AN:
This is an AU with its own set of rules, and the powers aren't really such a big thing; characters still have the same one-on-one combat skills, but don't turn into scythes or anything. It's kind of a darkfic but not too dark.
NOTE: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, if you're on a laptop or desktop, set it to half-page display - so much easier to read when your eyes aren't traveling across the entire screen.
TW: Violence, Deaths (but probably not main characters), Homophobia in most likelihood, possible drug usage. I may update the TWs at the beginning of each chapter if the story goes there.
Gray clouds sauntered across the sky. Before it, a procession of tall, dark trees flashed by, one after another, in an endless barrage of green flitting past the cloudy window. Soul smirked; it wasn't often the weather matched his mood.
A pothole moved under the car, and the seat jolted Soul just enough to make him uncomfortable. No pain, just annoyance. The cab driver let an almost imperceptible smirk appear, but Soul knew his tendency to be bothered by something like this had been worn down over the years, like the smooth rocks settled on a riverbed.
The driver's smirk faded. "We're here."
"Yeah, so?"
"So, I finally get to be rid of you."
Soul's eyes remained fixed out the window. The trees cleared from either side of the road, revealing a desolate field impaled with shriveled corn stalks. In the center of this barren expanse sat a clump of oak trees, throwing a dim backdrop to a tall, narrow brick building with a pitched roof.
The Orphanage.
Tall windows glared down at the approaching cab. The steep roof loomed closer and closer, almost oppressively, signaling the beginning of a staredown: car versus stonework. Still forward the cab drove into the unfamiliar territory, cautiously lurching over rocks, potholes and ruts in the drive.
Brakes screeched to announce the arrival. Soul's eyes wandered up the building, studying each crack and vine working its insidious way into dark bricks. A building like that would usually last long – if anyone cared about it, Soul muttered.
His view was cut off by the cab driver approaching the window.
"Get out! I'm already late."
The door wrenched open to let in a chilly breeze. Soul set a foot out to map the ground and got out, only to feel the breeze envelop him in its full force. Leaves picked up and floated away into the cloudy sky, a formless, unending sheet which seemed to hover just above the rooftop.
The door thudded closed behind him, and the noise of the wind outside was muffled, now reduced to a low rumble emanating through the thick walls. The front hall extended before him in a long, narrow snake that wove a route back into the depths of the building, permitting in only small rays of light through the doors on either side. On the right wall was a narrow staircase rising to a gap in the ceiling, and a door to what looked like an office, where the cab driver could be seen whispering to a stout, wrinkly-faced woman.
"Yep, fourth time this year..."
"Well, he probably just needs to be disciplined harder, that usually clears up the issues, with most other-"
Something drew his attention away.
Far down the hall was a shadow. The darkness crept its way from one of the doorways. Inching, it grew into the hall, and Soul noticed himself staring but found his eyes fixed, unable to look away. The shadow seemed to have a purpose, or maybe a direction or motive to its creeping. Soul felt his neck hairs rising. The shadow reached the far baseboard and began climbing the wall, faster now.
Then it began retreating back into the doorway, melting back until nothing remained.
"Hey, who are you?"
Soul felt his head give a fearful jerk to face the sound. On the staircase had appeared a figure which escaped his notice, having been so preoccupied with the surreal shadow down the hall. Standing halfway up the flight now stood a boy, about his age, clothes covered in stains and filled with holes. This, all crowned by a tuft of light blue hair. And now, looking mildly annoyed.
"Over there in the red pants! Hey, can you hear me?"
It now became apparent that Soul had been studying the blue-haired boy's appearance for much longer than would be considered necessary.
"I'm Soul. Soul Evans." He said with a humph, and ran his hand through his hair, casting an eye to the wall. Hopefully the boy hadn't noticed his embarrassment.
The boy shifted his stance on the stairs. "What, can't handle my presence? I'm Blake! You should know me, at least, I'm gonna be big one day."
Soul couldn't help but notice the boy's smile seemed a bit forced. He forced one himself and turned to watch the cab driver whisper to the old woman in the office.
The boy's voice interrupted. "Come on, I should show you something."
Floorboards creaked under Soul's feet, though he noticed Blake's plodding steps uttered nothing but silence. The door passed him on the side, revealing a dark room containing but one bed, one table, and no person. The window was boarded up from the outside.
-v-
An overgrown dirt path lead down the hill behind the building, delving into a ragged field of weeds slightly taller than either of the boys. Soul followed Blake out the back door and down the path, watching as weeds rose around him and blocked out his line of sight. Blake was walking at a brisk pace, rapidly outpacing Soul, who struggled to keep up against the feeling that getting left behind in these weeds would be an unnerving experience.
The two emerged into a grassy clearing containing, from what Soul could tell, nothing more than a single twisted and dead-looking tree. The sky was darkening overhead, and monotone rustling emanated from the weeds behind them as the wind coursed through - Soul put a hand on his hair to keep it from blowing around.
Blake walked around to the back of the tree and emerged with a shovel. A thrust into the ground, followed by a cracking of roots as he pried up the sod; Soul stared at the growing pile of dirt beside the hole, and took a few steps forward to peer in. Blake thrust the shovel and hollow noise rang out.
"Haha! I knew it would still be here!" Blake jumped down into the hole to claw the dirt to uncover the lid of a wooden box, and Soul clambered down into the hole to inspect it. It was only a few inches across, and didn't look to be very old, or have any writing on it. Blake grabbed the corner and lifted it out onto the grass. "Open it, don't you wanna know what's inside?."
Soul took the invitation with some caution. Cracking the lid, the inside revealed itself to contain only some cheap nick-knacks: a marble, a necklace, an election pin made illegible by rust, and a dollar coin, among others.
The wind hastened and Soul once again used a hand to keep down his hair. Blake stood looking down into the box, eyes glazed over as if looking into the distance. He seemed to be staring at something far beyond the box, deep underground and hidden from the world. "Soul, I need something of yours."
Soul took a step back. "What? Why, what do you want?"
"It doesn't matter, I can be anything."
Black clouds were now starting to creep from behind the orphanage roof. Tree leaves scattered, and Soul felt a water droplet on his neck.
"Why?"
Black Star remained with eyes fixed on the box. "It's to protect you. Just trust me."
Soul hesistated for a moment before silently giving way. He fished through his pockets and found the old thimble, old and banged up, covered in rust. He held it to his chest for a few seconds, then sighed and handed it over.
Blake set it in the box, closed the lid, and set the box back in the hole. "Come on, help me cover it up!" Soul crouched down and began pushing the mound of dirt back into the hole with his hands.
They patted down the dirt and Blake put back the shovel. The droplets rained down more frequently now, and Soul could see Blake's blue hair beginning to cling to his forehead as droplets ran down his face. Blake turned and started for the orphanage.
Soul ran a few steps to catch up. "Hey. What was that room for? The one just down the main hall?"
Blake paused. "What did you see?" His tone had become hard.
The question threw Soul off, and he stumbled to formulate a response. "Augh, I think there was a shadow, nothing serious."
Blake turned to him for a moment, then exhaled and looked back up to the brick building. There was a moment before he spoke.
"That's Simon's room. They took him away a few years ago."
Soul took a minute to process. "Where'd they take him?"
Blake began walking again as the rain got heavier. "They didn't tell me…," he paused again, not even trying for a smile. "but I can already tell it wasn't far enough."