Hum

Khalil Roana Conrad!

How I hate to write down this name, I was used to going by KC or just Khalil. I never liked my second name since it was made by the person who gave birth to me.

Everything's still clear and vivid in my head, how disappointed she is just by looking at me, how annoyed she is when she hears my voice calling for her, and how cold and violent she gets when I try to calm her down when she's drunk.

She hated me because I was made up of disaster, mistakes. She was raped while dozed with drugs and she didn't have the idea who violated her, that's why she poured every ounce of her anger towards me. I could remember a few memories that she was once a gentle mother but as I grew up, she changed into violence until she decided to abandon me.

The second parents who adopted me are worse than my mother, they always beat me up whenever their children make lies or stuff things that their parents owned in my cabinet.

They only offered me dinner, no breakfast, and lunch, and locked me in the storage room like a stray dog who's always thirsty for water. I never cried tho, not until their firstborn psychotic, motherfucker, and mad son started to make malice and ripped my soul out of my senses together with the only precious thing a woman could keep till marriage.

I ran away and thankfully they didn't stop me. I wanted to find my real father but I was too tired, if he cares about me he should've searched for me. I might just as well leave this world for good. I have nothing to lose now. No one would even cry for my disappearance, so it's okay. The Lord must be sad looking at me right now or maybe disappointed, but I can't do this anymore, I would rather stop this madness than continue suffering from hellish people.

"If you think you could escape from pain by committing suicide, think again my child" a voice of a man was heard behind me. I turned towards him and he was quite old and had intimidating features.

"That cliff you're about to jump with isn't worthy, trust me it only leads your soul to nowhere but endless fire my dear"

"I don't care" I numbly muttered

"You poor little one, you must've faced a lot, look what they have done to you" he sympathized but something's not right about the way he stated those words like he's somewhat ire.

I turned back to the cliff ready to jump but an arm wrapped around me.

"Don't do that, here is the old man with you now, come live with me and have a lot of friends in my home" he whispered and I find his warm embrace with me somehow comforts me that a single tear left my eye.

"Don't cry now my child, everything will be fine" he brushed my hair soothingly and my craving for affection made me nod my head and turned to him and hugged him.

Comfort was the only thing I needed and he was there and offering a home for me. Who am I to reject such a blessing? I couldn't ask for more.

I slept tight on a comfortable mattress and a soothing blanket but then I jolted up realizing I have never had this luxury in my whole life.

I was in a simple and quite plain but still relaxing room.

"She's awake!" I heard a boy child's voice beamed

And suddenly the room filled with children looking at me curiously

"Hi, I'm Dan! What's your name?" Said the little boy with curly hair. I have no idea what to do but the excruciating eyes of the children make me clear my throat

"I'm Khalil Conrad" I replied with a hoarse voice

"Welcome to the group KC! You will be our older sister from now on!" Dan cheered as the fellow children beam and jump out of happiness.

I'm a bit confused but there's a warmth that touched my heart. A small smile carved in my lips when Dan hugged me tight together with other children as they introduced their names I couldn't even pronounce.

Would it hurt if I took care of these children who seemed seeking motherly love?

It dawned on me and realized that the place I currently was is an orphanage, a place perfectly for me, a place that would rather keep me safe from a cruel world even for a temporary time, but I don't think someone would take interest in me, so I might live here for good.

I am now an orphan.

Weeks have passed, The guy who brought me here never showed up again since I got here. I wonder who he was. it was peaceful and joyful, but not until I woke up late at night hearing things outside our room, then suddenly gunfire was heard making the children jump out of their bed and run to me in pure horror.

"What's happening?" I whispered towards Dan

"We don't know, we never know. We're just used to it." He stated and my eyes widened at what I heard.

"What do you mean you're used to it, Danny?" I asked worriedly

"We always heard gun fires every night at this hours and we never make noises or else they'd be angry with us" Sammy explained

"Who's gonna get angry?" I asked again,

"They are bad guys! They always dragged us out here when they heard someone cry or screams" Tally sobbed silently.

They? So there's a lot of them.

"Hey kids listen, I want you to stay here, lock that door, and my older sister will go out and check what is happening, okay?"

"No! Don't go! They will hurt you" Danny exclaimed worriedly

"No I'll be careful, I'll come back and knock on that door two times okay?" I replied to all of them and they are still hesitant

"I'll come back, I promise" I whispered as I raised my right hand as a promise

They all nodded and ran through the corner to hide.

I twisted the doorknob quietly and tiptoed through the hallway getting closer to the commotion.

"You better not fail this time kid or else" a dark voice threatened, I hid myself on the stairs.

"I will not fail this time I promise" a guy I assumed his age was around mine, they are a lot of young adults gathering around that I never knew they were all in this place.

I shifted to have a clearer view but I almost lost my composure when I saw a body bathing with blood on the floor in front of them.

What the hell?!

"You shouldn't be here"

A loud gasped was prevented by a hand covering my mouth

" Quiet or you might've wanted your head to blow off" a guy whispered in my ear.

I stopped struggling and he released me.

"You're new here" he stated assessing me

"Who the fuck are you?" I hissed

"I'm Larrison, nice to meet you" He introduced casually without looking at me

"What's going on?" I asked as I turned to peer on what is happening

"You wouldn't want to know" he replied

"What the hell is this place?" I turned to him again

" I believe the answer was in your question" he side-eyed me.

"There's a dead in front of them?!" I hissed again

"Shut your mouth now lady or I'll make you" he glowered, a suddenly panicked shot through me and I ran back to the room.

What's going on?!

I knock twice on the door and after a few seconds the door opened

"Khalil!" Dan pulled me into a tight hug followed by the others

"Lock the door, quick!" I ordered lowly and they locked it immediately

"What happened?" Sammy asked

A kid like them shouldn't know about those things, it's too disturbing for them.

"Um-older sister didn't find anything outside, so you better keep quiet okay? You can go back to sleep now, I'll be watching you all guys" I whispered and they all gathered around me and lay on the floor.

"Older sister, can you tell us a story?" One of them asked, making me a bit panicked. I didn't know any kids' stories to tell and even if I invented one it might be bad.

"Sorry, sweetie but I don't know any sto-"

"Then sing for us please?" Dan cut me off

I shifted uncomfortably clearing my throat, I don't even have any song I memorized in my brain.

But then, I think it was way better.

I started to hum softly creating a melody I remembered from the song I always listen to from the room of my real mother.

Some of them shifted for a better position sighing deeply.

"You have a good voice KC" I heard Dan whisper sleepily.

A small smile grew on my lips and leaned on the mattress of the single bed.

I'll protect them no matter what.