the Tower of Lost Children

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 10

A carriage waits outside the Tower. Strange, to be the one on this side of the Departure Ceremony. Scores of eyes look on, mainly out of obligation, as the Baroness steps forward in yet another elegant silver dress and an updo. She forces a smile at me, likely celebrating on the inside that this willContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 10”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 7, Part 1

As with chapter 5, this chapter will also be broken up into two parts due to length. Enjoy! Late afternoons of stargazing on the beach transition into brief walks in the snow and fireside book reading in the library. The typical seasonal shift, only now Kym and I sit closer. Sometimes she leans into myContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 7, Part 1”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 5, Part 1

Quick note about this chapter: it ended up being really long, so I have divided it into two parts. Although there is not a clean break, I have done my best to find the easiest place to separate parts one and two. Thank you very much for your understanding! Uncomfortable, heavy silence fills the carriageContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 5, Part 1”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 4

A carriage waits outside the Tower. Two young adults, a boy and girl whose names always escape me, stand at its backend. Two dozen pairs of eyes drink in their uncertainty and fear as the two of them adjust the bags on their backs. Most of us older kids have taken this spot at theContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 4”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 3

Seven months and I’m free. One month and I might get to go to the city. No fights, no backtalk, no curfew violations. Kym has kept clean, too. Max, on the other hand, did not last long; as he predicted, a poor choice of words in the presence of the wrong person removed him fromContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 3”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 2

Three months down, nine to go. I can do this. No fights, no petty thievery, no curfew violations. Easy enough so far. Then again, my fellow wards have shaped up and stopped harassing the younger kids. Maybe they truly did learn their lessons. Or they’re just making sure I don’t see anything. That would beContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 2”

Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 1

One year to go. One more year of history lessons. One more year of bland dinners and leftover lunches. One more year of the Baroness and her barbarism. If I behave, be the good boy who follows her commands to the letter, it could be a year free of isolation rooms and visits with CyContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Final Year, Chapter 1”