Clyde is 14 - 1933

Viewed from afar, the walls look quite formidable, getting closer, they could dare to even be called majestic, at close quarters however, the truth is very plain to see and perhaps, a bit dreary to behold. Built originally to contain the crooks and criminals of early civilized society, the walls had stood the countless tests of time, the sun and its close cousins, the wind, the rain and their close less known relatives.

Pockmarked with weathering cracks, jagged holes and crumbling loose sand, the walls are regarded as the bulwarks of a once famous prison now converted due to bureaucratic consideration and neighbourhood gentrification to an orphanage, St Paul’s Orphanage to be more precise.

The history or rich antecedents of the orphanage was truly of no concern to Clyde and the remnants of the gang on the evening they knocked urgently on the massive doors to the orphanage, they had hidden for two days after Ally’s death, unable to leave or forage for food. The search for them had been quite intense, it turned out that Ally had taken several loans to fund his obsessions and his greediness made him totally blind to the consequences it'd have to the rest of the gang.

The loans were due to be paid alongside massive interests which was why no one in their right senses would take a loan from the top Capa families in the first place, Ally had not been seen on the streets for some time and so delayed the inevitable, the towns Capa soon got impatient and sent his enforcers to get back the debts, they of course met Ally’s corpse along with three other half naked corpses.

The Capa was understandably livid, they needed someone to pay, anyone to bear the brunt of the debts and become the scapegoat, so began the massive manhunt for any of Ally’s erstwhile gang members, no one was safe. Anyone with a passing resemblance to one of them was immediately accosted and hauled off to be questioned.

Seeing no escape route and now ravenously hungry, Clyde along with those who followed him made the decision to flee to the last place any of the enforcers would think to look, the orphanage. The rain came down in thick sheets that evening, it fell so heavily that visibility was reduced to a few metres, you could barely make out what was in front of you. Shivering and huddled together for warmth, the young gang slowly made their way through town, crouching beneath gables, scampering under wagons and at one point, forced to seek refuge in a washing house’s chimney.

The enforcers still patrolled, but heavily swaddled against the rain and the cold, they only did their jobs perfunctorily as a matter of principle, this allowed the gang to slip through their zones with none of them being any wiser. By nightfall when the storm worsened, they thankfully arrived at the orphanage gates lips blue and totally exhausted, it took five clangs of the giant bell and numerous poundings with the knocker before the peephole was opened and someone looked through.

A raspy voice was heard behind the wooden door, “Of course, more of them, they never stop coming”, the peephole was shut with a clang and there was silence for long moments, Clyde had begun to fear the worst when the sound of bars sliding and locks clicking dragged him out of his funk. The giant doors did not open, a smaller door set flush in the middle and completely overlooked slid open and the voice said “Well, come on in, don’t just stand there gaping”.

And accepted into the orphanage, they were.

Inside, each of the children were instructed to wait in the hallway. Obediently they did, in fear of being throw back out into the harsh storm outside. " Josh behave! do you want us to be thrown outside?! " One of the boys struck another, in order to get him to stop poking at the carpet they were standing on. The rest, all huddled close, though it was pretty warm indoors, they were still chilly due to their wet clothes.

Clyde observed the ceiling, spotting numerous glass paintings. Along with the atmosphere, he couldn't say he wasn't impressed. It all seemed very clean, well kept.

Two more minutes passed, when finally a muscular woman went over with a cart of towels for all of them. She was accompanied by a man who held a glass cup in hand. In the cup, a thick red substance. The steady steps the gentleman took echoed across the checkerboard flooring in the lobby. He meticulously studied and tilted the cup, rotating the angle while he took note of the new children who’d made it. A smile etched across his face. Once each had a towel, they were escorted to a waiting room. Within the room, matching warm clothes was provided. They all went through screening. They had to inform the orphanage of their lives before arriving and were informed of the responsibilities. If they were going to stay, they’d have to earn their keep by working to nit clothing for the orphanage for seven hours each day and clean along with following all other rules. Other than that, they’d have food, clothes for themselves and a nice place to stay until they were adopted. Being told of all this, it almost seemed too good to be true. Nonetheless, many of the children accepted, as did Clyde and the others.

