She was tuning her guitar when she heard someone knocking on her window. "M-Marion?"

"Blair, what are you doing here so late––"

Marion paled at the sight of her best friend. It was the stuff of horror movies. Blair was barefoot and shaking. Her eyes were red and her cheeks stained with tears. Her arms and hands were caked in a black blood, as was most of her nightgown. Clutched tight to her chest was a familiar-looking old leather satchel.

"I'm sorry… I didn't know where else to go," she stuttered.

She was too shocked to say anything, but she managed to grab a blanket before jumping outside the window. She covered Blair with the blanket and quickly led her to one of the dark corners outside the orphanage. Marion kept her silence as they settled on the ground with their backs against the brick wall of the building. She was at a loss on what to do. A million scenarios popped in her head, but she didn't want to question Blair. The poor girl was still trembling. Marion pulled her in a hug and began rubbing her arms from above the blankets.

After what seemed like forever, Blair spoke. The things she said in between her hysterical sobbing… Marion didn't want to believe it, but it was the only explanation that made sense, if you could call it that. Marion wanted to pinch herself to wake up from the nightmare, but the way Blair held onto her hand felt too real.

Marion felt sick and frightened. Not of Blair, but for Blair. Now she's an orphan like me, too.

"Hey," she said as she wiped a tear from her friend's face. "Tonight we'll stay in the basement. There's a bathroom there you can use to wash up, and a small bed the maintenance people sometimes use. Tomorrow we'll think of what to do, okay?"

"Thank you… For not running away," said Blair, her voice muffled under the sheets.

She could feel her friend's shoulders shaking again. Marion held her tight. "We're best mates, right? Of course I'll always be here."

"Promise?"

"Always."