Forum Thread

In the heart of a forgotten city, shrouded in perpetual twilight, stands the Angel Institute—a crumbling edifice that looms like a specter over the desolate streets. Its once-grand façade, now marred by decay, whispers of a past filled with hope that has long since faded into darkness. Here, the air is thick with secrets, and the echoes of lost souls resonate through the empty halls. The fence is tall and foreboding, the gate padlocked by thick iron chains. This home has few windows- all of which barred.

Within these walls, the youth who have been cast aside by society find refuge. They are the forgotten ones—children without connections, without families to search for them when they vanish into the night. Each child is a ‘lost cause’, taken, and forgotten. The Institute is their sanctuary, a place where they are sheltered from the world. Rules must be strictly adhered to- not a toe out of line. Eyes are watching, there is nowhere you can hide.

As night falls, the atmosphere shifts. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows that dance along the walls, creating an unsettling ambiance. Whispers drift through the corridors, tales of those who came before—lost boys and girls who wandered too far. The staff, clad in somber uniforms, move like phantoms, their faces obscured by an air of mystery. They are guardians and wardens alike, tasked with caring for these fragile souls. For all children are fragile, they must be protected. Don’t wander too far, lest your breath be cut short.## The Ritual of Connection

Each evening, a ritual unfolds in the dimly lit common room. The children gather around a flickering fire, its warmth contrasting with the chill that seeps into their bones. They share stories—some filled with laughter, others heavy with sorrow—each word a thread weaving them closer together in their shared isolation. In this moment, they are not alone; they are a family forged in adversity, bound by their collective pain.

When a naughty child is detected, they are taken away. No one remembers them, for they are taught to condemn such unruly behavior. And when they return, these children are obedient. Pliant and well-mannered, an empty look in their eyes

Yet, beneath this fragile camaraderie lies an underlying tension. The Institute is not merely a refuge; it is a labyrinthine maze where shadows lurk just beyond sight. There are whispers of those who have tried to escape—only to be drawn back into the fold by unseen forces. The walls seem to breathe with life, watching and waiting as if they hold secrets that should never be uncovered.

As dawn approaches and light seeps through the grimy windows, uncertainty hangs in the air like a thick fog. You will not find solace here. At Angel Institute, hope flickers like a candle in the wind.

---

“All students to report to the cafeteria please!” Madam Isla’s simpering, sing-song voice rings out through the broken intercoms. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a warm glow on the- Ha. You wish. The dirty windows blocked most light from passing through, the ceiling lights occasionally flickering, as mice and all sorts of creepy-crawlers scuttled around under rotting floorboards. Time for breakfast!

Today, like any other day, Ibraki woke to the smell of iron clinging to disinfectant soaked skin. Pale pink eyes fluttered open at the crackle of the intercom, the day starting like any other. Wriggling out from the blanket burrito that had formed during the night, Ibaraki resisted the urge to rub dry eyes, hands patting against blood soaked bandages with calculated curiosity. Not too full, judging by the dry squelch that greeted the inquisitive touch.

Scooting to the edge of the bed, Ibaraki carefully found stable footing with only minimal wobbling. Looking around the dark room, seeing the bodies still unmoving on the beds, Ibaraki shuffled over to the closest one as the rotting floorboards creaked under the unsteady footsteps. Struggling to climb onto the bed, Ibaraki only succeeded after a very valiant fight against the enemy known as linen, only coming out with a spot of red darkening the bandages around his hands. Huffing at the victory, Ibaraki crawled towards the head of the bed, gently patted the warm cheek of the bed's occupant.

"Jiejie.... Jiejie its time to eat..." Ibaraki called out softly, flopping down on the thin pillow in front of the occupant to try and catch her eye.

---

The soft morning rays phased into the room and a pair of bright pink eyes snapped open. The young lady with off white hair sat up and yawned with leisure. Slipping into her fuzzy bunny slipper, she pattered over to similarly white haired young boy before pausing. She innocently put a finger to her chin and blinked her eye. It was as if a light bulb comically lit up beside her head, her flower shaped pupils shoned with a brilliant idea.

Her footsteps now much lighter, she tiptoed over to the bandaged boy before firmly placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hey didi~ why are you not beside your bed getting ready hm?" Phoebe asked innocently with a light tone as she tilted her head. "Are you perhaps causing mischief? You know Madam Isla doesn't permit any fun in this house!" Phoebe declared uprightly, her eyes very delicately observing Ibaraki's expression.

---

Xuanji slowly blinked, adjusting to the dim room, she rubbed her eyes, drowsy and tired. Two silhouettes were across from the room to her, sitting up, the girl ruffled her hair and yawned quietly. Swinging her legs off the bed and squinting, Xuanji could discern that is was Phoebe and Ibaraki who were awake.

Stretching, getting rid of her stiff joints, the girl shuffled over to the two, long black hair draped over her shoulders like a mop head, which she paid no mind to, and instead was more concerned for the time.

“It’s breakfast, already…? You guys are awake early.”

