We stepped through the silver-plated door and walked down the long hallway. The way he moved—confident, certain—made it obvious he had a strong connection to this place. I watched him closely, trying to piece things together.
We stopped at a door at the very end of the hall. The wall it stood on was wide and plain, except for a sign mounted above the door that read, "A PLACE OF PEACE." It was the only door in sight.
I glanced at the man, then back at the door.
"Erm... you wait here. I'll go in first," he said.
He slipped inside, and within less than a minute, reemerged and gestured for me to follow.
My steps were slow, hesitant, as I entered the room. Inside, my eyes scanned the space. A slightly heavy-set woman sat behind a desk, her arms folded neatly. Her most striking features were two large black moles—one on her forehead, another near her jaw. Together, they gave her an odd resemblance to a rat with oversized ears. I tried not to stare.The room had three doors: one on the left, one on the right, and a third behind her desk. That last door especially caught my attention. Why would she need a door behind her? What was she hiding?
"Take your seat, dear," the woman said, gesturing to the chair in front of me.
I sat cautiously. The man stood behind me, slightly to the side, his eyes fixed on the woman, waiting.
"Welcome to The Crescendo of Peace," she began with a warm, formal tone. "I'm Miss Paulina, and I'm delighted to have another child to nurture in this beautiful place. This facility was funded by the Noble Government and has since become a home that transforms children—those once considered nuisances—into respected members of society. Believe me, having you here is a privilege."
Did she just say nuisances?The word hit me hard. Did she mean the kids here were once criminals? Was this some kind of reformation center? A place for people like... me?
Panic crept in. My heart raced. My body flushed hot, sweat beading on my skin. *Had he brought me here because he knew?* Knew what I'd done?
Miss Paulina's eyes locked onto mine. Her gaze was sharp, her smile unreadable.
"Please, dear. Introduce yourself," she prompted again.
"M...M...My name is M...Mia," I stammered, each syllable trembling off my lips.
"Nice to meet you, Mia. How old are you?" she asked kindly.
That question again. The one no one ever got a real answer to. I looked at the man, hoping for a cue, then back at the woman.
"I... I don't know, ma'am," I replied honestly.
Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself. She let out a light, confused chuckle, then exchanged a glance with the man. They didn't speak, but something passed between them—like a silent conversation. It was as if their eyes sent secret messages back and forth.
"I'll be on my way now, Miss Paulina," the man finally said, breaking the silence. He gave my shoulder a gentle pat.
"Don't worry, Mia. I'll come visit you," he added softly. "Take care of yourself."
And with that, he turned and left the office.
"Alright, Mia," Miss Paulina said, her tone shifting into something more official, "we'll handle your paperwork later. Classes should've started by now, so let me show you around."
I nodded slowly, my heart still pounding. What exactly is this place? What are they going to do to me? The questions circled my mind like shadows.
She stood, straightened her chair, adjusted her desk, then moved to the door directly behind her and pushed it open.
"Come along, Mia… let's get going," she said over her shoulder.
I froze for a second. I'd assumed the door was just part of the wall—a decoration maybe—but now, watching it swing open, I felt a chill. It actually led somewhere. My anxiety doubled. Where does it go? What kind of place is this? What happens behind closed doors?
With hesitant steps, I circled her desk and stepped through the doorway, my thoughts spinning faster than ever.