He was sitting in his room once again, staring at the window. Everything hurt, and he could tell without looking that his skin was already bruising over. The recently turned seven year old scoured the dark and starlit streets with dull, slowly growing even duller every day he spent there, forest green eyes.

            The splash of color that was his drawings caught his eye after a few minutes. They brought light into the otherwise bleak and bland grey walls. It gave off a cold feeling before he had started to hang the drawings up. He shivered a bit and shook his head to get rid of the images.

              A sharp knocking sound on the tall oak door pulled him from his thoughts. He shuddered and got up, his cat that had been comforting him ducking under the bed, all that was seen being the black tail being pulled under the metal bed frame. He took a deep breath and approached, ducking his head a bit in case it was either caretaker.

                  After slowly swinging the door open it was a relief to see it revealed neither caretaker but instead a worried looking ‘Annie’ standing there. As soon as his door was open ‘Annie’ ducked in, and He shut the tall warm oaken door behind his friend, and promptly locked it afterwards. He knew it was a huge risk ‘Annie' Was taking, sneaking over to his room this late. It was already past curfew. The metallic smell of dry blood followed his friend in, and he guessed that he wasn’t the only one who got beat tonight.

                  As soon as he was sitting back on the bed, his black kitten Belle jumping back in his lap after not hearing the warning sounds and a slight clicking noise He had made, her soft fur against his hand comforting, ‘Annie’ gripped his shoulders, making him still. He had no idea what had gotten into his almost brother like best friend, and it was making him uneasy, as well as quickly bringing on a flashback from earlier.

                    “Clyde. What happened? All anyone had seen was you quickly running upstairs after your so called ‘meeting’. And you’re battered more than normal.” ‘Annie’ asked, his usual sarcastic and bland voice dripping with worry, sending a guilty shiver through him, and at that prompt, as Clyde began to remember the events, his hands moved with his mind to sign the entire situation to ‘Annie’. From experience, Clyde knew he could keep up.

                    It was earlier this morning. I got fired, the kid pressured me into opening the door when I was told not to. The day had been going smoothly until there was a knock on the door. I was going to just ignore it when the kid left the game room.

                    Another knock came.

                     “You should answer it.” The kid suggested it, a bit maliciously to be honest. I shook my head, since, you know, the kid doesn't understand sign language.

                      “Come on, it's just my friend. He's come over to play some games. Get the door.” The kid continued to pressure me. I bit my lip. His tone was getting more hostile, though slightly.

                       ‘Your parents said not to answer the door for anyone.’ I  had wrote on my notepad, showing the kid. He’d just scoffed at me.

                        “Well, they aren't here are they? Just come on. I won't tell anyone.” He cooed mysteriously. As if he had an ulterior motive. I just bit my lip harder. It took me a bit longer to refuse that time.

                        ‘No! Your parents said no, and I have to listen to them, not you!’ I had scribbled down before I showed it to him once more, which caused him to then slap the notepad out of my hands. It had clattered to the floor violently, it giving a loud thud against the pale brown and red patchwork floor.

                       “Answer the door you stupid orphan! No one else is here, no one is going to know. Just do it!” He continued to pressure me, raising his voice that time. I flinched at the yelling. Since all I'd known was a beating to come if the person had to yell or ask again I'd given in and scurried to the door.

                        Of course, my suspicion and trust issues got the better of me and I only opened it a crack so I could see who was on the other side yet they could not get in, and saw that yes it was in fact one of the kids obnoxious friends that I had seen relatively often.

                      Satisfied, though not really, I went against every bone in my body that was telling me not to and opened the door, after unlocking it. As soon as the friend was inside I’d quickly slammed the door shut and relocked it.

  I turned in time to see them high five before they turned to me with identical evil grins and a malicious glint in their nearly identical brown eyes. The combination of the two had sent me on edge and made my blood run cold. The kid soon spoke.

  “Nice job. You disobeyed orders, specific ones at that. Mom will be back any second, and when she finds out, you’ll be fired.” The kid teased, him and James snickering all the while. My eyes went wide and I froze.

                        My anger was greatly out weighed by my fear. What would Froiz do to me when he found out? I didn't want to know.

                         “Why?” Was all I was able to choke out, tears pricking my eyes. The kid gave a cruel and twisted smirk that had me trembling lightly.

                          “Because I hate having orphan filth like you In my house.” The kid told me, his tone bitter, but also slightly triumphant. I barely registered the insult, and I really couldn't bring myself to care about them.

                            Just then the door lock jiggled and then the door creaked open.

