Chapter 2: Orphans
At his desk, David frowned. It had been a full day since head found Allen. Somehow, he was disappointed when he found that no one had filed any reports since then. He knew it shouldn't have surprised him, but that did little to ease his worries.
Allen's constant silence wasn't helping, either.
If he had been anyone else, David would have been unsettled by how little the boy spoke. But he was himself, and Stella had acted the same upon her arrival.
Perhaps she could help Allen open up more? Or, if not her, then maybe Chelsey, or Joshua?
Even if they couldn't, David knew they'd want to meet Allen eventually.
Yes, that would do.
Knock knock
"Stella? Can you gather everyone up for me? There is someone I'd like you all to meet."
David returned to the foyer to sit with Allen.
The boy was dressed in blue shorts with matching suspenders, striped stockings, and a white button down shirt. They were all that could be found on such short notice.
The clothes weren't all that warm, either, so David insisted that Allen wear his cloak again.
And they sat in content silence for a few moments more, until the sounds of feet on stairs alerted them to the other children.
Nervous, Allen looked to Teacher for support. The man just smiled at him , as the other children got into a neat, orderly line.
"Children, this is Allen. He will be staying with us for the time being."
Joshua was the first to react, instantly getting up in Allen's face.
"Yes! Finally! Another boy! I was SOOO lonely!"
Allen flinched. The green-eyed boy was so loud…
"Joshua..u-umm….I don't think he likes you being so close…."
A brunette in a worn red cloak. She seemed nice.
Chelsie bowed.
"H-Hello, Allen. My name is Che-Chelsie." She stepped back and let Letty-or was Rick here now?- take her place.
"Hi! Me and Rick are SO happy to meet you!"
She took Allen's hand and shook it enthusiastically.
She seemed loud, just like Joshua, but a nice kind of loud.
Finally, Stella took her place, gingerly pulling Letty to the side before turning to face Allen.
She curtsied.
"A pleasure, Allen. I am Stella."
She had a strange look in her eyes-as if she knew something he didn't. But maybe he was just being paranoid.
Allen spent most of the day in the library, reading. Joshua had tried to coax him out with promises of fun pranks, and Letty offered to introduce him to Rick, but frankly, he wasn't interested.
Allen wanted-no, needed- to know why he couldn't remember anything. The voices whispering in his head did nothing to help him.
"For the love of-! CHESHIRE, YOU IDIOT!"
"Chill, Rabbit. I knew what I was doing. Besides, it's better this way, riiigghhtt?"
"How is THIS better?! Answer me!"
"Simple. He won't remember THAT, or anything leading up to it. Alice would only get hurt by those memories if I hadn't…"
Somehow, those voices seemed familiar-almost comforting, but also sinister.
But what were they talking about? It couldn't have something to do with his memories, right?
No, certainly not.
They were just voices in his head, after all.
Closing his book-which, while entertaining, contained nothing of use-Allen put it away just as it was and slipped out of the library and went to his bedroom-down the hall, beside Letty and Rick's.
Perhaps a short nap would do him some good.