Order of The Rose: Forsaken Petal (2 page)

Chapter 2:

“
We’re going to get you, Tom,” the older boy yelled from down the hall.

Tom pumped his legs faster, as he rounded the corner. He heard their laughter and pounding feet gaining as he searched for a place to hide. He ducked into the bathroom and ran to the farthest stall and closed the door tightly behind him. The color from his face drained as he heard the bathroom door bang open. Loud footsteps approached the stalls. He hugged his legs to his chest and held his breath.

“We know you’re in here,” Jacob said.

“
Yeah and we know you’re hiding in one of the stalls,” Peanut taunted in a squeaky voice.  The boys crept closer and Tom knew that he would have to do something quick. He searched desperately for a place to hide as his heart thumped louder and louder.

The first stall door slammed open. “You might as well come out and get your beating or it will be twice as bad for you,” Jacob said.

Tom’s heart raced and his knees were shaking so badly he feared they could hear him.
Slam!
The door nearest his made a horrible sound as it banged into the wall.

He jumped as the stall door crashed open in front of him. Jacob grabbed him with his meaty hands and pulled him off the toilet. Peanut snickered as Tom was forced to face the toilet he had just been sitting on.

“I told you that it would be worse for you if you didn’t come out,” Jacob said. Sharp pain pierced Tom’s neck and arm as Jacob forced his head toward the toilet. He began to gag from the stench. He kicked out and managed to hit the door hard enough that it swung back, catching Jacob in the arm. Jacob only laughed as he slammed Tom’s head down onto the toilet seat.

“
Don’t you get wild.”

Laughter erupted from Peanut as the blood ran down Tom’s face. Jacob lifted the toilet seat and Tom strained to hold his head as far back as possible. As his arm gave out, he clenched his mouth and eyes, just before his head plunged into the water.

After a few seconds he was allowed to lift his head and gulp for air. Peanut’s laughter filled his ears each time his head was lifted from the water. Jacob finally stepped back and allowed Tom to fall to the floor. He lay coughing and gasping while Jacob and Peanut left, laughing loudly.

Tom caught his breath, struggled to his feet, and walked to a small sink where he methodically washed his face and hands. The bleeding had stopped but a giant goose egg took shape on his forehead. Tears formed but he gripped the sink not allowing the tears to flow. He lowered his head, closing his eyes, and tried to make the pain go away. He looked into the cracked mirror again, seeing the
dirty blonde haired thirteen-year-old boy with dark blue eyes.
What have you become? How can you call yourself an Alerio?

He sank to his knees, and holding his hands to his face he sobbed. When he first arrived at the orphanage, nearly eight years ago, Thaddeus had been the headmaster. The cruelties he endured would never have been allowed if Thaddeus was still here.

Jacob and Peanut were the cruelest, calling him names and beating him regularly since Mr. Aldofo took over. Mr. Aldofo had been Thaddeus’s assistant until Thaddeus died un-expectantly.

Mr. A
ldolfo never liked Tom. A couple of years after arriving at the orphanage Tom overheard Mr. Aldolfo talking with a woman about selling boys to her. Tom reported it to Thaddeus and Thaddeus believed him even though Mr. Aldolfo denied the accusations. Thaddeus told Mr. Aldolfo he had one week to get his things in order and then he would have to leave. But within a couple of days of the argument Thaddeus beca
me sick and died. Tom always felt that the current headmaster had something to do with the death of Thaddeus. 

He was promoted to h
eadmaster and things changed quickly. Jacob and Peanut were allowed to do pretty much anything they wanted. The other boys learned quickly not to stick up for or even befriend those who the cronies beat on. If they ever did, they would be next in line for a beating or worse, sold to the witches.

Tom had escaped from the orphanage many times, finding it easy to climb out the window and then down the tree next to the roof. He always returned though, worrying that if he left, his mother, or who ever she had promised to send would be unable to find him. He also figured that at least here he had food and shelter and he was learning many things such as reading, science, and math.  Mr.
Aldolfo complained a lot about the money he spent on educating the worthless boys. But he knew that the witches would pay more for educated boys.