                            My employer, the kids mother, entered, saw James, and then jumped slightly in what I could only assume was surprise, or shock. I braced myself for what I knew was coming, and cast my gaze to the floor.

                            “James, what are you doing here? How did you get in?” She asked quizzically, and I couldn't help but to flinch and tremble more when James answered.

                          “Clyde let me in.” He replied, almost giddily. The reaction was immediate, and one I completely expected.

                            “What? Clyde, I gave you specific directions and you disobeyed them. This is your third strike. You're fired.” She said, her voice surprisingly even. Like she completely expected it. That hurt slightly. I just nodded silently, making no move to explain myself. Why bother? It wouldn't change anything.

                               I had received my pay for the day and then quickly left. One thing I knew for sure in all of the uncertainties was that I really wasn't looking forward to delivering the news that I got fired to Froiz. I quaked just thinking about how he would react. I knew I was in for a beating for sure.

                               The walk was short as usual, but an ominous feel was in the air as I walked in unusual silence. Usually I could detour to stop by your work place and we'd walk together, since we finished at around the same time. And your voice would fill that silence as well as my laughter. But that couldn't happen today.

                               So, I entered the orphanage as quietly as I could, knowing Froiz was likely in the parlor watching t.v. And not expecting anyone to be home yet, since he knew all of our work schedules. I had decided that it would be better to just get it over with as he'd find out eventually anyways. So I slowly took a deep breath, the cold grey walls not helping my nerves any, walked into the room where he was, and cleared my throat.

                                 His cold blue eye immediately locked onto me and narrowed once he'd processed it, rooting me to the spot, my trembling and quaking coming back as he got up and strolled slowly over to me, then bent down to my level.

                                  “What are you doing here boy? You should be at work.”  Cold. That's how Froiz’s voice sounded. I could detect a hint of anger. His voice sent shivers through me, causing me to look down, only to get backhanded, biting my lip to avoid crying out in pain. Tears gathered in my eyes anyways.

                                    “Answer me boy! I asked you a question!” He yelled in my face, my trembling picking up to be shaking.

                                     “F-fired. I-I…..F-f-fired.” I got out, and the glare that settled on me set dread through Me. I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard him practically growl. Chancing a glance, I saw him straighten out to his terrifyingly tall height, towering over me by at least two teenagers heights plus a small child's. Point being, he was taller by a lot and it terrified me.

                                       “Really? Which one are you? I need to know who I'm punishing.” He said, causing me to flinch, his tone so malicious that it was barely concealed. I bit my lip before I hurried in my response.

                                         “C-Clyde L-lyri.” I stuttered out, unable to keep the fear out of my tone. He roughly gripped my arm and pulled me towards his dreaded room without another word. Once the door was locked behind us he cuffed me to the wall and--

                                      “That's enough Clyde. I can guess the rest. You can stop now.” ‘Annie’s’ unusually soft voice accompanied by his warm glove covered hands on top of his stopped his signing and broke him out of his flashback. Belle cried softly, sensing his distress and rubbing against him, trying to provide comfort. His eyes started tearing up again, and ‘Annie’ pulled him into a hug as he started to cry, burying his face into ‘Annie’s’ heavy burgundy jacket as ‘Annie’ made comforting noises and rubbed his back, his comforting whispers just reaching Clyde’s ears over his soft but loud cries.

                                     After probably half an hour He started to calm down again, and sniffled, pulled back to wipe the remaining tears away and gave a small and weak smile to ‘Annie’, who gave one back, his brother/best friend’s almond brown eyes shining in concern, his usually numb features lighting up softly. Clyde gave another sniffled and wiped his eyes just to make sure all the tears were gone. He pet Belle to calm her and reassure her that her owner was okay. Or, as okay as he could be.

       “Clyde, I think we should get some rest. Let’s sleep. Okay? I’ll be right here.” ‘Annie’ said, as he no doubt noticed the wave of exhaustion that hit clyde like a truck. Clyde nodded, his eyes drooping shut and him giving a yawn.

  ‘Annie’ got up, stripped off his heavy coat and boots, and layed down next to Clyde on his bed. Pulling a blanket up, Clyde snuggled up to his brother/best friend, and allowed his eyes to close.

  I love you like a brother ‘Annie’  Clyde signed to him,before starting to drift off. he heard one last thing before he slipped into unconsciousness.

  “I love you like a brother too Clyde.” And then, clyde drifted off into the peaceful circumstances of the darkness of a dreamless night. Better than the harsh reality, that would forever be there when he woke up. Sometimes, being an orphan sucks. `