ORPHANAGE

Without saying a word, Sumire finds herself getting into Bjorn's car. Her eyes searched for Mort and his butler in the place, however, she couldn't find anyone on either of them.

"Ah, they're at the manor."

Said Bjorn with a gentle smile when he noticed that the girl seemed to be looking for someone in his car.

Sumire was stunned for a moment, noticing that Bjorn was good at reading facial expressions. She looked at him and met his gaze.

"I see Mort is a smart kid, so I'm just curious why he needs a tutor."

Sumire preceded without beating the bush. She doesn't understand why the father and son want to hire her as Mort's tutor. She had read the contract and almost everything written in there was in her favor. She is also looking for a reason to reject them as there is a strange foreboding feeling stirred inside her.

"He's a brat. Even if he doesn't need one, when he wants it, he gets it."

Bjorn let out a hearty grin. Brows slightly furrowed, Sumire wanted to ask why she was the one who wanted to be his tutor to the child but she chose to remain silent.

Head lowered down, she didn't utter anything more and just entertained herself with the beautiful scenery outside. A mountain road is seen to the right of the scene. In the mid-ground are mountain peaks that create layers. A blue coastline is seen in the distance where the sun meets the horizon.

'What a strange kid he is,' she said at the back of her mind at the thought of the young boy, Mort.

The place completely succumbed to silence. Sumire didn't feel the air of awkwardness with Mort's dad. She felt alone in the car as they both emerged inside their zones.

Even though the deafening silence dominated the place, Sumire didn't feel a heavy atmosphere around him; no tension, or anything.

'Wow, he is white as snow.' Sumire utters in her mind as her gaze fixed on the man in a business suit.

Now, she keeps wondering what is there with this billionaire. Why do they look different? She noticed their pale skin at their first meet which could be compared to snow white in the winter season. Even their butler shares the same skin tone with them. It's like the sun never shines on them.

'Do they even eat protein?' She curiously added. Their bizarre looks piqued her curiosity.

The father and son's looks are peculiar like they came out of a myth she reads. Their appearance seemed to be otherwordly but there was a mysterious charm around them especially the kid that intrigued her and could capture the hearts of maiden in one blink.

Bjorn was a handsome man. He had that appearance that could make him stand out in the crowd which teenage girls would be swooning over him. He may be old but he does not look like his age. His unfathomable, dark hue of grey eyes contrasted exceptionally with his light-toned face. They were deep and expressive opposite to his son.

If she didn't meet them in broad daylight, Sumire might think they were vampires. A creature in darkness and night. Although she wants to believe this beings exist, she cannot justify their existence with her own fantasy, especially since she is a science person.

The young lady's thoughts were interrupted when her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket. Sumire looked at the caller flash on the screen to see it was Mother Heres.

Her gaze shifted to Bjorn whose gaze was now on her. The man nodded at her, insinuating it was okay for her to answer the call. Sumire quickly answered without a second thought.

"Mother Heres, you called..."

Sumire said with a smile and unexpectedly she could hear the sobs of the Nun who was one of the nuns who raised her and gave her shelter.

"Are you okay?"

Her smile quickly faded on her face. Those strange noises on the other line worry her. Something is wrong.

"I am. We're all okay here, we just missed you."

The nun's voice shuttered in a series of sobs made Sumire's chest pound with fear. She had never seen or heard Mother Heres cry before. No matter which Nun who raised her since she was a kid had never been this emotional. And it's strange.

Their cries now have bothered her deeply. They have been calling her several times but she never heard them cry or tell her they miss her. They always reminded her to be careful and so.

It was a mystery to her their sudden call. Sumire knew that something bad was happening at the orphanage today.

"Tell me."

Sumire said in a calm yet firm tone. Suddenly, the silence broke on the other line, followed by a strange noise and deafening cries echoing the place which stunned her. She could hear the multiple heartbeats from the nuns.

"Mother Heres!"

She called out the nun's name but ten seconds later of waiting, she never heard her answer.

Sumire's gaze was on the phone screen to see the call was still connected but she could no longer hear them.

"What is going on out there," she utters in a low tone and turns up the volume. She doesn't care anymore if Bjorn could hear their conversation.

Sumire brought the phone to her ear, but a few seconds later, a loud scream and shrilling cries from Mother Heres nearly broke her eardrum.

It wasn't just Mother Heres' voice bombed on the other line, she could hear the voices of other nuns and those with her in the orphanage. And before she could say anything, the call ended.

A look of terror passed through her face. Sumire was shaking with dread and worry. She almost dropped her phone and her hands turned pale and cold. She didn't even realize that Bjorn had halted the car.

She hastily dialed Mother Heres' number again but was unable to connect with her. She has no contact with anyone at the orphanage. Her face is frozen in tension and her lower lip tightens as she breathes shallowly.

"What's happening?"

Sumire asked with her face paled in fright and confusion. The rate of her breath increases. She rubs the base of her thumb, her eyes staring off into the distance.

"Do you want to go see them? I can take you there."

Bjorn suggested calmly, capturing her attention. Sumire's gaze was directed at him. He can read her mind through her troubled face.

"But it takes seven days before we get there."

Sumire replied in a worried tone. She unconsciously bit her bottom lip as panic rose in her chest.

"Ah, I can take you there with my vehicle."

Bjorn remarked which lightens Sumire's face a little. A rays of hope rose from her chest after what she heard from him.

"I promise! I'll do anything you want as long as you take me to the orphanage right now."

And that sealed her fate. Bjorn looked at the lady with a smile, the kind of look that could penetrate her body to see her soul.

"Your wish."

Bjorn said with a triumphant smile. He could see the determination and desperation in Sumire's eyes.

'What am I going to make Mort do? In exchange for letting Sumire live in the manor? Should I tell him to hug me and beg me to buy toys like a normal child? Haaaa, exciting... Or maybe make him baby talk? He never did that, he didn't even have toys' with a thumb under his chin, Bjorn was thinking about what he wanted in return for helping his son.

The car headed straight to a famous company building. An empire which built for centuries and that stood for years. They arrive there in a short minute.

"We've arrived, Sir."

The chauffeur informed them. Bjorn leads the lady on the way like a gentleman. The staff of the place greeted him with respect and bowed after him. She sauntered the place and noticed the ancient and contemporary themes of the place, with priceless antiques alongside modern features such as an indoor pool.

The guards welcomed and accompanied them to the top floor of the building.

She heard the sound of the chopper and watched as it banked through the storm squalls down towards the helipad. Sumire found herself in a helipad on the roof of the building where a private chopper was waiting for them. Her jaw dropped at

the scene.

'So, the vehicle he means is this? Just, how rich are they?' Sumire can't help but ask herself, to think the young Mort would inherit his father's business firm. Bjorn turns to her with a smile.

"After you, my lady."

Bjorn said and Sumire just nodded at him. Both of them headed to the chopper along with the new pilot.

Inside the helicopter, Sumire was sitting restless in her place. They are already boarded on the chopper but the sound of screams from Mother Heres and other nuns lingers on her head and echoes in her ears, like a broken record that haunted her again and again. Ominous thoughts squirmed at the back of her mind.

They arrived at the Hope Haven in less than three hours. Bjorn help Sumire to get down. A horrible scenery that had never crossed her mind greeted her.

The orphanage she once grew up in burned to ashes.

"Tell me this isn't real."