Often Tom would crawl into a corner and dream of better times when his mother would hug away the pain or the times he would walk in the forest next to their home with his father. He frequently cried himself to sleep thinking of the last time he saw his mother and father. When he was at his lowest points he would hold onto the soft eyes of his mother and the strong smile of his father. He knew that his mother had always believed in him, had always made him feel that he had worth. His father told him once, “You can look for the good or the evil in this world and whichever you look for, you will find.” He held to these memories like a child holds to his favorite toy. He would never give them up or the hope of seeing them again.

“Why haven’t you come for me yet?” he whispered.

Tom walked along the front fence and thought about what his dad had told him about good and finding it.
There is no good. I have looked and looked for it but there is no good here.
He wrapped his hands around the cold iron bars that kept him in this world of pain. Raising his head he looked through the bars,
maybe it’s time for me to escape this place. I’m tired of waiting. After eight years maybe something has happened to them, maybe I need to find them.
An old man came out of a building that stood across the street bringing him out of his thoughts.

Tom stepped back as the man slowly walked across the street. “Tom?” the man said.

His jaw went slack as he nodded his head.

“
This is for you.” He pushed an envelope through the fence and smiled reassuringly.

He hesitated looking at the envelope in the wrinkled hand of the man.

“It’s okay,” the man said.

Tom stepped forward, slowly reached out and took the envelope. The man turned and hurried back across the street and disappeared into the building.

Turning the envelope over, he saw that his name was written neatly across the back. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the letter and pulled out a single sheet of paper. The letter was written in dark ink and neat penmanship. 

Tom,

In one week you need to leave the orphanage. Follow the adjacent street until you come to the first alleyway. Follow it to the end. At the end you will meet two men at midnight. They will present themselves to you and you will then need to decide which of the two you will follow. This choice is
yours and yours alone. Once you have made the choice it can not be undone without dire consequences.

Sincerely,

X

He turned the paper over, finding nothing he put the note back into the envelope and slowly walked back to the orphanage.

When he made it to supper no one noticed him being late. He finished his potato soup and then went to bed were he read the note several more times. Putting the letter up he slowly drifted off to sleep dreaming of dark alleys and old men.

He squinted as the early sunlight shined through the window onto his face. He opened his eyes with a flurry and quickly jumped out of bed. Looking around he realized that most of the other boys had already dressed and were heading to breakfast. He ran to the bathroom throwing water into his face and hair trying to get the curls to have some order to them. Then pulled his shirt on and tucked it in as he ran down the hall. He had learned from experience that being late to class meant trouble, but first he needed to eat and get his chores done.

Dressed and finished with breakfast he started on his chores. He got the mop bucket and filled it with warm water dumping the prescribed amount of soap in. He then grabbed the bucket and mop and headed to the entryway of the orphanage. He sloshed the mop into the bucket and began to clean the tiled floor.

Tom looked up as the door of the orphanage opened and a woman wearing a long black robe entered. A large man followed behind her. He had a wicked looking scar that went from one side of his face to the other. The two walked swiftly toward the headmaster’s office not bothering to knock as they entered.

“
What are you...” the headmaster started. Tom heard a gurgling sound come from the room.

“
Don’t talk to me in that tone, dog,” a woman’s voice said.

“
I... I’m sorry,” the headmaster gasped.

“
We need another boy. Now,” the woman said.

The headmaster came out of the office, red faced and in a hurry. Tom slunk back into the corner and sighed with relief as the headmaster hurried up the stairs toward the dorms. Within a few minutes he was back pulling a younger boy. Tom felt sad for the boy knowing that it was a witch that waited for him.

“This... This is a good boy,” the headmaster said.

There was silence for a few minutes.

“He will do,” the woman said.

“
Our usual arrangement will be made, remember that you never saw me and I will not reveal your little scam here,” she said.

“
I would never tell the counsel about you and… and your sisters,” the headmaster whispered.

There was a laugh from the room. “You wouldn’t dare, you’re a coward!” the woman said.

The woman and man, dragging the crying boy, left the office and orphanage as quickly as they had come. Tom heard a sigh from the office as the door closed with a bang. He waited a moment longer before going back to work on the floor. He quickly finished his chores and went to class. He had a hard time concentrating on his studies remembering the face of the boy. He wished that he had been strong enough to stop the witch and her henchy.