Their stay had proved to be far longer than Clyde had anticipated. Life at the orphanage proved to be quite good, better than all of the time Clyde had spent on the streets. Clyde had a new complete set of clothing for the first time in a long while albeit just two that were made from rough cotton. The food served was adequate, not plentiful but enough to keep them all in good health. Funding came from endowments sent in by generous patrons and a foreign french family that served as benefactors.

His gang members still kept close, coming to see him twice a week, they made new friends and he did too, his closest one being a girl named Bonnie. An intelligent young girl his age, who unlike him, never knew her parents and hadn’t ever been on the streets. From what she told him, she was dropped off by an aunt that she had only known for a week and didn’t have any other memory. That saddened her, though she added that she made some pleasant new ones in the orphanage so far. Clyde encouraged her, adding that they’d make some great one’s too.

With her, he found a friendship that he never believed could exist in the world they lived in. Every chance he got, Clyde spent time with Caesar and her, together, they explored abandoned dark hallways, cleared dungeon-like spaces that had served as isolation cells and had loads of fun shouting at walls and creating echoes that reverberated and doubled back on one another. Bonnie herself knew opera that she showed to Clyde. She even taught them of a drawing game called tic-tac-toe. She always seemed to beat the boys, though Clyde bested all of the other children; which made Caesar grow upset inside. Especially whenever he saw Clyde return with Bonnie from the pair seemingly having disappeared. Though, on one occasion when he asked Clyde of where he went off to with Bonnie; Clyde informed him that he went exploring further.

There were still many areas that were due to go under renovation. They escaped to those places frequently to explore. In one of those explorations, they encountered a girl from a different block. They attempted to interact with her but she had no interest in talking, she seemed to be searching through the room for some reason in a hurried pace.

Bonnie asked her what she was in search of as Clyde jumped in and asked her if she wanted to play with them but the girl waved, and after a moment they realized she couldn’t speak. Tears streamed down her eyes, sad sighs came out of her, her tongue missing when she opened her mouth to scream. She finally opened her mouth when the sobbing became too much and blood rolled down her chin. The three were horrified to see this.

" We've oughta' get you help! " Clyde reached out to take her hand but she became startled and started to run down the hall. Behind the three, a tall man passed them and chased the girl down. Grabbing her, other adults in bloodied coats ran over and took her, one stopping to tell the three to run along, they saw nothing.

Bonnie fearfully took Clyde’s hand and pulled him along, though Clyde wanted to speak, he knew better and walked off with Ceasar. His instincts told him to leave the area quickly but he had the urge to go back for the girl.

They only made it a few feet when one of the men called over to the three. They stopped, Clyde’s heartbeat spiked when the man requested that they leave Bonnie. He tightened his fist and glanced past his shoulder, shooting a glare their way; that caused the man to raise a confused brow.

“What block are you three in“ A second man asked, interrupting the first one. “ Block A sir “ Caesar replied, hiding the fact that he was scared. A lump formed in his throat soon after.

“ They’re from the first block. We can’t take them yet …. “ Clyde heard the whispers amongst the three. “ Ah, okay, run along then. Return to your block “ Bonnie, Clyde and Caesar took that moment to flee.

Those moments of happiness, were now interrupted. Even if for a moment, he was able to revert back to the blissful ignorant life of a child, only to be reminded that there was more going on around him at all times. Too much for him to ignore.

As expected, things only grew weirder after that chance encounter. Never again, was the girl seen, leading the three to speculate. That's all Clyde talked about for the rest of that week. They weren’t the only ones who had such an encounter.

There was something going on. None, able to interact with any of the other blocks. Clyde observed the behavior of the other children. Those of Block B seemed happy still, unlike the children in Block C who seemed visibly shaken up and tense all the time. There was no Block D. Many believing all of them were adopted. Clyde and those who had been in Block A with him, were moved to Block B upon enough new children moving into Block A. Those children received more attention, being kept happy while the new children placed in Block C, quickly showed signs of stress and fatigue. Clyde was now on alert, not yet telling all of the others of his gang.

