16- Rules Shouldn't Be Broken

As I open my eyes, I see three young boys staring at us. As I sit up, they start to back away. "Ms. Selma wants to speak with you, young girl." One of the boys say, I make the bed and pat Nates head, "make some friends while I'm gone." I smile at him before heading to the office.

"Come in, have a seat." She smiles, closing the door behind her. "I'm Ms. Selma, and I'm your care taker," we shake hands, I smile lightly at her. "I'm Nicole, thank you for taking us in." Her smile fades as she slams a big blue book on the desk. "I have rules you need to obey while you stay here, read them when you have free time." I nod my head, setting the book on my lap.

"How do we earn visitation rights?" I ask, wanting to see my mother. "To earn rights, you can't break our rules." Skimming over the rules, I stop at the discipline chapter.

'If you break any rule, you will be punished. The children who are next on the list will come up with a punishment.'

I read it over again, thinking my mind was playing tricks on me, kids can be cruel, and I wouldn't want something bad to happen. "Nicole, our rules are important, I'd suggest you don't break them." I shake my head and stand up, thanking her for the book.

Opening the bedroom door, Nate was tied down to the bed. "What the hell are you doing to him?" I ask, pulling two boys off him. They were kicking his legs, Nate was crying. "He broke one of the rules," the boy crosses his arms. Holding back my anger, I take a deep breath. "What rule did he break?" He points at the bed, "it wasn't made the right way."

Cutting the ropes, I place Nate behind me. "Give him a break, he just got here, he doesn't know the rules yet. I made his bed, not him." I yell in anger. "Do not touch my brother again, or you'll deal with me." Both boys take off out the door, I close it behind me. "Are you okay, buddy?" He nods, "I'm scared." I hold him close, wondering what kind of orphanage this was.

Sitting down with Nate, I go over the rule book with him, showing him pictures of how Ms. Selma wanted everything. Halfway through the book, Ms. Selma spoke through the speaker. "It's lunch time, everyone make their way to the courtyard." Nate and I brace ourselves before walking out to lunch, Ms. Selma stops Nate. "The boys sit over here, this will be your spot." She says, sitting him with the boys who hurt him earlier.

Watching Nate from my table, I saw him trying to make friends. I smile at him, encouraging him to do so. As I look around my table, I notice most of the girls staring, talking about me. "Is there a problem?" I ask the group, they huddle close. "Do you know where you're at?" One of the girls says, watching the door. "What kind of question is that? I'm at this orphanage, like you." The girls shake their heads, "you don't know, do you?" The girl clears her throat.

"Have you heard of Penny's Home For orphans?" I nod my head, remembering the horrific events. "Penny drowned all the kids in the community bath, then tucked them in bed as if they were still alive." My stomach flipped as I thought about it, wondering how someone could be so messed up. "Ms. Selma is Penny. After she murdered all the children, she fled here and changed her identity. Did you notice she looks a lot like Penny does?" I nod my head, noticing the resemblance.

"When it's nature hour, I'll explain more." She says, the other girls quiet her down, "here she comes." It was silent as Ms. Selma handed everyone a tray, we smiled as she walked around. "Adoption ballets are in, two lucky children will be selected to be adopted."  I look at all their faces, they were all scared. As she stirs around the bowl, Ms. Selma picks up two pieces of paper.

"Our lucky children are Issac Jennings and Mary Dillon. Tonight, they will be adopted." I look over to see a little girl with tears in her eyes, that had to be Mary. "Mary, don't worry. You're going to be adopted." Ms. Selma smiles, Mary wipes her tears away. Issac was staring at nothing, trying to keep calm. I could see the fear in his eyes, they knew something I didn't.

"Children, go play, I need some time to myself." Everyone cleans their trays in an orderly manner, then runs out to the playground. "Hey, Nicole." A girl says, she pulls me under the jungle gym. "Hi, I'm Olivia." She smiles, holding her hand out to me. I smile back, "hello." I said, awkwardly waving at her. "Do you want to help me with something?" Olivia asks, I shrug my shoulders, "depends on what it is."

"I've been trying to free everyone in the orphanage, but I can't do it by myself." She explains, I nod my head.

"What do I need to do?" I say, ready to help with whatever she needed.