of a hallway of some kind of hotel… in the daytime?
I had just come to a window, and it was light outside. Well, at least it was starting to get light. Seriously, what the hell was going on? None of this made sense.
What was this place, and why was I walking around in… What the hell? What was I wearing? I mean, I wasn’t naked or anything, but these weren’t my pyjamas… Did someone change my clothes ? This was getting weirder and weirder.
Shit, why am I opening this door. I wasn’t even really paying attention to what I was doing. I was just walking and now I am walking into a room. A tiny room, there was barely enough room for the bed and wardrobe I could see inside, and the window was tiny.
“Better not keep Bailey waiting, Henderson. He looked really pissed off.”
What the hell? Who was Bailey? Something I was about to ask whoever just called out to me, but as I stepped out of the tiny room, all I could see was what looked like a kid around my age. At least I think they did, walking into what I assumed was another room.
This made no sense at all, but I didn’t want to wait out here any longer, especially as I was in pyjamas. I needed to put on some actual clothes, I had a meeting with Bailey, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting.
Wait… what the hell was I thinking? I don’t even know who the guy is, and why was I worried about keeping him waiting, I didn’t even know where he was.
I did have to get dressed though, something that I thought sounded easy. I just had to go to my wardrobe, and change my clothes. Simple.
Except, as I opened the door, I suddenly found myself looking at some kind of menu… what the hell was going on. It made no sense, but I was looking at something from a game or something like that.
It even had options.
[Strip All | Wear Random clothes]
No way, what the hell were those options?
Then I looked further down, and more options were there.
[Pyjamas | Everyday | School | Swimwear |
This is insane, and has to be some kind of dream. It had to be. What was I supposed to do, reach out and touch one of the options? Like that is even going to do anything. I had to be going insane or something.
This just didn’t make any sense, but what else could I do? So I just reach out and touch the Everyday option. I’m not even sure what to expect really, but nothing happens, the menu is still there, and the options are still there.
There was a close button though, and I decide to just press it, and to my surprise, it actually closes. It’s only then, that I look down at myself, and I wasn’t sure whether to scream, feint or die of embarrassment.
The blue pyjamas I had been wearing, were gone. I was now wearing a plain white T-shirt that seemed a size too small and really thin. A pair of what were definitely too small white shorts. They barely came half way down my thighs, but at least they weren’t too tight.
The trainers seemed okay at least, and I had socks. However, the shorts were ridiculous, who would even wear shorts that small. However, I then couldn’t help myself, as my curiosity got the best of me, and I quickly pulled the front of the shorts out, and if I could have died of embarrassment, I would have.
Who the hell wears tighty whiteys any more. Okay, sure, maybe little kids. The problem was, I wasn’t a little kid. I turned thirteen a month ago. I wore boxer briefs. Not tighty whiteys. What the hell?
Suddenly though, there was a knocking on my door. It was really over the top as well. What was there problem?
“Bailey’s going to be pissed off, better hurry.”
Oh shit! It couldn’t have been fifteen minutes already. Bailey was going to chew me out for sure. He seemed to always be angry. I mean, what kind… wait… what the hell was going on? Who the hell was Bailey, and why am I walking out of the door and down the hallway.
I was completely confused and I barely had time to take in some text appearing in front of me. It scared the crap out of me, and I reached out with my hand. I thought it said something about Bailey’s office though.
Something that seemed to be confirmed, as I suddenly found myself standing outside an office, with the name Bailey on it. I had so many questions running through my mind, I didn’t even realise I had opened the door and walked in.
It was only when I was sitting down, and looking at the same angry guy I had met earlier, that I realised it. If this wasn’t a dream, then I was definitely going crazy.
“It appears that you turned thirteen recently, Henderson. Correct?”
How did he know that?
“Correct, Henderson?”
Shit, he was definitely getting angrier. I had no idea why this bothered me so much, or why it felt so normal and almost expected, but I didn’t want to make it any worse. So I just quickly answer him.
