(This expert is part of a series)
There was nothing Ladislas Cormac wanted more than to leave the orphanage. There weren't many books in the old building, but he had devoured all of them, drooling over pictures of forests, grass, castles, and knights. He would have given anything to get the chance to escape to a place that wasn't full of smog and threats of rebel attacks.
Ladislas leaned against the wall, which was still vibrating from the last explosion. He felt as if he had been in the stuffy place for eternity. Matron always made the children march into the Closet of Discipline for punishment. Usually, the limit was two hours, but Ladislas had counted three separate rebel attacks from the streets, meaning they had been in the closet for at least five hours.
Ladislas tried to stretch his cramped muscles and accidentally kicked Arthur.
"Ouch!" the older boy protested. When Ladislas tried to pull his legs back, he hit Milio. The oldest boy flailed out in the darkness. The two toddlers, on either side of Arthur, began to protest. Ladislas flung up his arms to block the Milio's blows and struck Arthur. Ladislas didn't like fighting him, even if it was by accident.
"I'm sorry, Arthur." he blurted out, "I didn't mean to hit you."
"Never mind." Arthur mumbled, "It's okay."
"Wimp!" Milio hissed.
Ladislas was sure that it was Milio's fault that they were in the closet. They should have been safely in the basement, but they had been left alone. If only he hadn't tried to help Arthur, he wouldn't have been in trouble now.
"Matron says someone's coming from Cammington to bring us to safety," Arthur said softly. Ladislas sat up straighter and accidentally bumped Milio again.
"What?" he whispered, "We will have real families?" A thrill ran through him. He wanted to have his own family, people who could care about him.
"It's not like you'll be adopted," Milio said as he pushed Ladislas, "No one wants kids older than six."
"I'm three." Blaze said.
"Me three," Timmy added.
"But we can escape this horrible place!" Ladislas burst out, "I don't need to be adopted if I can live outside. Maybe they'll have cats."
"It's going to be our last chance." Arthur said, "The government is pulling out the troops."
"And NYC will become another Rebel city." Milio finished.
Ladislas folded his hands and squeezed his eyes closed. He had never prayed so hard for anything before.
"Please," he whispered, "Please let me leave this horrible place! I promise I'll be good every day, take care of the babies, say my prayers and not go to sleep in church!" Milio elbowed him in the ribs.
"Matron won't let you go," he whispered, "You're doomed to stay here forever. If she knew you wanted to go, she wouldn't let you go."
"No!" Ladislas cried, "I'm not staying here!" He was afraid that his tormentor was right. No one would want him, hadn't Matron said so herself? But surely she wouldn't force him to stay behind out of spite? She just couldn't!
"SH!" Arthur cried, "Listen!" Ladislas held his breath. He distinctly heard the sound of muffled footsteps outside the door. Someone was in the building. Was it the Matron?
"It's a man!" Milio gasped. One of the little boys grabbed Ladislas' shirt and held on. The stranger stopped right outside the closet door.
"Hello there?" a strange voice, "Anyone here? I have a message for Mrs. Pur- uh- Puf- er-"
"It's Par-a-fin!" the Matron's voice drifted towards them, "Spelled P U R A F I N E."
"Sorry, ma'am," the strange voice responded, "I have a message."
"What sort of message?" matron asked sharply.
"I work for Ector Knight." the stranger said, "I believe he phoned last week about an opportunity-"
"If he doesn't have a ticket out of this dump, I don't care or want to know what it is!" Matron snapped.
"Er- very good, ma'am." the stranger said.
"He's British," Arthur whispered.
"It's not like we couldn't hear the dumb accent too." Milio muttered, "Now hold your tongue. I am listening!" Ladislas pressed his ear to the door.
"I've come from Cammington," the Englishman said, "I know Mr. Knight informed you that we would take all five boys, but we've hit a snag. We can only take two now."
"Are you telling me you came across the ocean to a war zone, only to take two miserable orphans?" the matron's voice rose in volume, "What am I supposed to do with the rest of them?"
"Britain is always ready to assist those in need." the Englishman said, "I assure you, ma'am, there are many American children in England now. Everyone is trying to get their children to safety."
"So you broke our contract because someone paid you more money?" the Matron accused.
"I told you, Laddy," Milio sneered, "You are stuck here, just as I predicted. Arthur and I will be saying goodbye to the rest of you."
"Why can't I go?" Ladislas whispered frantically, "I have just as much right as you, maybe more!"
"Yes, but we're both older than you!" Milio explained. Ladislas clenched his fists and blinked back tears.
"If you have two boys that will do well in a country environment, I can pick them up tomorrow." the stranger said, "Preferably boys with strong constitutions. We rise at five and have cows and goats to milk. We also have gardening, mountain climbing, fencing, and other activities."
"Milk?" one of the little boys whispered.
"Mountain climbing?" Milio gasped.
