His eyelids feel heavy, as if they have been glued shut. The drugs are slow to leave his body, but as they wear off consciousness gradually takes hold of him. Using what feels like all his strength Shay opens his eyes, one after the other. His sight is blurred, and he can just make out that he is lying down sideways, his world on the horizontal.

“Finally he wakes,” a bored voice says somewhere above him.

Shay manages to gurgle a noise, his throat thick as a result from the drug-induced sleep. Dragging his arm across his body, Shay manages to roll onto his back his eyes eventually focusing on the man who owned the voice.

“Everything went well if you were wondering.” The man’s lips opened into a crescent showing off his yellowed teeth- or what teeth he had left anyway. “Still drugged?”

Shay blinks a couple of times unable to do anything else.

“At least we know they worked,” the man grins. “I know I’d rather feel nothing than be in extreme pain.”

Shay doesn’t know whether he agrees with this. Unable to move his body, he feels completely defenceless; which is not something you want to be when you live at the Orphanage. Then he remembers- he no longer lives there.

Memories start to return; why he was drugged and in the mans house. He had escaped and then discovered the chip. Weeks he had spent on the streets, driven half insane from the voice that emanated from the chip. The man, Mathias, found him starved, stinking and ready to die in some gutter and brought him back. Washed, dressed and fed him and once he learned of the chip, offered to remove it.

Lucky for Shay that the man who saved him was a doctor, otherwise the operation would have gone horribly wrong. Not that Shay cared; he’d rather have a useless, dead arm than live with the chip for a second longer. Mathias had taken scans of his arm, acquired the necessary equipment and drugs before he attempted to operate. That had been last night, or had more time past than Shay realised? He couldn't tell from his position on the floor.

Shay struggles to lift his head and when Mathias understands what he is trying to do he helps him sit. Shay could now see that he wasn't on the floor like he first thought- he was on the operating table that Mathias had drugged him on. A long plastic tube, with clear liquid passing through it, was connected to his left arm, disappearing into his flesh on top of his hand and a cream clip was fastened to his thumb recording his oxygenation. Other leads and wires were attached to his body monitoring his vitals.

“Howth didth thee surgeree goo?” Shay asks his voice slurred.

“Perfect, though I think maybe I gave you too much sedative,” Mathias chuckles.

“Diiid yous destroy thee chipths?”

“Yes, and burnt it for good measure. Now you need to rest.” Mathias helps Shay lie back down before he disappears from view. Despite the hours Shay had no doubt been unconscious for, his eyes droop with sleepiness and soon he falls into a nightmare filled sleep.

He’s wandering the halls of the Orphanage late at night, heading towards the kitchen, hoping to stop the pains in his stomach. Stepping lightly, avoiding the parts of the wooden floor he knows creak with the slightest pressure, his back pressed hard to the wall. His ears twitch at the slightest sound, each making him freeze holding his breath until minutes after the sound has faded.

Rounding the last corner Shay starts to step into the kitchen when he hears her. She’s as quiet as him only the sound of rustling plastic reaches his ears, but he knows it’s her. Breathing in deep his sharp nose picks out the scents of rotting food- she’s found it before him. Anger mixes with his hunger pains and he makes up his mind to catch her unawares when he hears it; the deadly footfalls of a Watcher.

His mouth opens as if to whisper a warning but the rustling stops and he knows she’s heard. But it’s too late. The other door into the kitchen bursts open hitting the wall with such a bang, it makes Shay jump in shock and fear.

The girl’s terrified squeak is suddenly and terribly cut off by the harsh sound of skin on skin. Shay flinches as if he felt the brutal hit as well and has to bite his tongue to stop himself from whimpering. In his mind’s eye Shay can see the raw red flesh that would swell immediately from the strike, causing tears to come to anyone’s eyes.

The Watchers yelling at the girl, cursing her and saying horrible things that make his skin crawl. He knows he should run whilst there's so much noise, but he’s rooted to the spot, frightened not only for him, but for the girl as well.

Suddenly the shouting’s stopped and he can hear someone running in his direction. Before Shay can thaw the girl races out through the kitchen door running straight past him. She doesn’t see Shay, but he sees her. The left side of her face is swollen, her eye just a puffy slit. But it’s her mouth that makes Shay hate the Orphanage that much more. Blood trickles down her chin from the deep gash that slices through her lips.

Shay watches her go as she disappears down the hallway, and wishes she had somewhere safe to flee to. However, there is no place safe in the Orphanage- only outside the black iron gates that surround it is safe. And it was nearly impossible to escape.    

Shay wakes to a bloodcurdling scream. It’s not until his voice goes hoarse that he realises it is him. Using all his willpower he silences himself, clamping his right hand over his mouth. That’s when he sees it; the scar. It’s a rough puckered line that stretches across his inner elbow. It reminds him that he is no longer at the Orphanage, no longer controlled by their disgusting ways.

His eyes sting with unshed tears and his throat is tender as he swallows the dry lump that has formed. Telling himself over and over that he is safe, he was no longer there only made him feel a fraction better. Because Shay knew that it wasn't just a nightmare- it was a memory. And the little, six year old girl who he had witness being beaten over taking wasted food, was still stuck at the Orphanage.

Looking at his scar he makes himself a promise. Now that he is free, he will try his hardest; will do everything in his power to free the little girl.