“Well, I guess congratulations are in order. You’re no longer going to be a freeloader around here.”
I wasn’t really sure how to take his words. I mean, he didn’t sound like he was being sarcastic. However, it definitely didn’t sound like a good thing. What did he mean by freeloader? He had called me that earlier, and it didn’t sound like any better then.
“Don’t give me that look, Henderson. It’s not cheap keeping all you orphans here, and everyone has to earn their keep eventually.”
Orphan??? What the hell did he mean orphan? I wasn’t an orphan. I saw my mum and dad last night. Did something happen? Maybe there was an accident, and I’m in some kind of coma? I mean, this couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be.
“I am sure you thought you could just stay a freeloader until you were older enough to leave. All of you pathetic little shits, think the same. However, this is real life, Henderson. It’s time to pay your way.”
I really wanted to wake up now. This hasn’t been funny at all, and I really, really wanted to wake up… However, no matter how hard I pinched my arm under the table, nothing happened. I needed to wake up.
“Silence… Can’t say I am surprised, most of you spoilt brats thought you were getting a free ride. At least you aren’t crying your eyes out, or putting on a tough guy act. So I am feeling a little generous, and will go a little easy on you. By next Sunday, have £100 ready for me.”
This was somehow getting even more insane… £100, by Sunday? I didn’t even know what day it was. It was Saturday when I went to sleep, so it had to be Sunday today… So I had a week. How was I supposed to get that much money, and without meaning to, asked him the same thing.
“I don’t care how you get it, Henderson. Knock on doors and ask for work. Rent yourself as a footstool. Steal it even. I’m sure even a moron like you, can think of something. Others seem to do just fine… for the most part.”
I’m not sure if his response was supposed to reassure or help me, but it just made me feel even more confused and lost. The seemingly permanent scowl on his face, didn’t help either. So all I could do was nod my head meekly. What else was I supposed to do?
“Well… get out. Time is ticking Henderson.”
I’m not sure what to make of anything, and thought about just asking him outright, if this was some kind of joke. However, without even knowing why or even how, I found myself getting up and leaving his room… or office… or whatever the hell it was.
I then suddenly found myself inside the tiny room I had changed in earlier. I’m not even sure how I got here. I was sure I was just sitting in Bailey’s office, and now I was sitting on my bed, in my room.
Wait! This wasn’t my bed, let alone my room. What the hell was going on? I just wanted to go home. This had to be a dream, it just had to be.
Suddenly though, as if to prove to me that I was actually insane or something, a new pop up appeared in front of me. This one leaving me both confused and scared. What was this?
Attitudes
How do you feel about consensual sex? Provides a bonus after consensual sex based on how assertive you were.
I like making people feel good (increase submissiveness)
I like being in control (increase defiance)
It's naughty (decrease trauma)
It's fun (decrease stress)
What the hell does that even mean? Consensual sex? What the hell was that? And what is up with these options, they don’t even sound right. Submissiveness, defiance, trauma, and stress? Maybe I am insane.
I couldn’t get rid of the text either, and couldn’t see any close option. So I guess I had to pick an option. It would probably help if I knew what consensual sex meant, but I couldn’t exactly ask anyone. So it came down to the options.
I definitely didn’t want to be submissive, and I had no idea what defiance meant. So it came to trauma and stress, and I wasn’t really sure what trauma really meant either, so in the end, I found myself pressing the it’s fun option.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it apparently, as more stuff suddenly appeared… and somehow, it was even more confusing than the last one. If I didn’t know what consensual sex was, I sure as hell didn’t know what exhibitionist or promiscuous meant.
However, some of it I did understand, and they all either filled me with dread or embarrassment.
What makes you feel uncomfortable?
[You're uncomfortable having your underwear seen by others.] Requires higher exhibitionism.
[You're uncomfortable being nude in front of others.] Requires higher exhibitionism.
