The Home of Unfortunates - Clay

By Archita Ravikumar & Tanvi Ambekar

Challenges are a common occurrence, but everything happens for a reason. Orphans Talia, Maya, Marine and Chia want to escape the prison they call home, but it's easier said than done. Though, even if they do, what awaits them outside? Juggling jobs, attacks, and pets, this story is one heck of a ride. <

• Language: English
• Publisher: TAAR PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: May 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737265818

Book preview

1

Memory

Talia sighed as she stared at her sorry bowl of too-brown porridge. She adjusted her waist-length raven black hair. It was a Tuesday, and as usual, the meal had nasty chunks of moldy bread soaking up the goop. Her gluten allergy made it only possible to eat the top layer of porridge. The Home of Unfortunates was, well, unfortunate. The previous chef had been fired because she had spent ‘seven Quazas a dish’ on breakfast. Apparently, using the orphanage’s money to give edible food was less important than the kids staying healthy. Not that it wasn’t obvious.

Maya, Talia’s best friend, glanced at her with a surprised look on her face.

What’s wrong? Talia asked confused, not bothering to be secretive. She knew it would cost her.

Maya smiled, referring to the sigh by letting out an exaggerated one of her own. They had unhygienic food almost every day.

Talia moved her spoon to get some porridge and accidentally spilled orange juice all over her clothes. She groaned as she wished she was laying on her sand-stuffed bed, staring at the ceiling and just relaxing. It was her unstated hobby.

And there goes my only good shirt, Talia mumbled as she stood up to go and change. Maya laughed a little as she thought back to the last time she and Talia had talked at their mealtime.

It was quite a scene, but her photographic memory had recorded it in perfect detail. It had been a couple of weeks ago on a notably good day at the Home of Unfortunates, at least according to their standards. They were told that they didn’t have homework because the principal was in a good mood. Apparently, it was his son’s sixth birthday and he wanted to rub it in their faces about how they couldn’t celebrate theirs. Some of the kids might have even forgotten when theirs was. It had probably faded away along with all their other happy memories.

They were both outdoors during lunch break when Talia walked up to her. What’s up, My-My?

Not much, Tali.

They both giggled, unaware of the disaster that was about to unfold.

Principal Bonjine walked up to them, his light eyes and fair skin in sharp contrast to his evil smile. Miss Maya and Miss Talia, you both know very well that talking during break is strictly forbidden. Meet me at my office after school.

A cold shiver ran down their spines. Getting sent to the principal's office was no easy feat, at least when the teachers were giving the punishments. Maya mustered up the courage to nod without looking him in the eyes or vomiting all over his polished black shoes. The principal's smile grew even wider as he strolled away.

They both paled.

After school, the two of them walked to the torture chamber together, clutching each other’s clammy hands tightly. They had heard rumors about that place saying that it was booby-trapped and every step you took was a risk. Others said that the paintings in the room were alive and watching everything you did.

Talia slowly creaked open the door of the dark office and peered inside, hoping that he wasn’t there or was in the bathroom. She surveyed the room for any portraits or tiled steps.

Certainly an Atum, the ruling species on the planet of Azade, couldn’t be that vile.

 Didn’t anyone teach you to knock? A sharp voice asked, interrupting their inspection of the room.

They hurried inside the small office and stood in front of him with their chins to their chests. Maya closed her eyes and sent a silent plea into the heavens that they wouldn’t have to do two hundred push-ups like a boy had to do when he slipped a balding elixir into the principal’s shampoo.

It had a permanent effect on his head.

Well, answer me, he snapped, scratching his bare scalp.

Um… Y-Yes, Maya stuttered.

Sorry, Talia added, equally confused and terrified. Her dark brown eyes were darting from Mr. Bonjine to Maya and back to Mr. Bonjine.

Louder. Do you know how to knock? he snapped, making both their ears ring.

Yes, sir. We do know how to knock, Maya said, raising her voice a little.

