Phoenix

The Recruitment Pt 1

Breakfast was a sombre affair. The dining hall, with its corrugated iron walls and high rooftop, was devoid of its usual hubbub. The abrupt change of release date had inspired unease and reminded the orphans of how expendable they were. Spoons clattered against plates almost apologetically and sidelong glances were passed around like contraband. Orphans calculated which of their friends and enemies were due for release and silently morned the former, though most of them would never admit it.

Ash wriggled on the cold metal bench, not yet used to the restrictive pull of her new clothes. The shirt felt like a straight-jacket compared to the baggy jumpsuit she was used to wearing. The jeans had to be rolled up at her ankles so she wouldn't trip and the draw-string around the waist pulled to full tension.

She slid her bowl of mash back and forth on the stainless steel tabletop and watched as it slid around like the entrails of a fish on a filleting block. She thought she saw something wriggle amongst the carrots and wondered at how a meal could so encompass exactly how she felt—cold, stale and unappealing.

Her brother squirmed next to her, smelling faintly of bleach. She didn't ask questions, but she knew what he'd done. There was no way he would've been able to secure a shower, and loitering at the sink stations was like loitering at a crocodile infested watering hole. He must've used toilet water to clean himself. Probably dipped his towel into the bowl to sponge the grime off his face. It had worked, though. He looked the opposite of what she felt—radiant, fresh, like he'd just stepped off a model's runway. Amongst the rest of the orphans, it was hard not to notice him.

"What?" he said through a mouthful of his own gruel.

Ash looked away. She'd been staring. "Sorry. You look different, that's all."

"Speak for yourself." He fingered a lock of damp hair dangling next to her cheek, causing her to lean back. "You're actually quite pretty when you're not snarling at people."

She batted his hand away. "I'm not pretty."

He shook his head, a wry smile smoothing the worry from his face. "Whatever you say."

A hungry group of kids hovered like a pack of hyenas in her peripherals. They'd finished their gruel and were now scanning the tables for a leftover morsel from a weak and unwary victim. Despite her disgust, Ash shovelled the contents of her bowl into her mouth, packed it tight so she could chew it down at her own pace. It didn't matter how suspiciously the carrots moved. Her next meal mightn't be for a while, and she'd need all the sustenance she could get.

A wracking cough cut the silence and she glanced in the direction of the sound. A girl, skinny as her bones, entered the lunchroom through the double doors. Her recruitment shirt hung off her shoulders and her puffy eyes took in the rows of tables and empty bowls. She slumped against the wall not even bothering to find a seat or leftover mash. A bright blue fringe stuck to her clammy forehead, hanging limp from an inch of mousey brown re-growth. Of all the things she could've bought from the orphanage commissary on good behaviour points, she'd chosen hair-dye. It was probably choices like that that had led to her being so unwell.

Ash's breathing hitched. Her heart pounded and a clammy sweat seeped from her palms. The plains of the girl's face were an exact cast... even the tint of her pale skin was a match. This was the sick sister of the boy she'd killed, with no idea what Ash had done, where her brother was, or what had happened to him. And there was nothing Ash could do about it.

The crackle of radio waves connecting to the speakers in the ceiling offered momentary respite for her spiralling guilt. Spoons hovered in mid-air. Everyone stopped to listen to the announcement they knew was coming. "All orphans eligible for recruitment make your way to the main hall. All orphans eligible for recruitment, make your way to the main hall immediately."

Ash forced herself to swallow her mouthful. It stuck uneasily in her throat. To her right, Evelyn wrapped her arms around the neck of the boy from Dormitory 5 and stuffed her tear-stained eyes into the crux of his neck. To her left, the sick sister pushed herself off the wall and wobbled unsteadily towards the door, while another wracking cough sent her body jerking forward. Ash felt the cough in her core, felt it wrap around her heart, and squeeze.

She was dimly away of Jai tugging her arm, dragging her to her feet and towards the door. Others followed, hands rising to flatten fringes and straighten shirt collars.

Hundreds of pity-filled eyes followed them out. 

________________________________________________________________________________

*~*

Question for the scene: What do we think will happen at The Recruitment?

________________________________________________________________________________

*~*

PHOENIX + BONUS EPILOGUE can be purchased at:

https://books2read.com/PhoenixFromTheAshes

or borrowed for FREE on Overdrive