The Prophecy of Water | ✔️ 🎖 [2018 Wattys Shortlister]

CHAPTER 2-Grizzly

She seems to be spending more and more time with that cat guy. I thought she liked dogs? 

LoG, 14

"Whew. That was close! We're lucky the head governess didn't punish us too hard! She even let us come out and play!" Roko beamed next to Squinty.

They stood in line in the hallway with the other orphans, ready to initiate the monotonous march towards the barren courtyard.

Squinty felt pleased the head governess had let them off with little more than a kindly recrimination instead of getting beaten; they must have tugged on the right heartstrings.

Still, courtyard held little appeal.

"Come out and play? I'd hardly call this 'out.' They're just moving us from one wall to another." She waved her hand in dismissal.

"But... Um... You are always so eager for the playtime." Roko frowned.

The great door opened before she could reply and the queue stampeded into the backyard.

Children elbowed one another, yipping, yapping, and tripping over the dull, grey-colored bricks.

After Squinty made sure other orphans scampered away from them, she motioned Roko to come closer.

"You wanna know why I am always looking forward to playtime?"

He nodded "yes."

"Can you keep a secret?"

Roko leaned forward, eyes glowing.

"A secret? What is it?" He squeaked.

"Shh! Come." Squinty put her hand over Roko's mouth and took him by the arm to the rear of the building, turning around every little while.

They circled the entire Orphanage, until they reached a small derelict garden patched with tufts of scorched grass and thin shrubbery.

The joyous screeching of the playful kids faded away, replaced by a pleasant silence.

"Why... are we here?" Roko hugged himself glancing around.

Squinty deposited Mr. Big Ears on the rotting wooden bench whose planks were falling out, and pulled Roko behind a crumbling statue.

"You see this?" She pointed at yellowish ivy growth.

"Wha'? It's just bunch of dry weeds." Roko shrugged.

"No, stupid. Look." Squinty clicked her tongue.

She pried the emaciated leaves apart, revealing a stone slab.

"Come on, let's move it."

With Roko's help, Squinty pushed the boulder aside, and a gap appeared at the base of the wall.

"Is that a... hole?" Roko's mouth formed an 'o.'

"Sure is. Been burrowing it to escape this place." Squinty wiped her grimy forehead and held her chin high.

"How did you... um... do this?"

"I've been coming here to dig for ten or fifteen Lights now, not sure. Last week, I got to the other side."

"You... left the orphanage?" Roko stammered, blinking rapidly.

"I did." Squinty thrust out her chest.

"And... what did you see? What's on the other side of the wall?" Roko's breath hitched.

"Just an alleyway... And..." A smug smile hung about Squinty's lips.