Over the course of two weeks the orphanage was subject to visits by several well to do families, mostly respectable members of the society interested in adoption. Such families from the separate gated communities. Few children were picked. With every visit, their hopes diminished. Worthless, was a word that sneaked it’s way into the children’s ears during this time daily by the adults that watched. Those few who were adopted, were resented by the ones left behind. Jealousy corrupting their young hearts. One gentleman stopped by while waiting for his train and wanted Clyde, but the chairman told him that boy was off limits without Clyde’s knowledge. That gentleman claimed his train would be making another trip to the location so he could return and pay handsomely but still the chairman declined for there was someone else interested in the boy already.

One of the richer ones decided on Bonnie, for she was comely, of good behaviour and about the age he had been looking for. Bonnie tried to convince her suitors to take in Clyde as well but the man strongly refused and she was taken away. Her leaving affected Clyde rather deeply, he had formed a bond with her, one unlike any other. Their heart wrenching farewell haunted Clyde for days. No meaning. He felt he had no meaning. Her promise to someday see him again, pained him. How long would that take?

For him, the months they had spent seemed to be among if not the best memories of his life. Her smile, her voice, the comforting feeling of her hand in his, all kept him blissfully distracted from the lonely feeling he got often from not having his sister at his side.

The orphanage seemed less interesting once Bonnie left with her new family, now roaming and exploring was not as much fun without her and Clyde found himself spending more time doing nothing and just observing the coming and goings. Caesar himself was far distant for some reason. Clyde didn’t really understand and couldn’t really ask him due to his other concerns. Ever so often, he’d get the feeling he was being watched. He hadn’t forgotten the children of Block C and steadily learned more of what was truly going on.

It took just a few days for his mind to pick up on several irregularities, his first impulse was to round up the gang but since the gang no longer met regularly, he was no longer in tune with the pulse of the street and his instincts.

The first thing he noticed was that the food quality had become very poor for those who were slipped into block C, disguised beneath a heap of dried vegetables, the soup they had most times was mostly water. He watched what’d soon await him if he stayed put. Something was being given to those children of block C. Considering the depression that the children slipped into, he understood they weren’t themselves.

Their clothing had not been changed in a while, the old ones were now torn and some were mostly rags left. What’d happen to the children of Block C if no one adopted them though? He wondered. Clyde soon learned of that answer upon being moved to block C.

There were also whispers that children now frequently disappeared without being adopted, they just vanished and it was as if they no longer existed.

Clyde now got the gang back together and he tasked them with investigating what was happening, the discoveries were baffling, the kids who disappeared were actually woken up in the middle of the night and told they had been adopted, led out through the gates and into a waiting wagon, it was always the same wagon, the general consensus was that they were probably being sold back to the gangs or mines. At least, that’s what he’d like to believe.

Clyde’s thoughts that night went to the girl he had encountered with Bonnie and Ceasar. She was of Block C and had been running terrified. The most terrifying part of that memory being that she had been missing her tongue. All the pieces clicked, but simply with a call, Clyde knew he had been watched all along. Two adults took Clyde to the supervisor of the orphanage.

The supervisor had both gentlemen leave so he could speak privately with Clyde. He wanted to know something. Something Clyde hadn’t explained before when he was first inducted into the orphanage. The guns they had all arrived with. The way Clyde didn’t digress mentally like many of the other children. He noted Clyde had been studying and asked “ What is it you know? The origins of this pistol “ The supervisor reached into his desk and showed off Clyde’s silver pistol. His father’s pistol.

“You stick out like a sore thumb, Is it all genetic? Learned? Life works in funny ways kid ”

“ Excuse me? I used it to defend myself sir .. it’s how I survived “ Clyde lowly responded, not answering who the gun belonged to.

“See these initials? That hat of yours. I know who you are. Son of Enzo Briess“ The supervisor leaned back, his laugh deep and sinister. “ I have plans for you. There’s a good bounty on your head. You and your sister or brother. Whatever the other one is ”

Hearing all of this Clyde shook his head and quickly said “ She’s dead. I had a sister, but she died … That’s why I’m all alone here “ Clyde dropped his head, his hat, masking the stern frown he had on.

