It was noon, and the path led to a massive wooden building.
Pepe ran ahead and smiled. He asserted, "There it is! The Orphanage!"
A large sign read: "The Orphanage."
The Orphanage was the size of a mansion. Its roof was red. It had three floors and multiple windows. It also had an elegant front door and patio. On the sides, it had a garden and a shallow river. A pile of firewood stacked nearby.
Matteo gasped and commented, "I thought it would look more of a wreck." His eyes opened wide in awe.
"We repaired it," Pepe explained and stood proud. He added, "My mom said that someone named Stribora gave us the materials."
Stark's mouth formed a circle, and he remarked in realization, "Dad told me that Stribora also funded the new school."
Hafen, curious, questioned, "Pepe, do you know Stribora?"
Pepe shook his head and replied, "I have no clue who they are. Without them, we wouldn't be able to study. We wouldn't even have a home."
"We used to sleep outside when we lived here," Hafen asserted.
Stark nodded and elaborated, "We huddled to stay warm during the winter."
Matteo, Stark, and Hafen reached the patio and marveled.
"How did Ursa and Stribora manage to afford this," Hafen, astonished, sought to know.
Pepe grabbed the front door's knob and twisted it. He opened it and enticed with a grin, "Enter inside."
Surprised by the change and improvements in livelihood, Hafen and Stark hesitated.
Ecstatic, Matteo hopped, and he was the first to enter their new home.
The inside of The Orphanage was also renovated and decorated with extravagant things. A properly clean floor shone with modern stairs at the far wall. A golden chandelier hung from the high ceiling. Another hallway split through the entrance and led to other rooms on the first floor.
"Follow me," Pepe urged and walked through the hallway. He led Stark, Hafen, and Matteo to the first door and a large dining room.
A little wary and nervous, Matteo, Stark, and Hafen stepped inside. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung open.
A bunch of kids, babies, and small monsters ran around with toys, and they played games.
A delicious aroma of food swept through Matteo's nose.
Matteo sniffed, and his shoulders relaxed. He drooled.
A woman, Ursa, came from the kitchen with plates of baked potatoes. Her hair barely touched her shoulders. It was a combination of green and red. Her eyes were blue, and she had pointy ears. She wore a loose, green dress and a thin red robe. "Everyone, come sit at the table. Food is ready," she announced with a gentle smile.
The orphans sat around the dining table and waited patiently.
Ursa walked and served delicious-looking food.
"Mom, I'm back," Pepe called out, grinning.
Ursa stopped and turned to him. She noticed Stark, Hafen, and Matteo. "You've all grown up," she remarked in her soft voice.
Hafen nodded with a stern expression.
The kids, babies, and small monsters slowly glanced at the door and spotted Pepe.
"Pepe is back," one of them exclaimed and jumped out of his seat. He ran to his older brother with gleeful skips.
The other orphans followed suit, and together, they tackled Pepe to the floor and laughed.
"Calm down," Pepe yelped and struggled. He, embarrassed, tried to pry the orphans off him.
Stark gazed across the room and commented, "It's much livelier." He scratched the back of his head and chuckled.
Just then, the knee of a toddler bashed against Pepe's injured stomach.
Still injured, Pepe winced and screamed in pain.
"Get off him," Ursa urged and sighed.
The orphans stopped and looked at their new guests in wonder.
Matteo and Stark stared back with curious looks.
Still trying to process the drastic change, Hafen furrowed his eyebrows.
A small snake slithered towards them from the pile of orphans. He hissed, "Hello, I'm Snaky." His forked tongue went in and out. His piercing eyes analyzed Stark.
"Why are there monsters here," Hafen sought to know and glared.
Pepe reassured, "Snaky was born from an abandoned egg. He's an orphan just like you. In fact, all the monsters here are orphans and part of our family."
Intrigued, Snaky slithered closer.
Not sure what to do, Stark frowned and backed away. "How can a snake talk," he questioned.
Matteo waved and observed.
Snaky slithered around and examined them. "Who are you," he asked in a husky tone.
Pinned to the ground, Pepe introduced, "These three are our brothers who were adopted by Henry and Adelia."
Suddenly, two toddlers poked their heads out of the pile. One of them was a male with blue hair and blue eyes, and the other one was a female with red hair and red eyes. At the same time, they jumped out and flipped. They landed on their feet and grinned. "Yay, we have more big brothers," they celebrated with a gleam in their eyes.
Startled, Matteo flinched.
"They are my little brother and little sister by blood," Pepe informed and took a deep breath. With them off him, he managed to stand up.
The orphans gathered around him in anticipation.
Snaky joined them.
The male toddler made a gallant pose and yelled, "I am Pepoto!" He wore a light blue shirt and a pair of shorts.
The female toddler made a heroic pose and shouted, "And I am Pepi!" She wore a red dress and red shoes.
Matteo gasped and pointed out, "Wait! I remember you, two, from when you were babies."
Hafen nodded and crossed his arms.
Stark laughed and reminded, "You used to steal our food."
Pepoto became serious and asserted, "We're grown, now, and much stronger."
Pepi smirked and offered, "Would you like to play with us?"
"I'll pass," Hafen responded. Food at the dining table piqued his interest.
"Well, I'm in," Matteo accepted.
Stark's stomach growled. He looked down and suggested, "I'm so hungry. How about after we eat?"
Pepoto and Pepi exchanged looks and obliged with a shrug.
Ursa felt relieved. Her kind, former orphans returned, safe and well. She supervised as they feasted and conversed with a smile. "Henry... Adelia... I'm sorry for what happened to you. You didn't deserve it. I'll take care of them as long as I," she whispered with a solemn expression and breathed deeply. She reminisced...
