The orphanage

the orphanage post-fire

## information

the pumberty (pum-er-tee) orphanage was built by a group of men and women in 1843 on september 23. its build consisted of various wood and stone, with iron lamps on the wall that bordered it. throughout the years it housed over 100,000 orphans, most of which would get adopted before becoming an adult. not all children had this pleasure, and would be forced out when they hit the age of 20 unless they moved out prior. the pumberty orphanage consisted of 10 rooms on each of the three floors, for a total of 30. there was a library on the first floor near the bedrooms where children would go during the day to find something to do, many of the staff would read to the children to give them some sort of parental comfort, making it a comfort spot for many throughout the years.

## the fire

on the night of June 12, 2015, a fire broke out in the orphanage. someone broke in and killed all staff, then started fires at all the exits to then flee the scene, only returning to make sure everyone was dead. the only thing heard from the orphanage during the fire was the screams of the children who lived there, and then silence.

## The Bounty (During traveler's guild) - intruders POV

Dusk. I walk through the gates of the town, the lanterns hung up around the place blinding me. I look around for a tavern or Inn in the distance, but the fog is covering most of the signs. I approach them, and finally find the town tavern. As I enter, my newly made armour clanks against the doorframe, alerting the 6-7 people inside of my presence. I walk up to bar.

“Hello lad, I haven’t seen your face around here before, what would ya like?”

“Just Orange Juice. “

“Hah! Orange Juice, are you a child? Have a beer my friend. “ The bartender passed me a pint of what seemed like a very strong beer.

“I can’t. “ I push the beer back, staring at the bartender.

“ Alright, alright. I’ll get that juice for you. “

I waited patiently for my drink, and had a quick look around the tavern. There was a small group of people whispering and looking at me, and someone sitting alone in the corner, along with someone supposedly passed out at the other end of the bar.

“ Here ya go. “ The bartender passed me the orange juice and I lifted my helmet slightly, just enough to drink it.

“ Your armours quite fancy, ain’t it?”

“ I guess. “

“ Ya know, we don’t see many travelers guild members around here. It’s quite a surprise to see you. “ I guessed he saw my emblem on my helmet.

“ Hm. Well, do you know if there are any jobs I can take here? “

“ Oh no, I don’t do bounties here, but I’d ask that lad in the corner, he might have something for you. “

I stood up, leaving my glass and payment at the bar and walked up towards the table the man was sat at.

“ so, you’re here for a job? “

“ Yes. “

“ Well, I’ve got the perfect thing for you. “

The man placed down a bounty paper onto the table as I sat down across him.

It was an odd bounty, a whole orphanage, with a list of names of every single person that worked or lived there.

“ The client doesn’t care in what way you do it, he just wants them dead, and he’ll pay handsomely “ I shook my head in surprise at this bounty.

“ You sick freak, I’m not killing a bunch of orphaned kids! “

“ hey, you haven’t even see the prize yet. 8 netherite ingots. “

“ Ingots? “

“ Yes, ingots, and he might even pay more if you do it quickly.”

I thought for a moment. I did not have enough money at the moment to be able to live off the next month, and this was the only job available. Even if it may be cruel, this was my only option.

“ I’ll take it, what are the coordinates?”

“ (add orphanage coordinates)“ The man wrote them down on a piece of paper.

“ That’s quite far. “

“ It shouldn’t be too far for you, If you managed to get that armour of yours. “

I took the bounty paper and the paper with the coordinates on it and walked out the tavern and back down to the town gates. I unleashed my horse, Chocolate, and hopped onto the saddle.

It took me a long time to get there, but I eventually saw the tall building in the middle of a forest with a clock at the top.

It was midnight now, so most of them should have been asleep. I decided to go and find the staff first, as it would have been much easier to kill the kids without the adults being there. I hop in through an open window on the first floor and see I’ve managed to get I to what looks like a library. I move through the building, checking every room for any adults there.

