“Christopher Adaams!!!, Why are you late?” Ms. Rose's voice came as sharp as a blade.

Christopher froze right as he was about to enter the class, sweat drenched, lungs burning, forehead pounding, all from the run he had just done to get to school.

“Christopher Adaams?” ,”Yes, Matron” ,”Where have you been all day my boy? And why do you look so sad?” Christopher was quiet, tears slowly and silently dripping from his young eyes, “Miss Matron, why was I named Christopher Adaams?”, “Whoa, what happened son? Where's this question coming from?” more silence, she sighed, “Okay my boy I'll tell you. Remember that beautiful pendant you have always worn since you were a baby?” He nodded, “...now when we found you on our doorstep that raining night we saw the name written on the back of the pendant and decided to call you that. Is that alright my boy?” Christopher paused for a while and then said ‘Okay’. The matron then asked, “ Was anything wrong that made you ask me such a question?” He sniffed and said, “Some of the boys made fun of me because they said the name was weird”, the Matron sighed then said, “Don't worry I'll talk to them, and also…now that you have seen it's not a strange name but the name your parents wanted to give you are you more proud of it?” He nodded, “Now smile and go out and play my boy”, he smiled a genuine smile and ran out of the cupboard laughing. He suddenly remembered that memory from his childhood. Why he did he didn't know, maybe it was the way the teacher had just called his name? But everyone does the same, or maybe it was just a random trick the brain plays or maybe, it was as a result of the cutting on his chest he felt at the moment his name was called. On his pendant were engraved the initials “C.A” on the front and at the back written in bold letters, angry letters like the writer was in a rush, “Christopher Adaams”. The pendant had been the only thing, the only memory, the only connection he has with his past, a past he knew nothing about but then he discovered something, something no one ever told him, right in the middle of the pendant was a crack, a crack like it was ripped apart. So small was it that it was hardly noticeable but he noticed. Sometimes he used to dream about the missing piece.

Used to wake from bloody nightmares bathed in cold sweat and with the taste of blood in his mouth and an ache behind his ribs that made no sense, like something vital had been ripped out of him before he even had a name.

Sometimes when he had nightmares he woke up holding the pendant so strongly anyone would think he wanted to break it but he couldn't, it was the only comfort he had something that made him wonder on those terrible nights, “Who has the other?”

“I'm sorry Ms. Rose, I had no money to pay for a cab so I had to run all the way to school.” Christopher said, “I'm sorry I'll try to never repeat it again.”

“But that's what you said the last time, Are you trying to make a fool out of me?!!!” Ms. Rose said clearly on the edge.

Lately he had been coming late to school because he had been low on cash. His last month’s earnings had been exhausted, so little was it that it was barely able to sustain a child for one week let alone a teenager who goes to work and school, and if he hadn't been a hardworking and brilliant student she definitely would have already kicked him out of class a long time ago and this very reason made him a lot of enemies.

“No Ms, I really am sorry, there were incidents beyond my control” he said with his head slightly bent down.

Ms. Rose, looking a little calmer after she realized his sincerity said, “...sit down and don't make me regret it” He nodded, “...and also don't make a habit of it believing I will forgive you always, Do I make myself clear?!!!”

“Yes, Ms. Rose” was the reply that Christopher gave as he moved to the back of the class and sat down amidst all the stares.

And that was how Christopher was let off the hook.

Ever since he left the orphanage for high school, he has had to do odd jobs to survive and then combine it with academic work, sometimes working overtime and having tests the next day. He was late on an average of 25

Twenty-five

out of every 30

Thirty

times, but even with his burdensome life he still manages to come out on top of his whole class which earned him the hatred of his class because to them a poor, orphaned boy had nothing to do in their school, talk less of being better than them at whatever they did.

They cursed him when he wasn't present, mocked his parents when he was, and would sometimes seize opportunities to turn him into their tool for mischief and bullying.

Teachers were like a waste of resources to him because he was never given an ear, he had a voice but no one to listen to his complaints.

There was even an incident during his younger days whereby a student hit and abused him and he reported.

“Mr Gable, that boy hit me" he said.

“And so what?" Was the reply he got

Christopher was shocked, “Sir are you not going to punish him" he asked feeling hurt.

Sigh, “Young man if you have nothing of value to say I would advise you let me be. I am too tired to deal with your report, and besides there’s nothing I can do actually." Was the reply he got.

Christopher left the office feeling a sharp pain in his heart, tears flowed from his eyes but he wasn't one to give up easily, he walked back but with one motive on his mind, revenge.

He got to where the boy was and hit the kid back. It connected perfectly with the kid's face but it was a mild blow because he was scared of injuring the child. The kid cried and ran to report to a teacher. Christopher tensed up at the realization of what he had just done but consoled himself thinking The teacher said he's busy so he won't come

About to leave the scene a voice thundered, "Who hit James?” Christopher froze.

He turned around slowly, body shivering and hands shaking, the look on the face he saw when he turned said nothing but those eyes that were locked down on him like a predator on a prey seem to convey the message he said with a malicious smile, "Come with me, Orphan.”