“ How unfortunate … For me. I could have fetched a higher price for the two. Nevertheless, you will do just fine “ The supervisor rose from his seat and yanked Clyde’s hat off of his head. Clyde attempted to reach for the hat but was violently pushed away.

“The supervisor tried the hat on, grinning. “YYhhehaw, cowboy”

He fell back against the ground and glared up at the supervisor. “ Give it back “ Clyde demanded, only to receive a kick to his gut that rendered him immobile, forcing him to grovel, coughing up saliva.

“ $1500 dollars placed on a runt like you .. by Britain's Pyran mob, itself .. You’re really important to Charlie you know “

“Who?“ Clyde asked, taking steady breaths as the pain in his gut eased slowly.

“ Your uncle “

“ I’m an old friend of his and your father .. who I assume was killed after all “

“ Though, I don’t know what you did to piss off those sort of dangerous people but you’re making me a lot of money kid. For that, I thank you. “ The suprvior ignored Clyde’s question.

Clyde attempted to move but the supervisor kicked him back down, pressing his foot down on Clyde’s shoulder as he called out to the men standing outside.

They came in and forced Clyde uponto his feet. From there, the two dragged Clyde back into a cell where he’d remain until his time came to be picked up.

Thrown inside of the cell, Clyde didn’t fight back. He took his seat in the cell quietly. Considering what was said. Clyde had no intentions of staying, now his time for plotting came in. His angered sights on a mouse squeaking. While he stayed locked, in his absence, the gang continued researching.

Around this time, a family became interested in adopting Caesar and the orphanage asked him if he wished to go with them, he asked for some time to come up with a decision. About two weeks later, the gang discovered that the food and clothing was actually delivered by the patrons but it was not shared to the children. It was shared between the kitchen staff, the administrative staff and the orphanage supervisor, it had been a gradual slide into the abyss but corruption had now eaten deep into the orphanage.

Whispers emerged of screams at night, children taken and exploited against their will. Gender was no protection, both boys and girls were victims, they often could be easily identified in the mornings looking glass eyed, bodies covered in scratches and welts, they all replied the same thing they were told to say when questioned by other children. “I fell down the stairway … into hell”.

Time grew closer, the supervisor taunted Clyde that the mobsters had finally received his messages and would be arriving soon. Unknown to the supervisor, Clyde finished picking up on the pattern of his guards. That same night, his chance came and Clyde used it right away. Assured that none would catch him, Clyde picked his cell’s lock with a shoelace and sneaked along the hallway and thought of the map layout of the place he had stored in his head.

The first place he went to, was the kitchen. Without food, he’d be far too weak to pull off what he intended to do. To his content, he found a bountiful spoil of freshly baked delicacies that called to him instantaneously, as it would to anyone who came across such golden rolls. He served himself some of the pastries in the kitchen, combining them with soup and after having his fill, sneaked through and caught sight of the two men who were assigned to keep an eye on him. Ironically, now it was him, who was keeping an eye on them.

Clyde waited and then followed the two men, to a lower groundzone. They were taking a boy down into a cellar. There, Clyde witnessed the boy being hacked away at. The boy too drugged to know what was being done to him. One of the men commented how much they’d make for the skinny boy’s flesh, the other said it was no concern. They were being paid well and their stomachs filled. What else could they want? Young girls, one of the two announced, leading to the pair laughing.

Hearing this disgusted Clyde. That was the last straw for Clyde and he plotted to escape with the gang that very night after dealing with the corrupted beings he now sought to destroy.

Reaching for the black iron door, Clyde yelled down that he’d be returning for them as the two guards heard and glanced up the steps, everything became pitch black after the rusty door closed shut, removing any sliver of light that’d kept their visibility. They were now locked inside. The door sealed their screams.