You will have to clean and cook the kitchen for a week and the bathrooms. Oh, and don’t forget the roof. It’s quite dirty. His evil smile grew. Go, start now.

We have to cook in the bathroom? No wonder the food’s so bad, Maya snickered quietly as they walked out of the door. Talia bit her lip, holding back a laugh. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to have noticed.

                                                *           *           *

Marine ran towards the ball court with a small ice ball hovering over her hands, lost in her thoughts. She was a Hydro shaper and glad to have the most versatile of the elemental abilities. It allowed her to shape all forms of water around her. The waterball net was in the corner of the playground.

Even though the play structure was usually falling apart, today it was worse than normal. The younger kids must have messed with it. The rope ladder to the slide was hanging with one knot, holding on to the platform. The slide had a huge hole in it that even a boulder could fit through, and the tires they used to substitute the swings were hanging on for dear life to a now half-dead rosewood tree. The play area was surrounded by the whole field, which was looping around the playground like a fence. Even the grass looked more lifeless than usual. Everything just seemed dull, and the cloudy skies did nothing to help.

Marine sat on the edge of the court, thawing the ice ball back to it’s liquid form and dropped it onto the ground. She suddenly glanced at the only part of the playground that wasn’t destroyed, the jungle gym. Something must’ve happened, because everyone was suddenly talking loudly.

She took a good long look at the field and noticed that no one was on the grassy meadow, but the guards lining the borders of the walls. They weren’t there to keep an eye on the orphans, they were just there for precaution. They were called the Paum agents. Only half of the Home of Unfortunates was for orphans. The other half was for criminals and convicts. Not the best place to grow up, but at least the kids were all prepared for situations where they escaped. The orphans were also taught to master in their shaping if they had one so they could defend themselves.

Marine had always wondered why Chia, her roommate and the quiet girl who usually sat in the corner of the classroom right next to Marine, was in the Home of Unfortunates.

Most people were put in here because they were orphans or were abandoned like unwanted kittens. Only about five percent of them had their own reasons like having something different with them. For example, some of them were disabled or had mental problems. She didn’t understand why though. After a few days with Chia, Marine found the reason for Chia's abandonment, which was very different from her own.

Suddenly, Warden Bonjine’s office burst open and two very worried looking girls came out. They looked like they had seen a ghost. Marine felt sorry for them. She had never been sent to his office but based on what she heard from the people who had, she knew that it was very small and whatever mood people went in with, they would always end up feeling worried or nauseous. They looked like a combination of both.

*           *           *

This is all your fault! Maya suddenly snapped. If you hadn’t said anything, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Maya saw Talia’s face painted in shock and a bit of confusion. Talia’s eyes welled with tears as she broke down into quiet sobs. Another girl she’d never seen before came over and sat next to Talia, placing her hand on Talia’s back. She rubbed it softly, as she looked up at Maya sympathetically. It was visible that she was trying to be comforting. The girl had wide turquoise eyes and blond hair with a few orange highlights. Never seen that before, Maya thought as she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, but it quickly subsided. Honestly, the girl was beautiful, with high cheekbones and full lips. She was pretty tall, too.

Maya was mad. So mad that she still felt conscious, but it was like someone else had possessed her. Never in her life had she felt so furious.

Maya’s eyes filled with tears as all the frustration with Mr. Bonjine became boiling lava in her chest. She had to use all her restraint to not chi-block Talia. That was where you hit specific pressure points to disable someone for a certain amount of time. Both her and Talia had trained in the art for many years.

She saw the blue-eyed girl back away and run towards the field, probably not wanting to get involved.

 Maya stormed away, tears streaming out of her violet eyes, across her soft cheeks, and to the tip of her pointed chin.

When she came back to her senses, she wiped away the angry tears and started to run \as fast as she could. Her light brown, shoulder blade-long hair flapped against her cheeks. She could feel the pressure rise to her head giving her a headache. But she didn’t bother to complain about it and went straight to the nurse's office for a sponge. She needed to take her mind off this. Might as well get something done. The nurse handed her a sponge immediately, and she washed the dishes in the kitchen for about thirty minutes until the whole sink was empty.