I finally found a small study with someone standing there. I snuck up and jumped upwards to grab their neck and quickly slice it with my knife, dropping the body onto the ground. I continued around the orphanage, killing off anyone wondering about or any adults inside. Finally, I thought I had disposed of all adults. I walked back down to the bottom floor and lit a fire by all the exits there were. I waited until the fire was spreading enough to not be easily put out. Some of the kids had woke. They were screaming, running from the fire.

I saw one child specifically, with a yellow sweater. They were watching their friends, people who they may have seen as brothers and sisters all their life be burnt alive in front of them. Sorry little one. This must be done.

Finally, I decided to break a window and leave the burning orphanage. I watched from afar, checking all the windows and exits so that no one had managed to escape. At a point, all the screams had died down and all that was left was the sound of the fire burning the orphanage to the ground. I took out my camera and took a photo of the place, as evidence to the client that the job had been done.

Chocolate had panicked upon seeing the fire and I had to run over to get her back. I rode back to the town and entered the tavern once more. It was now almost sun high , the job was done relatively quick.

“ Ah! You done that rather quick!” The man called from the corner of the tavern.

I approached and placed the photo of the burning orphanage onto the table.

“ So you decided to burn it? Did you check for anyone that had escaped? “

“I had killed all the adults inside beforehand, and the windows were all locked. But I did check to make sure no one was there. “

“Amazing! I say, a prize must be in order. “ The man took out 9 netherite ingots and placed them on the table, pushing them towards me.

I took the ingots quickly, the guild could make tools and weapons for me out of these, and I’ll be able to feed myself for a good amount of time.

“ Thank you. “

“ Oh it’s nothing my friend, now, off you go. I’ve got no more jobs left for you. “

And so, I walked out the tavern once more, wondering if maybe my actions tonight may affect me in the far future.

## Burning - Laurens POV

We just finished dinner and the younger kids are heading to the library to get a story before bed. I debate going to hear it, i haven't gone to have a story before bed since i returned to the orphanage four years ago. At the age of six i was adopted by a family a few hours away from the orphanage, but was sent back a week later.

“You going to hear the story tonight, lauren?” ms.ohter said, shes the only one here who actually cared about the kids, the other staff tortures us by having us work until our fingers bleed, and they'll pull our hair if we miss curfew, even by a few minutes.

“Ms.ohter, im twelve, i don't need a story before bed anymore.” i respond and walk to my room, its the first one in the main hallway. My roommate kayla starts talking to me as she usually does,

“Lauren have you seen mrs.kelune lately? Shes totally getting fat.” kayla hates mrs.kelune, mrs.kelune is the kind of staff that hates children but still cares for them.

“I guess so, i didn't really notice” i reply, i don't really interact with mrs.kelune, she disgraced me when i returned to the orphanage, she thought i was gone for good.

“Well shes gained like, 30 pounds-” kayla continues to rant about mrs.kelune, as usual i block her out and get myself ready for bed, then i stare at the picture of my best friend and i.

When i was adopted my new family and i lived in the neighbouring house, we met and clicked immediately. We did everything together and even planned our futures. But then i was sent back to the orphanage, i haven't seen her since.

I never talk much, so kayla is used to continuously speaking without me replying, i've learned to fall asleep when shes speaking.

A few hours later i wake up to the smell of smoke and hearing screams of the children in the orphanage, fear filling my mind and i cant focus on anything. I look up toward kaylas bed, shes not there but instead in the hallway, fire surrounding her lifeless body. I watch everyone through the hole in the wall that was supposed to be our door, seeing everyone collapse and having the screams slowly die down as there was noone to make the noise. Im sitting on my bed with my knees to my chest, the fabric of the sleeves on my yellow sweater against my chin. I think i see someone in the corner of my eye, but i look over and nobody is there. The fear leaves my mind, i feel numb, as if theres no point to be scared or upset, as i would soon have the same fate.

The fire grows closer, i look around and say my last goodbyes to my room, the only home i've known my entire life. And then everything went red, with the fire consuming me.