Now that his captors were handled, Clyde set his attention to finding Caesar. He went about searching for the block. Sadly when he found Caesar and told him it was time for them to leave and that he’d need his help taking on the supervisor, Caesar informed him of his decision to leave with the family interested in him as their adopted son. That he couldn’t help Clyde. This was a blow for Clyde, Caesar being someone he came to consider a dear brother. How could he suddenly decide to leave his side and not assist him? He asked Caesar just to make sure he was certain of his choice and after Casar confirmed, Clyde wished him the best and continued on to tell the other children to wait in their cells. He’d be returning for them soon enough.

Clyde sneaked behind some wooden boxes when he heard an adult whistle as he passed through the space. Clyde sighed in relief and slipped out of the room.

There was now only one place to head to before leaving. Clyde sneakily made his way into the supervisor’s room, avoiding the staff. There, he shut the door, locking it and just when he turned around, he saw the supervisor in his chair, staring at him. The supervisor smiled twistedly and greeted the boy.

“ Back for this? I forgot, you can’t leave simple tasks to buffoons these days, you always have to do it yourself “ The supervisor waved Clyde’s hat around and tossed it over to the center of the room. Clyde took a step forward and the supervisor brought out Clyde’s silver pistol, aiming it at the boy.

“ No, no .. no. You’re going back to your cell, I’m going to keep an eye on you myself “ The supervisor waved his finger, approaching Clyde, who ran up towards him, aware the supervisor couldn’t shoot him. The supervisor attempted to swing and kick Clyde but Clyde rolled aside, grabbing his hat in the process. Standing back up, Clyde adjusted his hat and reached into his back belt for the silver spoon he had taken.

“ You’re agile on your feet boy “ The supervisor laughed. “ A spoon? You can’t kill me with that .. “

“ and you can’t kill me, so put my gun down “ Clyde retorted back.

“ Oh, this is going to be fun, breaking you “ Smirking at what the boy said, the supervisor ran at him and Clyde again, dove aside, avoiding the supervisors gloved hands. Clyde reached down into his pocket and flinched, upon feeling the knife he had hidden, stab into his thigh. He quickly slid it out and ran over to a corner of the room.

Blood dripped down his leg, tainting his sock. In retrospect, it wasn’t one of his smartest ideas to fit a knife in his pocket but he had too much on his mind as is. Clyde kept his eyes on the supervisor and approached him cautiously. The supervisor tossed the gun aside, getting over worked over not subduing the boy. He recklessly reached out for Clyde’s shoulder and was scraped along the forearm by the knife Clyde wielded. He managed to grab a hold of Clyde’s shoulders and attempted to pin him down so he could take the knife, but once he brought Clyde down, Clyde shoved one foot to the supervisors face and in the ensuing struggle managed to weasel his way onto the supervisors back. There, Clyde wrapped one arm around the supervisor, who stood up and ran himself back up against a wall.

Clyde let go in time and as the supervisor tripped towards him, slid over to where the supervisor had tossed his pistol.

No hesitation whatsoever, Clyde brought the gun up and shot once, hitting the supervisor in the chest. The supervisor staggered back, falling onto the ground. Clyde told him not to move. The supervisor stared up at the dirty fan running above him. From all the moving, dust fluttered around the place. His lungs constricted, it became harder for him to breath.

“ To think I’ve been bested by a brat.. After everything I have lived through.. funny “ The supervisor closed his eyes, listening to Clyde step over ligaments of a shattered vase.

Supervisor confesses to not wanting to initially harm all the children but he had no choice if he wanted to survive as he had been placed to look after the orphanage against his will but that he did have fun. His further comments only upset Clyde, all the more.

“ like many of this old twisted age. None believe in surviving together … most believe the lies of being hostile. Those demonic corporate pigs set us all up, even their own people .. against each other for the sake of serving everyone else on a silver platter “

“ Demonic? “ Clyde maintained his aim, ready to shoot.

