Author's Note

.｡｡*ﾟi hope you're staying safe and being kind to yourself! .｡｡*ﾟ

Warning: Mentions of violence, character death in the form of suicide, and references to sexual assault (nothing explicit, simply implied).

Love youuu 💗

HOUSE OF REFUGE, 1897

Calico – barefoot, clad in only his trousers and undershirt – ran breathless down the corridor, tears streaming down his face, blinding his path. He fumbled through the darkness, trying to keep his cries quiet and muffled. When he reached the staircase, he stared all the way up, unblinking. Without hesitation, he ascended the steps quickly, being sure to step over the louder stairs.

He was rambling in German to himself, his eyes bloodshot and wet with tears as he made his way further up. He walked past a couple of rooms before finding another staircase, leading to a set of double doors with pale blue curtains. Across the curtains, he could see the silhouettes of snowflakes falling.

The roof.

In Ward 33, Jack awoke suddenly to the alarm going off in the tower. Another escape? So soon?

The others stirred, all talking at once, speculating what it could be about.

Immediately, Jack noticed who was missing. "Holy shit," he said, staring at the empty bunk. "Calico."

Jack jumped out of bed, rushing to the window to peer outside. "Calico!" He shouted, trying to spot the older boy. He couldn't see anything through the blizzard. "I can't see him!"

The boys scampered from their bunks, joining him at the windows, realizing who Jack was searching for.

"What the hell is happening?" Atlas shouted.

"Where's Calico?" Rails asked. "Is he running away?"

"Now, of all times?" Shakespeare ran a hand through is hair nervously.

A loud clamor of boots and whistles echoed through the hallway, and Jack could see several guards and Whalen rushing up the stairs through the window in the door. They thundered past the dormitory and continued up the staircase.

"He's on the roof," Jack speculated in a low mumble, knowing that's where the guards must be headed.

This was met by a chorus of panic and alarm from the others.

Whalen threw open the double doors, finding Calico peering over the ledge. "You get back here, you little bastard!" Whalen yelled over the blizzard winds, squinting to see the boy. "What do you think you're doing? Causing me a sleepless night? I'll beat the stuffing out of you! Get over here now!"

Calico looked back at Whalen tearfully, shaking his head as he inched away.

The Ward 33 boys rushed to the locked dormitory doors, pulling on them and pounding as hard and loudly as they could – shouting all at once to be let out. Shouting for Calico. Jack was near tears now as he banged on the door, his knuckles bloody.

"Get away from there!" Whalen shouted, stepping outside, moving toward Calico with his baton raised. "Come here, dammit! Take another step, and I'll thrash you good!"

Calico bit his lip, looking from Whalen to the ground below. The falling snow reminded him of the winters home in Bavaria, the nights where his mother would make him hot cocoa. And she'd sit by the fire and cuddle him in her warm embrace, singing softly in his ear. Calico craved that feeling more than anything.

"You're going to regret you were ever born by the time I'm done with you!" Whalen roared, coming closer. "I will tan your hide, so help me God, boy! Don't take another step away!"

The fear in Calico's eyes faded, his expression falling flat. He crossed himself, turning around to face Whalen, his heels on the edge.

"What are you doing? Don't you dare!" Whalen's voice boomed loud enough for the boys in Ward 33 to hear him out the window. He began hurrying over. "Don't you dare—"

With an empty stare and something of a wry smile, Calico spread his arms limply and tossed himself backwards without hesitation, falling four stories to the frozen ground below.

The resulting thud to the pavement and the guards' shouts from the roof made Jack's heart sink in his chest. He felt like he was going to be sick.

The other boys made a mad dash for the windows again, leaving Jack facing the doorway in a frozen state of shock and disbelief. The following screams and cries from his friends clued Jack into what he already suspected. Jack closed his eyes, nodding to himself, silent tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Oh my God, Calico." Tide's voice was ragged, like he was fighting back tears of his own as he stared out the window. He crumpled to the floor, leaning against the wall. "Oh my God. Oh my God," he cried, burying his face in his hands.

No Name sat beside him, almost completely devoid of emotion, overcome with shock.

Grim slammed his hands against the window bars furiously. Jack could see his red-rimmed eyes, his mood changing from anguish to rage. "Murderer!" He screamed, hitting the bars again. "Whalen's a fucking murderer!"

Jack could hardly believe what he was seeing. The ever-imperturbable, level-headed Grim grabbed a chair and smashed the window glass out with a wild yell.

The rage was contagious. In a matter of seconds, Jack watched the boys turn the dormitory upside down. Clothes, blankets, pillows, and shoes were scattered all over the floor. Feathers rained down, along with glass from broken windows and incoming snow from the outside. They shook bunk beds, stomped, jumped, kicking, and banging on walls and doors, screaming at the top of their lungs.

Jack joined in, unable to hold back his emotions any longer.

Mattresses were tossed to the side. A few bunk beds were knocked over, clamoring to the floor. Lamps were broken, mirrors were smashed, holes were punched in the walls. Furniture was shoved in front of the dormitory doors, barricading entry.