It felt good to clean.

Talia sat down on the bench next to Warden Bonjines’ office. She could feel even more water well up as her head fell into her hands. Why did Maya get so mad over some extra chores? She thought. Sobbing, she sat there, all alone.

A few weeks passed as Talia and Maya slowly worked out their problems. After all, they were best friends, but they still held a grudge. Like any other rip in friendships, it can always be mended with some tape and glue, but that doesn't mean that the crack isn’t there. And their bond wasn’t any different.

2

Plans

I’ve got it! Chia yelled, nearly giving Marine a heart attack, and earning Chia a splash of water to her face.

 Sorry! Marine apologized, handing her a faded towel. It used to be hazel brown with two red stripes running through the borders of it, but now it was beige and pink from all the washes. It actually looked prettier that way.

 Thanks, Chia said, drying herself her red-rimmed glasses before pushing back her dark brown bangs and sliding the glasses back on.

Marine glared at her playfully and Hydro shaped the moisture off of her.

Thanks... again? Chia mumbled, dropping the towel on the floor. She wasn’t the most organized person and it drove Marine crazy.

What were you saying earlier? You got what? Marine asked, hoping it was something good. She picked up the towel and put it on the brink of her bed, under the sun rays for it to dry.

I’ve figured out the mass of a gorilla’s nose! Chia cried, her bright green eyes twinkling with joy. Oh, and now I’m figuring out how to get out of this wretched place, she added slowly. And then she heard something that lit up a lightbulb. The vents, she yelled, jumping to her feet. Then she felt something close over her mouth. "Fhaf’s how we’re geffing ouf!" Chia inflated her cheeks, throwing off Marine’s hand.

Ew, you got spit on me!

Well, that’s better than me actually licking your hand, which I would not hesitate to do, Chia warned, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Are we bringing Maya and Talia with us? Marine asked as she was washing her hands in the dormitory bathroom. Thankfully, each room had an attached bathroom.

She instantly regretted it. It would make it easier to get caught. In this situation, the less people, the better. She wasn’t even sure why she asked. She was leaving and wanted to take two epic outcasts with them?

Plus, she didn’t even know them. Sure, there was that one time in front of Mr. Bonjine’s office, when Talia started crying, but other than that, they were complete strangers.

We have to, Chia replied before Marine could contradict herself. I know them. Even though Maya isn’t so great.

But they don’t exactly know their way around! Marine argued.

"Their way around what? The vents? You don’t even know your way around them! All they need is a map, something that I have. We can compromise. Besides, they are the only one I know that have the right vent placement." Chia retorted.

Vent placement?

Yeah. I haven’t mapped out the entire vent system, since I don’t have the right opportunities to test the coordinates. So I just have a few options to get out through the vent that opens up from the back of the Home.

Ok, Marine reluctantly agreed, nodding. She knew that there was no changing Chia’s mind when it was made. Wait, did you just say you have a map of the vents?

Of course, I ran out of things to observe so I made a map of them. I also have a map of the rooms and the drainage system. Now, stop asking me questions so we can go ask Maya and Talia, alright? If we can use their vent, we’re getting out! said Chia enthusiastically.

Now? It’s nighttime! Marine protested.

Come on, Goldilocks. It’s easier to escape when it’s dark than light, anyway, Chia said.

I seriously hate this, Marine grumbled while dragging her feet as they left the room.

*           *           *

Stomp

            Stomp

Stomp

            A guard is coming, Marine whispered. It's a short one, but still. They had made it near Maya and Talia’s room by that point. It’s a Paum agent! Chia paled. The Paum agency were some of the best-trained agents in the world, and they hated orphans. At least that’s what the kids always thought. They also worked with all prisons across the Clay Kingdom, and their headquarters was in an undisclosed location. Quick, back here. She motioned behind some boxes.

Chia crouched down