Task

Getting to their shabby tent, Shem and Lorey instantly realised that finding sleep would be impossible, whether they wanted to or not. About half a meter away were tents on either side of their tent, their tent was built to fit two people and currently had nothing inside. On their left Shem heard muffled crying from inside a tent, evidence of someone grieving, the tent doing nothing to hide their sobs. 

"Hey Lorey." Shem muttered as if to not disturb their neighbour. "Lets just leave our dirty clothes here."

"Yeah, I agree."

After leaving the clothes both stepped out of the tent, directly into the path of an elderly pair making their way to the tent on the right of the siblings. 

'These are the first elderly people I have seen all day.'

The presumably elder couple had an air of sterness surrounding them, this feeling was exemplified by their white hair and sharp eyes seemingly assessing Shem to his core. Shem kept a poker face while internally panicking.

'Aren't elderly people supposed to be nice and caring? This couple looks like they want to kill us!'

Both Shem and Lorey came to a silent agreement. Without having to glance at each other the siblings stepped flush to the tent while sticking close to one another, making way for the elderly. The elderly couple slowly walked past the siblings, making eye contact the entire time as if to convey superiority.

Finally entering their tent with surprising speed for their age the elderly couple closed the zipper behind them and both Shem and Lorey let out a small sigh of relief. 

'Batshit crazy neighbours, check!' After thinking this Shem opened his mouth to lighten the mood and make a joke about the interaction but was silenced by Lorey with a finger to his mouth. Lorey proceeded to gestured towards the left tent where suppressed sobs could still be heard then back towards the other tent next to theirs. Giving her a small knowing smile Shem gestured for Lorey to lead the way towards the task station.

'She knows me too well!' Shem mused, the small smile still dancing on his face illuminating his features with a warm glow. 

Shem and Lorey's tent was right near the main path of the large circusesque tent, each row contained ten tents and there were sets of rows on each side of the pathway. The pathway, about five meters in diameter and large enough for a tank to stroll through, was the only place with concrete in sight. The flooring for the rest of the circus tent was a thin red tarp.

Upon noticing the odd choice of colour for the tent Shem registered that everything inside the tent besides the concrete road was red. 

'The tent's are red, the tarp is red, even the windows are made of stained glass so a red glow is emitted.'

Deep in contemplation he completely missed the center roundabout that had paths leading in all four cardinal directions. The curb, obscured by shadows and overgrown flora native to the Orange continent. 

A few minutes passed until the siblings reached their pre-set destination. A small doorway had a light stream in from the outside signifying an exit. Once exited a fold table rested a few metres away, there sat a soldier wearing similar clothing to the previous. On the table were carefully placed slips of paper, each detailing a separate chore. 

Lorey approached the soldier while sporting a curious demeanor and said lightly, "What's the deal with the papers?"

The soldier who was accessorised with a name tag that read "Corvo", had a smirk playing on his lips as he answered. 

"We provide shelter free of cost, food however is needed. Complete a task and you get the task slip, each slip gives one meal."

With a steely gaze Lorey looked straight at the soldier, refusing to break eye contact she responded.

"And if we get our own food?"

The smirk not falling from Corvo's face only widened after hearing her response.

"Doesn't matter to us, if your tent number does not bring at least one slip a day say goodbye to your shelter."

Sharing a glance the siblings looked at each other then quietly walked out of earshot. 

"What do you think?" Shem probed, hoping to get an answer from Lorey. 

"I think we should take a task while getting food on the side for ourselves if we have extra time." Lorey replied, a thoughtful look splashed on her face.

"I think we should do that too. Let's also ask if they have any information on how our parents passed."

"Okay." Lorey said as they started to walk back to the hastily set up table. Motioning for Shem to pick a slip of paper Shem scrutinised them, being close to the first people to arrive at the table there was no line and many options were still left. 

'We should avoid anything with intense physical labour.'

Picking the "Gather 15 different packets of fruit and vegetable seeds" task Shem handed the slip to Corvo who proceeded to ask for their names and tent number which he wrote down on a notebook next to the gather seeds taks. 

"If you do not deliver the seeds to me and try to use that task slip to get food you will be reprimanded. The list of people who completed their associated tasks get sent to the kitchens at six pm, when meals are given out." 

"Remember, if you do not complete at least one task each day you will be removed from the shelter."

Shem, nodding in agreement to Corvo's words, asked the burning question both him and Lorey held for this entire day. 

"How did they die?"

After hearing his words Corvo's face darkened, eyes grew dangerous, he clenched his hands, veins popping like white paint on a black backdrop. Opening his mouth Corvo narrowly spat out "They are making an announcement tonight." before closing his mouth once again. 

Deciding to not press him any further Shem and Lorey both turned around, wondering how they were going to complete their task at hand as a few people started to stream out of the main tent and walk towards the foldable table.