The remainder of the week went like any other week with Tom studying, doing chores and getting picked on. It had been six days since he had received the letter and it was already worn from the many times he had read it. He still couldn’t believe that it was real. Not being able to sleep he read it once again and
finally drifted off.

Tom woke the next morning sweating from a dream that he had had. He could only remember bits and pieces of the terrifying nightmare. He remembered seeing some sort of horned beast sitting on a tree that had been burned, with only a few branches remaining. He remembered an unusual cloud in the distance that looked like a mushroom. The cloud began at the ground rising high above the land. It seemed to be on fire at the base and became white as it rose high in the sky. The land was completely wasted; the only living thing was the horned beast.

The memory of the dream passed as his hand touched the note inside his pocket reminding him that tonight he would be meeting the two men. His stomach churned in anticipation both from the worry and excitement of what the night might bring; hoping that his life would change but fearing what it could change to.

Chapter 3:

Tom showered, ate and went about his day as normal as possible. It was hard for him to concentrate, getting him into trouble several times. His mind frequently wandered to the note. He reached into his pocket often, each time expecting it to be gone and realizing that he had only been dreaming. To his amazement the note was always there.
What did it mean that he would need to choose who to follow? How would he know which one to choose and why did he need to?
Why me? What’s so important about me?

The day seemed to drag as he watched the clocks, waiting for night to come. When it was finally time for bed, he washed his face, brushed his teeth and climbed into bed without changing his clothes. He sighed with relief; the night sky had clouds making it darker than usual. He had worried about being able to get out without being seen. As time slowly passed, he nodded off.

Tom jerked awake.
Oh no, what time is it? Have I slept too long?
 

He jumped out of bed and looked for the time. It was 11:30.  After slowly opening the window and pulling himself onto the ledge outside, he began walking to a large tree. Reaching for the branches that extended to the roof, he carefully climbed down. His heart raced, as he reached the yard and ran across the thick grass to the fence. Climbing over, he hit the pavement with a thud. Filled with apprehension, he thought,
is this a new beginning or a fateful end?

Sweat trickled down his face as he made his way down the street, imagining all sorts of monsters in the dark shadows.  He jumped as a cat ran across the street in front of him. He wiped the sweat slowly from his face and sighed with relief as the cat disappeared into the shadows. He came to the even darker alleyway and stopped. He looked warily down the alleyway wondering what awaited him in these shadows.

Slowly making his way down the alley, his heart felt as if it was going to pop out of his chest.
Who was out there waiting for him? What if someone was going to kidnap him and his life would become an even worse hell than before? What if it was the woman who took the kid from the orphanage the other day? Maybe she had seen him and was waiting for him. What if
... and then he saw them.              

The two men standing in front of him seemed to appear out of nowhere. One was young and handsome, his clothes brightly decorated with a cloak that floated to and fro in the cool fall breeze. His jewelry sparkled in the dim light.

The other man was hunched and much older. He wore a simple black robe, and a small red rose hung from a chain around his neck. Tom looked at the rose trying to remember where he had seen it before…

“
Hello Tom,” the younger man said, as he stepped toward him.

The young man’s voice was clear and strong easing the tension that had built up in Tom’s neck and shoulders. He walked a few steps closer. “It is now time for you to decide which of us you will choose to follow.”

The old man was motionless and Tom could feel his eyes studying him almost as if he could see into his soul. He had the distinct feeling that he would have to choose correctly tonight and that that choice could decide the fate of millions. No longer able to hold the old man’s gaze, he looked away, and a feeling of doubt replaced the previous feeling of heaviness.

The young man glanced at the old man, and said, “That decision is yours, and yours alone.” He turned back to Tom. “For this one, as you can see, time has come and gone. We must begin a new age in which the world can progress and grow strong. The old ones have brought us much wisdom but it is now time for action.” He smirked. “As you well know their customs and rules have brought you much pain.”

Tom rubbed his knuckles absently. He then glanced at the still motionless old man. It was as if he was already dead.  The young man, on the other hand, was full of life and energy that invigorated Tom, bringing him a new sense of purpose and meaning.

