Seren entered the study again. Where Mr. Asche was sitting at his desk, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. They waited to be noticed at the door frame.

“Don’t just linger in the doorway. When you enter a room, enter it like you own it.” Mr. Asche grumbled. “If you can’t carry yourself with some confidence, you shouldn’t bother at all.” Seren nodded and scurried into the study.

“You’re hopeless,” He sighed. Looking at them with disappointment. “I doubt you’ll last long so I postponed your vaccinations. If you manage to stay on for more than a week, you will have to be caught up.” Seren felt a little ember of defiance in their soul. Overpowering their fear and anxiety.

“On your way out, Mrs. Houper will show you some items you can use and you WILL return them at the end of your day. Understand?”

Seren nodded, still not able to get their voice to work.

“Good,” Mr. Asche pulled up a slip of paper. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

“That’s right.” He handed them the paper, “Now hurry up. I want that finished in full by nightfall.” Seren nodded again and headed for the door with their back as straight as they could keep it. Hoping that if they kept their head up they would become more confident. It sort of worked.

Seren went down the stairs slowly, trying to hold onto that confidence but it was slowly eroding. They looked at the names, numbers and addresses on the paper. They were organized by proximity, Which would make it easier to hit them in a sort of circle.

“Oh, finished already?” Mrs. Houper said, surprising Seren into slipping on the last step. Falling flat onto their behind. Mrs. Houper gasped and ran over to them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay, I’m okay.” Seren said, pushing Mrs. Houper’s well intentioned hands away.

“I was waiting for you but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.” She said, smoothing down her dress.

“He’s in a hurry,” Seren said as they stood up.

“Can’t imagine why,” Mrs. Houper muttered under her breath. She shook her head and regained her composure. “No matter, follow me.” Seren nodded, though when Mrs. Houper opened the back door, Seren paused.

“M-my shoes?” Seren awkwardly asked.

“Yes, I’ve fetched them. They're right here.” Mrs Houper said and pointed to the ground where Seren’s shoes were waiting out of place with the rest of the house. Seren hopped down and slipped their shoes on. Still ashamed they were missing socks but at least now they could continue pretending. Mrs. Houper waited patiently for them and when they were done, she led the two of them out the back and toward a small shed near the back corner of the fence.

The backyard was pleasant in the winter but Seren could guess it was beautiful in the spring and summer. The flower beds were covered in snow and the stone pathways were shoveled and scrubbed clean of any snow or even the hint of ice. Large hanging trees made little covered areas with ornately carved stone benches sitting beneath them. Little sconces repurposed for flower pots guarded in pairs at the end of every path. Over the walls of the yard, the forest hung their own evergreen trees. Seren could imagine the whole yard filled with soft grass and every kind of flower imaginable.

Mrs. Houper paused at the shed and opened it up. From the corner of the yard, Seren could hear the water trenches dug around the city to generate power for the steam works.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The sound distracted by the souSeren and theyve at first Mrs. Houper cleared her throat a few times to bring Seren back to reality. They shook their head as they left their own mind and turned to the shed.

“Feel free to take what you need,” Mrs. Houper gestured to the inside of the shed as she reached in and turned on the light. Seren peeked in and looked at the sorry display available. It wasn’t so much tools of any kind of trade so much as malicious compliance. From a single solar light that was barely lighting the room. The half rotted wooden shelves had basic sports equipment instead of actual weaponry and a single thick vest.

“Is… this it?” Seren asked, they weren’t actually sure what they had been expecting, but this wasn’t really it.

”I’m afraid so,” Mrs. Houper sighed. She seemed to understand the disappointment. “But it’s better than nothing right?”

“I…” Seren started but didn’t finish their thought. They knew they shouldn’t be ungrateful but there was very little to be grateful for, “I think I’ll take my chances for today.”

“Are you sure?” Mrs. Houper said, genuinely concerned. Ringing her hands together. “Are you certain you wouldn’t feel comfortable with something? It isn’t much, but I promise you it’s better than nothing.”

“I..” Seren looked around the shed again. Then looked back to Mrs. Houper. “Is it really important?” The woman dropped her hands in disbelief.

“Honey, what is it you think you’re.. I.” Mrs. Houper collected her thoughts. “Child. What is your plan? Do you think it’s going to be as easy as asking nicely?”

“I mean… maybe?” Seren smiled nervously.

“Honey, no.” Mrs. Houper said. She opened her mouth to speak a few times but shook her head with a sigh. “Take the vest. For my conscience, please?” Seren looked at the thick vest that would offer the bare minimum of protection.

“Okay,” they agreed.

“Okay,” Mrs. Houper agreed. Seren walked into the shed, it smelled musty. The back of their mind lit up in rage. Of all the rooms in the house, this is what room could be spared for supplies. It wasn’t fair. Seren took the vest and slipped off their coat to put it on underneath. They had the idle thought that maybe this was all they were worth. It was a thought that refused to leave, even as Seren readjusted their coat over the awkward vest. The shape filled out their chest and made them look more like the age they were pretending to be. But it was also too small for them and hindered their breathing.

“Why is it so small?” Seren asked.

“People come in all sizes dear,” Mrs. Houper said stiffly, staring into nothing as her eyes watered slightly. Seren quickly understood. “Better get a move on, I’m sure you have a deadline and time waits for no one.” Seren nodded and hurried out of the old smelling shed. Mrs. Houper led them around the side to the gate and let them out onto the street.

Being on their own gave them a new rush of fear and anxiety. Churning their stomach as they looked at the first name on the list. Despite the beating of their heart threatening to break their ribs, how hard it was for them to breathe through their anxiety and the vest. Seren started toward the first house on the list. It was also in the summer district. Seren tried to give themself a pep talk as they walked.

"He wouldn't give you the hardest to start out with, that would be silly." Seren thought to themself. "These are probably super easy, just getting you acquainted with what will come." The assurances weren't helping. Seren checked the address every few blocks, unaccustomed to traveling through the residential areas of the district. Above, the sun taunted them. Drifting closer to the west at what seemed like an accelerated speed.

Seren arrived at the first house. They were practicing what they were going to say. Practicing what they had to do. Still, every time they opened their throat to breathe, they felt like they would throw up.

The house they marched up to was nice. Maybe not as nice as the houses near the academy, but its walls were standing, and it had two floors. The windows were clean, and the gutters were free of snow and debris and the sidewalks were well swept. Smoke came streaming out of the chimney and made the house smell like burning wood and something sweet. Seren took a few more deep breaths, reminding themselves how, as they walked up to the door. Past the short stone wall where brown, vacant vines held every brick tightly as if the vine was afraid the bricks would run.

The door stretched up and looked down judgementally at Seren. The metal door knocker seemed to sniff in annoyance at their presence. Seren swallowed back the bile creeping up their throat. They reached up. They couldn’t reach the knocker. Shakily, they instead rapped their knuckles against the door.

They prayed that the inhabitants wouldn’t answer. But their prayers went unanswered as sounds of footsteps came from behind the door.

Too late to back down now.