No Name curled up anxiously, covering his ears as he watched the chaos unfold. He didn't appear to be all there, prompting Marquette to check on him.

Whistles broke through the noise as Whalen, Snyder, Mr. Caldwell, and guards forced their way in, having a hard time opening the door. Snyder ducked as a few pillows were thrown his way. Whalen tried to grab No Name but Marquette stepped in front of him, shoving Whalen back.

Snyder blew his whistle again – his presence getting a different reaction out of the boys. They froze, quieting down in breathless anticipation. He lowered the whistle, fuming as he looked around the room.

"Bite. Your. Tongues. All of you," Snyder growled in a slow, icy voice.

Whalen tapped his baton against his palm. "I'll find out who started it, Warden," he said. "And whoever it is will be punished!"

"Enough!" Snyder yelled, cutting him off.

"He's a murderer!" Grim shouted, stepping forward and pointing accusingly at Whalen.

Snyder shoved him back. "Shut up! I said not another word!" He turned to Whalen with a deep glower of condemnation. "I have no pride for you. You were supposed to keep an eye on these boys. I cannot be everywhere at once."

Whalen lifted his chin, spluttering for words.

Snyder ignored him, turning his focus back to Grim with disgust. "And you, young man," he said, pointing his walking stick in Grim's direction. "Your time is doubled."

"Fuck you!" Grim yelled, wiping the tears from his eyes angrily.

"Tripled," Snyder furthered, not fazed in the least.

Grim glared at Whalen. "Fuck you, too!"

"Mind your language, Krause!" Whalen shouted back. "You're nothing but a stupid, disobedient, immoral boy! Only foul things come out your mouth!"

Grim's eyes shone with tears, his shoulders shaking, and Jack could see the bottled-up rage erupting from the stoic boy. "You oughta know, sir, you sure like going into my mouth!"

None of the boys said anything. Jack bit his lip, staring at the floor, too overwhelmed to do anything else.

Whalen was stunned, narrowing his eyes at Grim and stepping forward like he'd strike the boy.

Snyder raised a hand to stop him. "No meals tomorrow, for any of them," he said to Whalen. Then to the boys, he added before leaving, "And this dormitory better be spotless in the morning."

Jack caught his breath, watching Grim run a hand over his face, trying to compose himself as the others began to clean up.

Whalen lingered in the dormitory, still glaring at Grim in loathing. "Stupid, stupid boy," he repeated, walking up to him. He nodded at two guards. "Take him to solitary."

They each grabbed an arm, beginning to escort Grim out, expecting him to go without a fight as usual. But this time Grim stomped and spat, pulling frantically like a caged animal. "I'll kill you!" He screamed at Whalen as the guards fought to drag him out. "I'll kill you!"

Jack watched him go, an unsettled sinking in his stomach beginning to rise his throat.

Whalen approached Jack, leaning against a bed post. "Two days in solitary didn't do anything for you, apparently," he said with a smarmy edge.

"You murdered our friend!" Jack yelled, unable to stop himself. It was a gut-reaction, an outpouring of truth. And he didn't feel any regret once the words escaped.

Whalen reached out and slapped him hard across the face, drawing shocked whispers from the other boys. "I murdered him? That boy was dead long before he jumped."

He ushered for the remaining guards to haul Jack away to solitary as well. Jack was struggling and screaming again, much like Grim, trying to grab onto something steady only to be pulled along. Hoping, praying Dr. Fuller would hear him and come to his rescue.

But no such luck was with him that night.

Whalen ordered Jack be locked in the same cell. Mr. Caldwell tossed Jack in, throwing him against the corner.

"Strip," Whalen demanded in a low grumble, folding his arms. "Now, or I'll do it for you."

Shakily, Jack began peeling off his shirt and unbuttoning his trousers.

Mr. Caldwell looked uneasy, casting a concerned glance from Jack to the dormitory superintendent.

Once his clothes were off, Whalen took a bucket of cold water from the floor and stepped into the cell.

"I'm no fool, Sullivan," Whalen said as Jack backed up. "I know you have been the ringleader behind all of these capers. But I need your confession first."

Jack whimpered, hitting the cell wall.

"I want names," Whalen seethed. "Names of every single boy in your ward who not only brought that animal inside, but also destroyed the dormitory. Tell me now!"

Without a reply, Whalen threw the bucket of freezing water over Jack, eliciting a cry. Still, Jack said nothing, simply wrapping his arms around himself as he shivered.

Mr. Caldwell frowned, looking down the corridor for other witnesses.

"Dammit, tell me!" Whalen went on shouting, punching the boy in the face, sending him sprawling on the floor. He removed his belt, beginning to furiously whip Jack as he cried, demanding Jack confess and give up others.

After a moment of deliberation, Mr. Caldwell hurried into the cell, trying to pull Whalen away. "That's enough!" Mr. Caldwell shouted, eyeing Jack's motionless form on the ground. "Stop it! Stop it at once!"

Whalen ignored him and continued, as if not realizing Jack had passed out.

Nervously, Mr. Caldwell exited the cell slowly, before turning on his heels and rushing down the block and up the stairs to alert Dr. Fuller.