Pysch | Orphaned - Chapter One

Rather than arc neatly across the basin, water dribbled from the water fountain’s head, dripping over rust and gauges in the basin before slipping through the holes that led down into the sewers. It was busted, broken like most everything at the orphanage and with no one who cared enough to fix it.1

Sera scowled, his foot shooting out to kick the fountain. It reverberated hollowly – a depressed noise, as though it was aware of its antiquity. His nose had stopped bleeding but his face was still smeared red from being wiped with his sweaty fists, and when he brought his hands to his face they smelled bitter and metallic. When his tongue worked inside his mouth, he could almost taste it.2

The older boys had jumped him again, this time in the far corner of the dirt yard used for free time. The oldest and tallest, Nick, led all the others and said that he’d heard the women in the front office talking about Sera. Nick said that he knew there was something wrong with him, that he knew Sera took pills every day and once a week a psychiatrist came in to visit him. He told Sera he deserved more than just a bloody nose and bruised ribs. Sera had only been at the orphanage four months, and they’d caught him alone three times.3

His hand dove into his pocket and rummaged out a nearly empty pack of gum he’d had since his first day. There was only one piece left. He’d wanted to save it for something special, but if he went inside a mess as he was the staff would ask questions. Questions would lead to the fact he was a terrible liar, which would lead to him confessing, and then the older boys would be punished and rough him up all over again.4

He unfolded the wrapper, looked wistfully at the pink confection inside, and popped it in his mouth. When it was soft and flavorless like gnawing on a rubber band he took it out and fit it into the water fountain’s drain. Gradually, the trickle pooled and rose to the basin’s edge, wavered, and then drooled down the frame.5

Sera grinned with wild excitement and submerged his cupped hands. Water exploded, dousing his face and the mousy tips of his hair, speckling his clothes with dark spots, and filling his nose and open mouth. The water tinted pink and now he really could taste blood, but he was proud of himself and didn’t care.6

“Those guys really got it coming to them, huh?” a voice snarled from behind him.7

Sera jumped and spun around; except for Nick and his gang, none of the other kids had spoken a word to him since he’d arrived. In front of him was a boy just slightly taller than himself, one leg cocked, his fingers splayed across his hip defiantly. The other hand was clamped over his mouth, nursing a split lip that dripped blood all over the front of his shirt.8

“Cain. My dad went all crazy when the war started and ran off, and my mom killed herself after.” Cain startled Sera with his apathy, like he’d just casually mentioned that his parents were on vacation rather than reveal what most people would consider a tragedy. He brushed past Sera and dunked his face in the already dirty water, a cloud of red dying it darker.9

“You…you really are crazy,” Sera mumbled. Kids talked about him, about all the things he did and said and how he would pick a fight with anyone. They said that even the adults were afraid of him, especially after he’d broken an older boy’s arm two months ago. It was rumored the orphanage director had tried to give him away to a mental institution.10

Cain glanced up abruptly, his eyes burning in a way that made Sera churn with anxiety. “You believe everything that people say?”11

Sera shrugged, focusing on the ground fervently so he wouldn’t have to see 12

Cain’s face.13

“Cause if you do, then you should just hear the stuff they say about you.” Cain wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and spit blood, stalking slowly toward the smaller boy. He breathed short and spiky and it made Sera cringe. “Is it true?” Cain whispered against his ear, “Are you a pussy boy?”14

“A-am not!” Sera’s fists clenched, nails biting into his palms. He could feel soreness along his chest, his nose throbbing in time with his pulse, and it made him stand a little straighter so that the two of them were almost even, their chests almost touching, eyes level. Enough was enough.15

“So prove it.” Cain lunged, his hands grabbing Sera’s shoulders hard as he shoved him backwards.16

Sera gasped, his brain fumbling to catch up, and in an action that was mostly instinct, he hooked a foot behind Cain’s knee and spun him so that they hit the dirt together, rolling and snarling. Curses and shouting accompanied clumsy punches, their knuckles swelling from contact with unrelenting bone. 17

At some point, Cain pinned Sera beneath him and hit him in the temple. Sera’s vision swam as Cain shook him and yelled, “I defended you, idiot! I took on those assholes and for what!” 18

Sera blinked back tears and scrambled for leverage, catching Cain off guard. The momentum heaved them to the right and Sera threw his entire weight into the other boy. Mud flew and there was the sound of ancient metal protesting loudly as Cain’s back slammed into the water fountain. It caved, folding in sharply, and both boys froze. Sera stared in dumb awe at Cain, half wedged in the fountain.19

The fountain squealed in agony and somewhere a pipe ruptured, water blasting from the opening. Cain regained his sense and pivoted away, and together the two of them watched as the torrent rushed out to claim the dead yard. Green eyes met grey, both boys heaving as they greedily sucked in air.20

“Thanks for, you know, sticking up for me,” he mumbled with embarrassment, “I’m Sera.” Unsure of what else to do, he held out his hand. 21

Cain burst out laughing, and after a moment Sera joined in, both boys sprawled flat on their backs in the mud, beaten, tattered, and filthy. When they could finally speak again, neither one sat up, but Cain clasped Sera’s hand with charismatic enthusiasm and turned his head, their mad grins locked. In that moment, a pact was made: They were to be best friends in being outcasts.22