"Gardens!" Arthur sighed, "Fresh vegetables."
"He said fencing." Ladislas whispered, "People do that in stories. I want to do that."
"To bad, short stuff." Milio jeered, "Not happening!"
"I happen to have two boys who will do wonderfully at your school." Matron said, "If you'll just sign this document- "
"Bedivere, Jack Bedivere." the stranger said.
"Well, Mr. Bedivere." Matron said, "It's settled. You come and collect Milio Gawain and Ladislas Cormac early tomorrow. I'll have all the paperwork ready for clearance. Oh, thanks for your signature, no backing out now. I despise those two brats! Nasty little boys, both of them! I will be glad to get rid of them."
Ladislas gasped. He was finally getting out of NYC, out of the orphanage, away from everyone except Milio, but he could stand it if only he could get out of the city.
"I'm getting out of here!" Milio whispered. He caught hold of Ladislas and shook him until the younger boy's teeth rattled, "I'm finally outta here!"
"That's great, guys," Arthur said in a low voice, "You'll like the country."
"So long, babies. I'm leaving you all!" Milio cheered.
"Hey Arthur, you'll be here by yourself with the matron," Ladislas said.
"Rotten luck, squirt!" Milio chuckled.
There was a rattling sound as Matron unbarred the door and opened it. The Englishman was gone.
"Alright, children." she said coolly, "Go upstairs and start packing. You'll all be leaving tomorrow. I can finally get out of this crummy dump!" Ladislas looked at Arthur.
"Please, matron." Arthur whispered, "If Milio and Ladislas are going to England, where are the rest of us going?" The Matron looked at him. Her jaw dropped, then her eyes flashed.
"I'll teach you to talk back to me, Arthur Penn!" she seized the boy's thin arm and hurled him back into the closet. Then she turned to the others, "March!" They marched.
That night, Ladislas lay tossing and turning on his thin cot. He was sure that Matron meant to abandon Arthur and the little boys. Nobody would take a weak and skinny twelve-year-old. He would never survive a military school, even if all his classmates were only British. Someone might take the toddlers. They were still cute enough to get attention.
"Bother," Ladislas muttered and sat up. The other four boys were all sleeping peacefully. Suddenly he noticed the boy in the bed next to him was shaking. Was Arthur crying? Ladislas clenched his fists. He wasn't going to let Arthur leave in his place.
"He's older than me." Ladislas thought, "He is four years older than me!" He has to survive on his own! Other kids do!"
Ladislas looked up at the poster which hung on the opposite wall. It was hard to see in the dim light, but he knew every detail. Captain Justice was pointing with his right hand while clenching his left fist. Ladislas mouthed the words to himself.
"Liberty and Justice for All, even the Small. Are you doing your part to save children?"
"I am a child!" Ladislas thought rebelliously, "I shouldn't have to save other children." Ladislas squirmed and kicked the blanket. He didn't even like Arthur. He scowled. He wasn't going to give up the chance to leave the country. He had survived in the streets after his parents died. It was someone else's turn to suffer.
Ladislas looked at Arthur, and he looked towards the window. If he ran away, Matron would have to send Arthur to Cammington. Ladislas stood, and took his red cap off the shelf above his cot. It was the only thing he had that had belonged to his parents. A doctor had brought it to him.
Ladislas picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He had nano tape, a screwdriver, and some coins. What else could he possibly want?
"What are you doing?" Arthur asked. Ladislas jumped and whirled, biting back a scream.
"Cats and crumbs!" he gasped, "Don't ever do that again!" Arthur was sitting up in bed, staring at him.
"You're not supposed to be up!" Arthur whispered, "Matron will be angry!"
"I'm not going to England!" Ladislas said, "I guess that means you can go in my place!" he ran to the window and unlocked it. Arthur scrambled out of bed while the other boys sat up.
"Are you out of your mind?" Milio shouted as Ladislas swung one foot through the window.
"Ladislas, wait!" Arthur cried, "If you leave, you will lose your chance! You have been trying to leave since you came." A siren started to whine, announcing another attack. Everyone was supposed to go to the basement. Ladislas' heart sank. He thought of the forest, park, and those fencing lessons. He swung his other leg out the window and slammed it before he could change his mind. Arthur started to open the window. Ladislas inched his way towards the sparking fence. Far off in the distance, he could see the night light up with the flash of a bomb. The rebels were loose.
Ladislas reached the edge of the wall and climbed down the scaffolding. He knew how to turn off the electricity and open the side gate.
Ladislas stood on the roof of the abandoned garage and stared out over the slums. He had given away his very last chance of escaping the city. Would he be trapped forever? He looked back towards the orphanage. He knew he didn't have a chance to escape. Someone would find him. Rebels, government, or the Aide Society, Ladislas wasn't sure which he dreaded most. But if he did not leave, either Arthur or Milio would have to brave the city. Ladislas turned his back on the orphanage.
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