“ The crypto system those demons have put in place to keep themselves rich .. while the majority kill one another, worshiping ignorant division .. Ignorance that children have been taught .. children who will be adults and teach the same, replacing me and serving those who I worked for ….. This painful cycle is going to continue, … at least it isn’t my problem anymore, you’ll eventually become the same as I when they get you “

“ You’re wrong. I’ve helped others survive, I’m not like you or them. I had no choice but to survive .. What you did is wrong and you won’t be able to harm anyone else now “

With the little breath that he had, the supervisor attempted to lean up and reach out to Clyde “ But you’ve killed .. “ were the supervisors last words.

“ Because I had to .. “

Clyde didn’t bother wasting the bullets, rather he went for the spoon and stabbed it through one of the supervisors eyes. The supervisor laid stiff, no further movement. Clyde fell back and took a moment for himself. Once more, he’d have to return to that life regrettably. Taking his own life, crossed his mind for a moment. He thought he saw a shadow standing over the corpse and released several shots. His ears continued to ring from the previous shots popping off in the enclosed room.

The thought reentered. It was entertained. “Do it, do it so you won’t have to think anymore” He swayed over, vivid flashes of people he had killed so far flashing in his vision. The most haunting of all, being Ally.

“ There’s no … “ He scuffed, tipping his hat back with his pistol. “ Sis still needs me .. those kids still do …… Bonnie .. I have too much to do, I can’t be selfish yet “

“ I have to get up .. “ He struck his pale, weakened knee. Wobbling over, Clyde stood.

“ die … die ..die “ He heard the familiar voices of slain beings he once knew, erratically being whispered into his ear. Clyde shook his head, falling over and pushed himself back up. He eased his way to the door and unlocked it, only to return to the titled table in the office. He searched through it’s drawers.

After ripping some table cloth and wrapping it around his leg, he waited a moment, returning to the door. He leaned against the door frame and then stepped out onto the hallway and aimed his gun to the end, keeping his gun sideways and his left hand on his forearm to keep a steady aim. What happened next, blacked out for him.

Any of the adults he ran into, he shot dead and loaded more of the ammo he had stuffed into his pockets. Some managed to get away and scurried off instead of engaging him as he continued on his way to the cells of block C. That was his only focus. Freeing the children and the remaining members of his gang. Then he remembered the two guards from earlier and took a detour to the kitchen.

Within the kitchen, he got a match, along with a tablecloth and oil. Returned to the cellar. Placed the table cloth in front of the door, chucked the oil at the door repeatedly, spreading it along the hallway area and then lit the matches, tossing them each one by one. The Oil and tablecloth engulfed, spreading roaring flame viciously up against the door as the men who were near the stairs, saw the flames sprawling all over the door, through the window opening. They let out terrified screams begging for help but those wails were left unheard. Clyde walked off,through the rest of the hallway and then flicked the final match, now heading off to the block.

Once he was there, he stopped by Caesars cell, “ I filled him with daylight .. “ Clyde informed Caesar as he locked eyes with him through the bars. “ We can go together still, “ Clyde added, but Caesar shook his head, making his decision final. Though hurt, Clyde didn’t budge him from his choice and thus continued on without saying another word. Caesar regretfully turned away and slid onto the hay stack within his cell.

Clyde broke each of the locks, freeing all inside. He took in the information that the gang had gathered and lead the way to the wagons outside. They waited for their chance to sneak into the back. Seeing as they wouldn’t be able to do that with two loaders on standby, Clyde killed the two loaders, shooting them before either had time to react.

The children were startled, but quickly quieted down when they were told to hush. Clyde had the older teens carry the bodies off into the nearby woods. None defied his orders, especially with the empty expression he had on. Once that was done, the teens returned to the wagon before the coachman returned from whizzing.

They all squeezed through and hid behind the big barrels that had been hauled on. Each of these barrels once contained water that had been brought for the orphanage.

Upon realizing they were all empty, the children were placed inside the ones in the far back while the others now comfortably hid behind the barrels. Four minutes later, they felt motion and instructed the younger children to keep quiet. The wagons trundled out of the orphanage and down the dusty road.

It was dusk and the clouds were heavy, Clyde reflected silently, peeking out from the edge of one of the barrels. A downpour of drizzles soon swept across the empty roads left behind, the sun’s light barely visible that evening.

Once more, on the move. They were all back to searching. Especially him.