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Xuanji yawned once more and peered from one of them to another, before placing herself on the edge of the bed closest to her without hesitation. Didn’t honestly matter who’s, there wasn’t anyone who cared enough to shoo her off it anyways.

---

Feeling the heavy hand tap against scrapped skin, Ibaraki squealed in fright, bandaged hands only barely coming up in time the muffle the sounds into a wheezing whine that sounded a bit like a deflated plastic toy. Whipping around to brace against the inevitable scolding that came packaged with such words more often than not, pink eyes meet widened as they meet a shade just a touch lighter than Ibaraki's own, the much more comforting shape of Phoebes looming over the bed than any of the caretakers.

Still, Ibaraki's lower lip wobbled despite the safety that the lack of any adults provided, shuffling towards the edge of the bed with all the pouting regret of a child who had been caught in the act. "I-i know.... But you know I don't like going alone.... I'm sorry Jiejie...." Ibaraki sniffed, fingers finding purchase on Phoebes' nightshirt, all while neatly avoiding her eyes.

---

Hua yawns and gets to her feet. Gazing around at the commotion around her, she spots Ibaraki, Phoebe and Xuanji. Quite the large crowd. Madam Isla’s voice had rang out through the intercom….ten or so minutes ago? Usually, she expected them to get there within fifteen minutes, meaning they only had a little time left.

Hua shuffles over to the group “We should go for breakfast before Madam comes for all our heads. Whatever troubles can be solved later during rest time. We have five minutes, no?”

Seeing the boy jump amused Phoebes delightfully. She hooked her arms beneath his armpits and with a hmph, hugged him from the ground. She twirled Ibaraki around like he weighed nothing—maybe because he actually didn't—and giggle ecstatically. "Apologies accepted of course! How could I possibly tattle tale on my precious little brother whose similar to me in everything but blood!" Phoebes squealed as she pinches his cheek that was still full of baby fat before setting him down. But even then she didn't let him go, instead opting to hang her arm around his shoulder, putting her partial weight on his fragile back. She then reverted her gaze to Hua.

"Well unfortunately miss party pooper Hua jie is right, we are under a tight schedule aren't we? Madam Isla won't be too pleased if we are late.. who knows we might disappear like the other misbehaving children who angered her~" Phoebes emphasized the latter phrase mischievously as she pinches and kneaded Ibaraki's poor cheeks.

---

Damien hadn't slept. He didn't sleep very much either way, but his brain hadn't shut off, tonight. As Madam Isla's voice rang out, he flinched, startled.

he fell out of bed. With a hard thud, he stared up at the ceiling, closing his eyes tight, steadying his breathing. Slowly, he got to his feet, rising to his full height. he brushed his shirt off, groaning slightly.

he muttered to himself.

---

It only took him a few minutes to get ready. He tugged on the same hoodie he'd worn for the past- well. That was unimportant, actually. he pulled the hood up, trying his absolute best not to be noticed- though, at 5'10 and 14 years old, he was one of the biggest kids around.

he paused for a minute, calculating the time in his head. It ahd been close to 10 minutes.

he hated this place.

he shoved his hands in his pockets, notign that many of the other kids were already heading out- when he spotted Hua, Ibaraki, Phoebes and Xuanji.

"Yo. We gotta get going, guys."

He said, hoping they actually heard him- though in terms of hard probability, it was unlikely.

“Yo- 4:26 left.”

---

Xuanji nodded along with the conversation, only half listening and watched as Phoebes bullied played with Ibaraki. Sighing like a dissatisfied adult, Xuanji pushed herself off the bed and followed after Damien to leave the dark room.

“You guys hurry up. I’m leaving.”

Xuanji gave them a small wave and departed. Even if she didn’t want to leave on her own, being late was much more intimidating.

---

Squeaking as the already bandaged skin was tugged and pulled at, Ibaraki's head swam the moment bare feet touched the cold ground again, woozy butterflies fluttering around to disorient the poor kid. By the time Ibaraki had finally regained his bearings, everyone was already filing out the door, the rush to make it to breakfast before Madam inevitably began to grow impatient.

"A-ah, don't leave me behind! Hua-jiejie! Xuan-jiejie!" Biting an already puffy lip, Ibaraki's knitted eyebrows only furrowed further as nervous eyes darted between Damian and the door. To be honest, Ibaraki wouldn't have even noticed the older boy's presence if not for the words that reminded the group of the time they had left, echoing Hua-jiejie's words. It didn't seem like Ibaraki hadn't even registered the fact that Phoebes was using the child as a makeshift armrest, the negligible weight imperceptible to a body capable of carrying much more than 120 pounds of human weight.

"I guess we should go now... together?" Ibaraki asked timidly, the coarse bandages chafing against skin from where Ibaraki held Phoebes' hand though perceptive eyes looked directly at Damien.

---

He glanced away from Ibaraki, swallowing. He wasn't sure why he was weirdly anxious- wasn't sure why his hands were clammy, and his throat felt too dry.

"Yeah. Together."

It felt awkward, having people's gazes on him- especially when there was something piercing about Ibaraki's gaze. He coughed into his fist.