[Is it worth prostituting yourself to help avoid Bailey's torments?] Lets you prostitute yourself without appropriate promiscuity. Doing so will decrease control.
Bailey hasn't scared you enough.
[You're uncomfortable reflecting on all the lewd acts you've performed.]
Unlock level 3 exhibitionist, promiscuous, or deviant acts.
[Who do you consider to be your primary love interest?]
You haven't developed feelings for anyone yet.
Of course I would be embarrassed about being seen in my underwear. It was embarrassing enough to be seen by Bailey and that other kid in my pyjamas earlier. So being nude in front of others, was definitely a bigger nope from me.
It would probably help if I knew what exhibitionist meant, but I definitely wasn’t in any hurry to raise whatever it was. That’s for sure.
As for the next one, I’m sure I’ve heard the word prostitute before. I just don’t remember what it is, and quickly decided that I didn’t want to no. So that was another nope for me. Even if the part about Bailey scaring me, was more than a little concerning.
The next one I just decided to skip, I didn’t understand any of it, so there was no point trying to figure it out. I doubt it was anything good. Nothing here seemed to me.
The last thing, was just embarrassing. Love interest? Of course I haven’t, this isn’t even real. I don’t care if it’s a dream or some kind of prank, or if I am really crazy… I’m certainly not falling in love with anyone… Gross, that’s what old people do.
Thankfully though, there doesn’t appear to be anything to press or select, and as I look at the bottom, I see the exit button. Well, it says next, but the others said the same thing, and there was nothing else to press.
To my relief, the window actually closed completely, and I found myself sitting in my room again. I also appeared to be exactly the same as before, and couldn’t find anything wrong with me. Well, apart from waking up in this strange place, and being completely lost and confused.
I just had no idea what I was supposed to do. I quickly tried pinching myself, but nothing happened. So that was either one of those lies people told to kids, or this wasn’t a dream. Neither of those things helped me though.
I guess I could just sit here, but I had to eat and drink at some point, and I couldn’t see anything to help with that problem. I even opened the wardrobe again, just for the same pop up as earlier to appear. I quickly closed that, and noticed the little table next to my bed, had a small draw.
To my surprise, I actually discovered a watch, and what looked like a wallet. Finally something that didn’t suck in this place. Although as I opened the wallet, it only had £5 inside. That’s all I had? I mean sure, I was only thirteen, but £5 was nothing.
It actually worried me. Bailey had told me he wanted £100 by next Sunday. I had no idea what would happen if I didn’t have it, but something inside me, told me it wouldn’t be anything good. I’m not sure why I felt that way, but I knew I couldn’t ignore it.
At least the watch seemed to fit me perfectly, and it worked. Although I was surprised that it was 07:30am, and it actually had the date displayed as well. I didn’t think watches had the date on them as well. Especially a watch that looked this cheap.
The next thing I noticed, was what appeared to be a small map of this place. I could see where things like the main hall was, Bailey’s office, the bathroom, garden, and the exit. I also suddenly realised that it said Rapeshire Orphanage.
I was in an orphanage… something I already knew, as I remember what Bailey had told me, but for some reason, I had completely forgotten about it. There was no way I was an orphan though. There was no way my parents were dead, and even if they were. I had an auntie and an uncle, as well as a grandma.
So there was no way, this was real. Although it had to be, which meant… well, I don’t know what it means. Could I have been kidnapped? I mean, maybe some weirdo kidnapped me, and this is like a weird thing they made, or it’s some kind of weird reality TV show… I mean, those shows are really weird. Could there be cameras? God I hope not.
I decided to try and get those thoughts out of my head though. It was already getting too much for me. The last thing I needed, was to freak myself out even more. So I decided to focus on something else. Hopefully something positive.
So I looked at the map again. It said bathroom, but there only seemed to be one. I couldn’t see any others on the map, and if there was only one, that had to mean, only boys went here. There would be no way boys and girls used the same bathroom.