"Their father wants them dead. Keep them safe and hidden," a voice reminded her inside her mind.
At the dining table, Pepe swallowed a mouthful and glanced at his mom. He noticed her tired face, and his lips tightened.
Hafen, Stark, and Matteo have returned to The Orphanage after two years. Reuniting with their siblings, what sorts of bonds will they reforge? What's in store for everyone in The Orphanage?
Later, Pepoto and Pepi hopped off their seats and dragged Stark and Matteo away. They played for a while.
Meanwhile, Hafen, not accustomed to the new environment, remained lonesome and roamed The Orphanage. He stumbled into a library, and his eyes widened.
Bookshelves covered the walls, and in them, books neatly tilted on each other.
Hafen paced around, and his eyes darted from one book to another. He halted as a certain book caught his attention. His former bedtime book, Legend of The Ghost Girl, leaned against the shelf. He reached for it and grasped it.
A while later, Snaky entered the library and held a broom with his mouth.
Hafen sat in a corner and immersed himself in his chosen book.
The book detailed the adventure of a feminine ghost who used to be a girl.
The girl had supernatural powers, and she ruled over her kind.
One day, the gods of the world arrived at her land and killed her kind, including her close friends.
Thus, the girl vowed revenge against them with a dark, ominous aura surrounding her.
Its final line read,
"Even though I don't know her name, I won't forget her... her legend... The Legend of The Ghost Girl.
Will you sign this contract for me, reader?
Signed by: Adelia."
"Mom signed it, but how did it get here," Hafen murmured with a surprised look. He touched her name and remembered how he left his personal copy, back home, blank. It was burnt away in the black fire.
With the broom, Snaky swept by him and inquired, "Can you read?"
Hafen turned his head towards him and nodded. "This is my first and favorite book. Its author is... unknown," he noted and continued, "It's the only book I don't understand."
Snaky peered over his shoulder and squinted, struggling to read.
In an instant, Ursa announced from the hallway, "It's time for dinner!"
Hafen and Snaky turned around to the doorway.
In the hallways, the orphans excitedly cheered and hurried to the dining table.
Some small monsters crawled on the walls, and others flew over the stampeding children.
In the dining room, Ursa placed a large plate of rice and a giant bowl of soup on the massive table.
Stark and Matteo sat beside the orphans and drooled. Their eyes sparkled.
Hafen sat across from them.
During dinner, Ursa served food while carrying a baby.
Everyone else ate and enjoyed their food.
Pepe finished first. He licked his bowl and requested, "I want more."
Ursa handed him another bowl with a friendly smile.
Matteo emptied his bowl of soup, and then, he started eating his rice.
At the same time, the baby caught Stark's attention. Upon a closer look, he had white hair and glowing eyes. With determination, he chugged a special liquid from a bottle.
Stark narrowed his eyes. "What is that baby drinking," he asked.
Ursa blinked and glanced down at the baby. She giggled and confessed, "It's a special cola."
"Special cola? What is that? It sounds tasty," Matteo mumbled with a mouthful.
"It's my baby's only desired diet. His name is Otso Jr," Ursa muttered and added, "I'll make you some."
Matteo accepted her offer with a nod.
"Otso? Isn't that the name of Pepe's dad," Stark questioned and munched on a baked potato.
"That's right. I named him after his late father," Ursa answered.
Hafen's mind wandered in bewilderment, and he inquired, "Are you not feeding him milk?"
A chuckle escaped from Ursa's mouth. "Otso Jr is a special case, and he cannot drink anything else," she revealed and prepared the special cola. She slowly became serious. "My former children, I've heard of what happened to Henry and Adelia. It's awful. You can stay here for as long as you like," she sympathized.
The orphans glanced at Stark, Hafen, and Matteo.
Stark took a bite of his food, and he remembered the grim events of the previous night. He teared up and solemnly murmured, "I really miss them. They were good foster parents."
Matteo sniffed, and his eyes watered. "We're never going to see them or hear from them again," he bawled and wiped his eyes.
Hafen looked down and lamented.
"I won't let you, three, be alone. I will be here if you need anything," Ursa comforted them.
"We'll keep you safe," Pepe sternly interjected.
Hafen, Matteo, and Stark assented to their aid.
Pepe placed an empty plate on top of a tall stack and burped.
At the same time, Ursa grabbed a large bowl of rice and the special cola. She carried it to the table. Her vision blurred. She suddenly fell to the floor.
The large bowl broke apart, and the rice grains scattered. The special cola's bottle busted open, and its contents spilled. A mist of energy floated into the air.
Pepe rushed to Ursa with a worried look and queried, "Mom! Are you alright?" He extended his hand to her.
The orphans crowded around them.
"What happened," Matteo, among them, sought to know.
Ursa panted, and her heartbeat fastened. With a massive headache, she groaned and grabbed Pepe's hand. Her grip was feeble, and her arms trembled.
"You look sick," Pepe pointed out and helped her sit up.
Surprised by that moment, Ursa pulled herself up and weakly smiled. "I'm fine. I must have tripped," she assured everyone. On the other hand, she had not slept well in a while. The last few nights were full of nightmares. "My son, can you clean up my mess? I'm sorry. I'm going to rest for a bit," she requested.
"Absolutely. We'll be fine, so rest well," Pepe urged with determination.
Ursa nodded and went upstairs to her room.
Pepe looked at the orphans. "Alright, everyone. Finish your food," he suggested, and he grasped a broom.
The orphans complied.
What has happened to Ursa? Is she really alright? How will Hafen, Matteo, and Stark fit in with the other orphans?