A Family of eight.

Lunch was nearing, and the anticipation gnawed at Akena. She shifted restlessly on her bed, her mind swirling with worry. Why hadn't Sister Maria called on her yet? It was absurd that the priest had entrusted this woman to fill in for Sister Regina. She missed Sister Regina terribly—they said she would return in February, yet it was now May, and no word had come. Akena felt a weight in her chest, anxiety swirling as she pondered Sister Regina's health. 

Knock knock.

The sound startled her from her thoughts.

"...Yes?" she answered hesitantly.

"Akena, open the door," came the firm voice from the other side.

"...!!"

The priest?! What was he doing here?

"Akena!" The door rattled impatiently.

"Father...!"

"I'm sure Sister Maria called on you an hour ago?" His tone held a gentle authority.

"... Yes?" Her heart sank.

An hour ago? Had that wretched woman gotten her in trouble on purpose? 

"It seems Sister Maria holds a grudge," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Haha…" The awkward laugh escaped her lips, a thin veneer over her dread.

"Let's talk while we walk, child."

As they moved through the dim corridor, the priest's presence was a curious blend of youthful vigor and quiet elegance. He was handsome, likely in his thirties, and carried himself with a grace that felt almost otherworldly. The previous priest had been a notorious figure, his sins unmasked in scandal; this priest seemed to embody a different, more enigmatic energy.

"Did Sister Maria at least tell you about the adoption?" he inquired.

His voice was sweet, almost lulling, like honey poured over fragile glass.

"... Akena?" 

"Y-yes! She informed me about it and said she'd call on me when it was time to leave…"

"They already left," he interrupted, a shadow crossing his features, "although with the wrong child."

"Wrong child, Father?" Confusion knotted her stomach.

"Two families came to us. One was wealthy, the other less so. The rich family had a child eager to join them, while the other requested a devoted child. We chose you, but unfortunately, you weren't present. They opted for the other child, who was selected by the wealthy family."

"So…!" Hope flickered like a candle in the dark.

"Yes. You are to leave with the rich family. They haven't come yet, but they will soon. Make sure you behave."

"Yes! Yes! Of course, Father!" The excitement bubbled within her, banishing the shadows that had settled around her heart.

"Now go have your lunch, child."

"Then… excuse me, Father." 

As she made her way towards the cafeteria, Akena felt a rush of exhilaration. Was this truly her moment? She couldn't contain the grin stretching across her face. A rich family? Would she finally know a life beyond these walls?

Humming as she walked, Akena's joy was momentarily interrupted when her rosary slipped from her fingers. She bent quickly to retrieve it but caught sight of a pale hand reaching for it—a hand that was almost unnaturally white, stark against the dark floor.

Akena looked up, eyebrows raised. A man? In a girls' orphanage? 

"Boys aren't allowed here, sir," she said, confusion tinging her voice.

"I know," he replied, his deep voice resonating in the hollow space.

Why did he look so unnervingly pale? Was it a trick of the light, or was he truly like some kind of porcelain doll? 

"Then may I know why you're still here?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"For adoption," he stated simply.

"Adoption?" A child adopting another child? The absurdity nearly made her laugh.

But then he glared at her, an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. Was he… angry?

"Well then, since this is none of my business, I will excuse myself." 

Akena turned to leave, her heart racing. Was he watching her? That unsettling gaze felt invasive, as if he could peer into her very thoughts. She quickened her steps, trying to distance herself from the strange presence.

Standing before the grand cafeteria doors, Akena pushed them open with a surge of determination. As she entered, the clamor of lunchtime surrounded her, yet an eerie stillness hung in the air, as if the shadows themselves were watching. 

The cafeteria, usually a lively place, felt almost spectral today. Half the nuns were supposed to be fasting, yet the tables were full, laughter ringing hollow in her ears. Each echo was a reminder of her own isolation. 

As she stepped further inside, the doors swung shut behind her with an ominous creak. Akena's heart thudded in her chest, a sudden awareness that something was not quite right. She glanced back, half-expecting to see the pale figure standing just outside the threshold, watching her with those unsettling eyes.

But the space behind her was empty.

Shaking off the creeping dread, Akena forced a smile and joined the throng, determined to not let the enigmatic man spoil her mood.