Sanctuary [slash]

Prologue - Two Ways

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~ Remarr Orphanage, 167th street, district 34, Eden City - AD 2645 ~

 Chase yawned and stretched his little arms above his head to get the cramps out of them. He had been scrubbing the floors and polishing the pews at the chapel the whole day, and now he would have loved to curl up somewhere and just fall asleep. But it was still a few hours until evening, and he had to help setting the tables, listen to evening mass and then gather the smaller children and usher them into the dormitory.

 At the age of seven, Chase was still one of the younger children at the orphanage that sheltered girls and boys until the age of thirteen, but the adults knew that they could rely on him. Chase was a very obedient, well-behaved child, and although his good behavior was rewarded most of the time, it also meant having more duties.

The boy was just about to make his way over to the closet to put away the broom and the cleaning rags when he heard the bell at the front door. He knew that sound very well: it meant that someone had just put a baby into the thermal box.

Chase looked around the hallway, but it seemed that no one but him had noticed the bell's ringing. Father Reighley, the director, was already profoundly deaf - a fact he didn't want to admit, and the other adults and older children were working at the kitchen. Quickly, Chase put away the cleaning tools into the closet and went to the front door the thermal box was standing next to.

"I hope it's not a girl," he grumbled.

He didn't have anything against girls in general, but they tended to look at him with big, helpless eyes all the time to get all kinds of favors. And Chase, helpful and chivalrous as he was, had to take on a quest to search for lost dolls or to fight gigantic spiders in the dormitory.

The baby that looked at him from out of the thermal box already seemed to know the trick of making big eyes. It was very small and wrapped in tattered cloth, but otherwise very lively since it waved its tiny arms around.

Chase took it up with practiced ease and supported the little head with one hand. He had been carrying around at least one smaller child each day since he had been living in the orphanage, so he knew what he was doing.

"Let's go look for Father Reighley," he said. "Since Jake and Ellen have been adopted last week, we have enough room for you."

The baby gave a gurgling sound, never taking its eyes off Chase's face. The boy couldn't help but smile. With a firm grip around the little bundle he marched down the hallway toward Father Reighley's office. After a knock so loud even the old man couldn't overhear, he was admitted.

"Lo and behold, a newcomer!" The gray-haired priest stooped down and took the baby from Chase. "Was there a note, maybe with a name on it?"

The boy shook his head. "No. But can I chose a name, Father?" he asked hopefully. Since he had been the one to find the infant, it seemed only fair.

"Why not, my son? Come, let's bring the little one to the infirmary for a check-up," Father Reighley replied, smiling. "You can assist Nurse Eliza."

An hour later, the baby, cleaned up and freshly dressed, was lying once again in Chase's arms. The infant had turned out to be a boy, healthy and about two weeks old. Nurse Eliza, the orphanage's medic, knew of Chase's care for the little children and had let him tend to the baby while she was talking to Father Reighley.

Meanwhile, the infant was one again fixating Chase. He had milky-blue eyes like all newborn, and Chase couldn't help but wonder which color they would take later on. Grey, like Nurse Eliza's, or brown like most of the children's' here? Or would they stay blue? Chase's own eyes were mostly regarded as black as his hair, but in the right light, they revealed to be dark blue. He faintly remembered his own father having such eyes as well.

The boy had accepted the fact a long time ago that his father would never come back to get him. The man had brought him to the orphanage almost three years ago after Chase's mother had died. The boy had only vague memories of his time together with his parents, but they had lived outside of Eden City where the air was poisonous and made people sick. Chase remembered his mother's pale face and her constant coughing. One day, she had closed her eyes and had never awakened again. And his father... He had smiled at Chase when he had said goodbye, reminding the boy to be good. Chase had waited a long time, but his father never came back.

Maybe he was already dead as well. Or maybe he had forgotten him.

The boy bit his lip, trying to banish the bitter thoughts. Softly, he talked to the baby. "I'll take care of you. You're gonna find new parents really quick. And if not, I'll be your big brother. I promise."

Father Reighley and Nurse Eliza went over to him.

"Now, my son. Have you thought of a name?" the priest asked with a gentle smile.

Chase nodded enthusiastically. "You remember telling us at mass how the three saints founded the Church of Light? And one of them even brought a dead man back to life. I like his name very much."

Father Reighley nodded and petted Chase's dark mop of hair. "You have been listening very well. It's a good idea to name the child after one of our most revered founders. This will pave the way for a life full of devotion and piety."

The baby once again gave a sound and curled his mouth in a way that could become a smile one day.

Chase smiled back at him. "Hello there, Tyrean."

tbc