That was a positive at least. Girls was okay, but they were weird, and boring. I also doubted I had to go to school either. Not that I hated school, but it was still school. I had never met an orphan at school, so maybe we got taught stuff here. Although I couldn’t see a classroom on the map.
There was also a garden. Which probably meant somewhere to play. Not that I wanted to play. I wanted to go home, but for some reason, I was having some strange thoughts. I was also starting to notice that I seemed to keep forgetting that I am not supposed to be here.
It was only for a few moments, but it was still weird.
I found myself looking at the wallet again though, and remembering what Bailey had told me. My main goal was to get out of wherever here was, and go home. However, I was also worried about his threat. I needed to at least try to make some money.
I just had no idea how, and even as I think about his suggestions, could I really do it? I certainly couldn’t steal anything. I’m a kid. Who am I going to steal money from? As for being a foot stall, that had to be a joke or something, no way I am doing that, and no way people pay money for it.
So that left knocking on peoples doors. I wasn’t exactly keen about it, and while I wasn’t that shy. I definitely felt awkward about knocking on strangers doors and asking for work. Although at least that was something people actually did. Even kids.
Kids cut peoples grass, and do some chores for money, I know a couple of kids at school that do that. So I guess I could do it as well. It did mean I had to go outside though. I didn’t even know where I was, and certainly didn’t want to get lost.
Well, even more lost than I was right now. At least I knew I had a bed to sleep in here, and it was an orphanage, so it had to be safe… even if Bailey seemed to be a bad person. The government own orphanages… at least I think they do. So it had to be okay.
With nothing else to do, I decided to just head out, and see if there were any houses nearby. There was a small part of me that thought about finding some other kids inside the orphanage, but to be honest, I just wanted to get out of this place, and get some fresh air.
Who knows, maybe I will walk outside, and there will be loads of people with smiles and stuff, all laughing and cheering as they celebrate pranking me. It was wishful thinking, but what else was I supposed to do?
I was half expecting a pop up screen thing to appear, as I made my way to the exit. At this point, it wouldn’t have surprised me. However, nothing happened, and before I knew it, I was opening the door, and walking outside of the orphanage.
I wasn’t really sure what to really expect. Even with my wishful thinking, but to my surprise, it just looked like a normal place. There were buildings and roads. I could see some cars, and even some people. Although they were quite far away.
I actually thought about running over to them, and begging for help. Surely they would help me. I actually took a few steps towards the closest person I could see. Which appeared to be an old women. Surely an old lady would help me.
However, before I could get any further, I hear someone calling out to me. It sounded like a man, and for a moment, I thought it might have been Bailey. Thankfully, it wasn’t. It was just some guy, that at least looked normal.
He actually kind of reminded me of someone that lived down the road I lived on, but his hair was completely different, and he looked a little older.
“Excuse me young man, could you spare a few moments to help me. I dropped my wallet down there, and can’t seem to find it, I think it went under a bin.”
I wasn’t really expecting him to ask me to help him, and I didn’t really want to. Especially as I looked to where he was pointing. Which was a dirty looking alleyway, that somehow looked dark. Even though it was actually morning.
I was about to make up some excuse, but I glanced at the orphanage as turned back to him, and quickly remembered Bailey’s threat. Maybe if I helped him find his wallet, he would give me a reward. I mean, he wasn’t exactly old, but adults give kids money if they help them. I think.
So instead of making up some excuse, I decide to smile at him, and tell him to show me where he thinks his wallet was. It couldn’t be that hard to find it, and there was nothing to lose. Maybe I could even get him to help me out. He would know a lot about this place.
For the first time since waking up, I actually felt like everything might be okay. It was stupid, but I needed something to go right, and I was determined to try and be positive.
Unfortunately for me, that feeling of positivity, lasted for less than half a minute, as I suddenly felt an arm around my arms and body, and a hand quickly covering my mouth. What the fuck?