The young man opened his arms wide. “This new world and age will bring much harmony and peace, and there will be new laws ... or ways that will make everyone happy. This new world will be one that will help and encourage people to be... good. There will no longer be bullies or even orphanages for that matter.”

Tom’s heart beat fast as he listened to the young man. It was a vision being weaved in front of him of this new world in which he would finally be happy. This new world would be filled with only joy, no more pain, and no more headmasters.

The young man’s voice grew in power and he pointed at Tom. “This new age will need a leader who will be able to show forth his might and power. It will need a strong leader, who can even command the earth to do his bidding; the very elements will rise up to follow his every command. That leader will have armies at his command and he will be able to convince others of his greatness.”

The young man folded his arms and speaking softly said, “Tom, that leader will be you. You need to follow me,” he said putting his hand on Tom’s shoulder. “I can be the friend you have longed for.”

Tom smiled and looked beyond him at the old man who stood in the shadows.
There wasn’t much of a choice to be made
. The old man did not step forward and did not offer anything. The old man began to fade. The last thing Tom saw of him was a tear in his eye and a soft smile.

The young man half turned toward the place the old man had been. “The old has made way for the new,” he said. He turned back to Tom, smiling. “You have chosen wisely tonight.”

The young man passed his hand in front of Tom’s face and Tom’s eyes closed.

~~~~~~

Tom woke the next morning in his bed.
Was it all just a dream?
He snorted at the thought of him being a leader. He had never felt more alone than he did at this moment remembering the dream, knowing the feeling of being liked by someone else. He could still feel the strong hand of the young man on his shoulder reminding him of his dad. He slowly dressed and started to leave when Jacob and Peanut walked in. 

“
So, there you are. I hope that you had fun last night. The headmaster is coming and I made sure that he heard about your great escape,” Jacob smirked.

“
What do you mean? I didn’t leave last night.”
Had he chosen? Had he really gone out last night?
Tom grinned.

Jacob frowned and walked toward him. “Yea right, I don’t think any lame excuse that you make is going to work.”

Tom looked up at Jacob and backed away. Jacob continued straight for him, beginning to smile again. 

“
Come with me now. There is someone here to see you,” the headmaster said, from outside the door.

Tom sighed and hurried past Jacob.  His relief turned into concern not knowing who could possibly be here for him. He followed the headmaster down the hallway. The headmaster was wringing his hands and kept muttering to himself.
Is the witch back?

At the bottom of the stairs he could see a man and woman standing outside the headmaster’s office. The headmaster rushed forward. “Here he is. I told you that he was just fine, not a hair misplaced.” He smiled nervously. “No marks. Nothing at all,” he added quickly.

The woman looked over Tom. “We’ll see about that,” she said.

Tom’s jaw dropped as he gazed at the woman, hoping that she was as kind as she was beautiful. She had long black hair that flowed down her back and framed her perfect face. She was tall with an elegant frame. She wore a form fitted blouse and a tight skirt that went to the middle of her knees and black dress shoes.

She turned. “We have traveled a long distance and are ready to leave.” She started walking. “Get his things we must be off.”

The headmaster wrung his hands nervously. “You, you can’t just come here demanding to see one of my beloved children and... and,” the headmaster stopped.

The woman turned looking at him coldly. “John, should we pay the good man for all his trouble, or should we just take the boy?”

John put one hand to his chin, the other hand rested on a pistol at his side, and smiled wryly. “Do you think Archelaus will mind?”

The headmaster took a step back. “I’m just a poor headmaster, trying to help out these unfortunate boys.”

John dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword on his other side. “I know what you are.”

The woman sneered. “John, just pay the man, his day will come soon enough.” and then left.

The headmaster started to say something, as he looked at the back of the woman, then stopped when he saw the money in John’s hand. John counted out several bills, stopped, looked at the headmaster, and then put a couple back. He walked up to the headmaster handing the bills to him. He beckoned Tom to follow and turned after the woman. Tom looked at the headmaster, who was counting the bills, then slowly followed after John.

I guess that’s that,
and he pushed open the front door for the last time.