4:13. He could probably be a minute late and they wouldn't notice. But he shouldn't push it. The limit was two minutes.

---

Raven got up from her light doze, woken up by the chatter of the other kids. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her hoodie and slunk close to the group, not quite joining them but not too far away to be considered 'alone'. A yawn stretched her jaw wide open, forcing her to blink both sleep and tears out of her eyes.
She recalled the brief flash of dream she had inadvertently slipped into. "Spiders..." She mumbled.

---

Stepping into the orphanage cafeteria, one would immediately be struck by the starkness of the environment. The walls are painted a sterile white, reflecting harsh fluorescent lights that buzz softly overhead. The floors are polished to a high shine, creating an almost clinical atmosphere that feels both inviting and unsettling. Unlike the rotting hallways and dormitories, the cafeteria is pristine. Too pristine.

Rows of long, stainless steel tables are arranged neatly, each accompanied by hard plastic chairs that seem to echo with the absence of laughter. The tables are devoid of any personal touches—no colorful tablecloths or cheerful decorations. A large serving counter stretches along one side, its surface gleaming but cold, with an array of metal trays stacked neatly in preparation for meal service.

On the walls hang large, framed photographs of smiling children from years past—faces that seem to watch over the space with a haunting familiarity. They seem too happy, their smiles eerily wide. Their cheery expressions contrast sharply with the emptiness of the room, leaving behind an unsettling feeling.

The counter is full of the usual food. Toasted bread left out for too long, hard boiled eggs that seem just barely edible, porridge that clumps and smells odd, and bacon so oily and salty the taste would linger for days. And at the end of it all, neat rows of medication in little packets, the daily vitamin for the morning meal.

Damien shielded his eyes for a moment, the stark contrast between the usual environment and the cafeteria always a blinding thing.

He sighed, making his way to the counter, breaking from the group. Not that anyone would notice, anyways- no one ever did, slowly collecting his breakfast- he needed to eat while he could, here.

---

Phoebes smile deepened as the group entered the cafeteria in unison. She dragged Ibaraki over with their hands still perfectly interlocked and sat down. She glances at their morning breakfast before looking away in mild disgust.

It was the usual, how boring.

Phoebes simply thought to herself. These past few days within the institution has been.. far to peaceful, it was almost making her skin itch. The medication too, was starting to irritate her and make her brow twitch. Phoebes hummed a funny tune she remembers her fathers singing as she cast her gaze around. From the tall kid (what was his name again?) to the quiet girl, and then from the stern Hua and finally the pale, malnourished, Ibaraki (whose hands her claws hasn't let go of.)

Suddenly an exciting idea came into her head.

What if they all just ran away? Wouldn't that be much more thrilling than just sitting here replicating laying ducks?

Phoebes's lips quirked upwards, and the little flowers in her hair fluttered.

---

Damien sat down about three seats down from the group, hunched over the table, as he started to eat. He'd been here for years, but still, almost nobody remembered his name.

How awkward.

He tried his absolute best to avoid touching the food with his tongue, a futile endeavor, per usual.

---

Hua gingerly takes a piece of toast, and the best smelling egg she can find (without that horrid near-rotting smell) and takes two large, quick bites. She grimaces, but eats it nonetheless.

Madam Isla’s sweet voice rings through the room. “Children~ Nurse Lisa will be coming around soon to make sure you’ve all taken your healthy vitamins!”

[]take the vitamin
[]don’t. isn’t it suspicious?

Damien stared at the meds for a long few moments, before sighing.

They wouldn’t notice, right? Nobody ever did, with him.

He slowly pushed it aside, trying his absolute best to be ignored. Please let them ignore him.

[]Damien does not take the vitamins.

---

With one hand firmly gripping Phoebes and another balancing a plate laden with an almost impossible amount of food, Ibaraki eagerly snapped up the food without a care about the rubbery texture of the egg whites or the glass like brittle shards of toast that slipped between sharp teeth to stab into tender gums. Ravenous and unrelenting, Ibaraki happily accepted any and all offerings that the other kids not so subtly pushed onto the never dwindling plate. The speed at which Ibaraki ate would be concerning if not for the fact that this was pretty normal, the rapid consumption warring with the ungodly metabolism that left the poor kid always looking on the wrong side of thin.

When Nurse Lisa came around to drop off the vitamins and supplements that they all took at breakfast, Ibaraki only beamed at her. "Good morning, ma'am!" Ibaraki chirped, washing down the given pills with water that tasted so strongly of sulphur that Ibaraki's throat burned as the lingering taste of metal and rust coated the inside of a still chewing mouth.

[]Ibaraki has taken the vitamins

---

Raven slowly nibbled on a piece of stale toast, slipping an unpeeled boiled egg into the pocket of her hoodie. Once she was done with her breakfast, she reached out with a too-thin hand to grab a packet of vitamins. She paused for a moment, then opened the packet and swallowed the vitamins dry.
Her stomach churned with the addition of the pills, but Raven pushed aside the nausea with practiced ease, fiddling with her fork instead.

[]Raven takes the vitamins

---