Chapter Text
For the rest of the day, Ivan and Till were confined to different rooms. The rest of the cafeteria was murmuring in confusion, wondering what had just happened.
It wasn’t unusual for Ivan and Till to break out into fights, but this one felt different, real. It looked like all the punches thrown were meant to hurt and not petty. The usual chatter had stopped, as though everyone had understood- something was very wrong. The routine was cracking, and things were changing.
“So… what just happened?” Acorn asked, leaning his head against the walls of the cafeteria. The rest of the room had resumed normal conversation, discussing things like the world beyond the orphanage and flower crowns and all the other childish stuff you talk about before you find out the truth.
Mizi stayed silent for a while, thinking. How would she break the news to Acorn? How could she tell him that his best friend had died, and had never been able to experience the happiness of driving a fast car? How would she explain the fact that his brain had probably been eaten by some monster and it wasn’t thriving with hopes and dreams and memories? It simply wasn’t fair.
“I need to tell you something.”
— — —
Tears fell from Acorn’s face- the first emotion he had truly felt in a long time. His eyes were puffy and red as he rocked back and forth while holding his legs close to his chest.
She’s wrong. She’s lying to me. Mizi must be lying because that’s not possible! Haha- this is all a prank! Marty couldn’t be dead, he was just adopted! He was wearing his suit and his tie and he was so, so happy!
“You’re lying! You’re lying, you’re lying, you’re lying! That’s not possible because why in the world would someone even eat another human- that’s weird, that’s like, inhumane! Mizi, please tell me you’re lying!” He pressed his fingernail into his palm so hard he drew blood, the faint smell of iron filling the air near the wound.
“That’s because I think the people eating the kids may not even be human at all.” Mizi said solemnly, looking away from Acorn’s tear stained face in guilt. Maybe she shouldn’t have told Acorn- but it was definitely the right thing to do.
“Oh my God, here you go making stories.” Acorn said angrily, pointing at Mizi. “You think this is funny? You think this is a cool prank? Huh?”
Mizi looked shocked by his sudden anger- after all, even before Marty’s death, Acorn had never truly shown emotion. His face was usually blank, and the only reaction he showed was usually to the bland cafeteria food.
At Mizi’s expression, Acorn’s raised fist lowered, stopping midway in the air. He slowly lowered it, looking at her scared face- why would he even think of hitting her?
“A-Acorn.” Mizi said softly. “I’m not lying- why would I even lie?”
— — —
Acorn walked up to Isabella, his eyes still puffy from the crying. He tapped her on the shoulder lightly, and Isabella turned to him with a bright smile- her face quickly dropped once seeing Acorn’s expression.
“Acorn, what happened, dear? Did you get hurt?” Isabella kneeled down a little to get to his level.
“You- you lied!” Acorn yelled, and Isabella flinched a little, leaning away from the boy. “Marty is- Marty is dead.”
Isabella looked at Acorn, really looked at him, and sighed.
“You’re right. But can we talk about this somewhere else?” Isabella said, taking Acorn by the hand. She pulled hard, trying to get him away from the other children’s earshots.
Once they reached Isabella’s room, Isabella sat him down on the bed, a neutral expression that was somehow scarier than an angry one on her face.
“How did you find out?” She asked calmly, and Acorn just looked down at his hands, fidgeting with them.
“Just please tell me it’s a lie, Mom.” Acorn said softly. “Please just bring him back.” His voice was broken, throat feeling like glass as he tried not to burst into tears.
“Please bring all of them back. Eddy, Sua, Marty, Lizzie… please Mom, please. I- I’ll do all the chores you want, I’ll make so many flower crowns my fingers bleed I-”
Isabella’s expression stayed neutral, although Acorn could have sworn he saw her chin trembling in the slightest.
“I can’t bring them back, Acorn. I’m sorry.” Isabella acknowledged dismissively, turning back to the calendar. “You know… you shouldn’t mention this to the other kids. Or else there will be a price.”
Acorn was too busy thinking to even notice Isabella’s words, and he mumbled a question that had been running through his mind- Why?
Why did he not love Marty?
Why did any of this happen?
Why was his entire being, his identity for a while now, been a complete, utter lie?
“Why? What is my consequence, Mom?” Acorn demanded. “What could you possibly take from me that hasn’t already been taken?”
At this, Acorn burst into tears again, holding his face in his hands as his body shook from the urgent tears coming out of his eyes. His breathing was desperate, gulping in the air like it would become poison soon. He mumbled incoherently, rocking back and forth in an attempt to soothe himself.
“Shh…” Isabella said, rubbing his back. “Shh…”
Her voice was comforting- a bit of calm in the rushing sea of his emotions. But Acorn knew he couldn’t trust her after this. Not now, not ever.
“Just tell me my punishment, please.” Acorn muttered. “Please…”
He could feel his eyelids shutting, and sitting seemed too heavy… If he could just lay down, everything would be okay. The sharp edges of grief slowly softened, and he thought of Marty as he rested his head on the pillow.
The last words Acorn heard before he passed out was Isabella’s terrifying cold voice, talking about how if he told anyone he would be next on the monster’s plates.
— — —
When Acorn woke up, he felt better, refreshed. He was alert, and his first thought was to look for Marty or Sua.
But reality quickly rushed back to him, hitting him like a slap to the face.
Isabella entered the room, smiling.
“Hello, Acorn! Had a good nap, sweetheart?” She smiled sweetly at him, but that once comforting smile that made everything alright again seemed forced now. Her jaws seemed clenched, and the smile didn’t really reach her eyes- it was all an act.
“I’m fine, Mom! Thanks for letting me sleep here.” Acorn said weakly, his throat scratchy from his nap and all the screaming he had done. “May I have some water, please?”
Isabella handed it to him carefully, making sure the water near the top didn’t spill over. Acorn drank it quickly, the water cool and refreshing- he could even taste a hint of lemon.
“So, are you planning to take my offer? Don’t tell anyone, and prevent Mizi from telling anyone, and I’ll make sure you two are at the very last of the… adoption list.”
Acorn just nodded, smiling at Isabella. “Okay, I won’t tell anyone. Besides, who would I tell?”
Isabella contemplated this, then shrugged. “I… don’t know, actually.”
“May I go now? I’ll warn Mizi about not telling anyone.” Acorn said calmly, getting off the bed.
“You may. I’ll see you soon.” Isabella smiled, but she knew. She knew that they would try escaping. But she wouldn’t stop them- she had been that naive once, and she knew the kids wouldn’t get past the fence.