Code of Disjointed Letters: ( Doomsday Will Arise From the Past by JT Alblood

eleven-year-old child here, and why do his parents allow such things?”
    Gizem stared at me with gentle eyes, and gave me a look as if to say, “So, you don’t know.”
    “ If that poor boy had parents, they wouldn’t let him come here,” she said. “However, to answer your question, he’s here in the hopes of getting a good donation to the orphanage, an opportunity to prove how smart and valuable the children there can be, and maybe, more importantly, the need of one child to be cherished.”
    I had been so stupid. I was only interested in my own problems and again wasn’t aware of what was going on around me. The chat didn’t last long after that, and I excused myself and went to my room.
    In the morning, I got up hastily and almost ran into the lounge only to find that no one was around. After a necessary visit to the smoking room, I returned to the lounge to find the cleric eating his breakfast quietly. Ender was curled up in one of the armchairs with a book in his hand, but he wasn’t reading.
    I sat beside the boy and asked with my kindest expression, “How are you? Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
    Ender moved his long brown hair out of his face and stared at me with his deep blue eyes. “As far as I can see,” he began, “you have just learned what everyone else already knows.” After a short pause, he went on. “Let’s make a deal: you can see me as a freak and treat me like that, but please be sincere; do whatever you feel like, like before. Nothing would disturb me more than seeing you feel upset by things that are not your responsibility. You are a clever man, and I hope you understand what I mean.”
    I was stunned by his incisiveness. The boy was truly brilliant. I smiled at him.
    “Okay,” I said. “I get the message.”
    I thrust out my hand, and, as Ender shook it, he gave me a small wink.
     
    * * *
     
    Wednesday finally arrived. This was the day I got to see Elif. I was so overwhelmed by being in the competition that I had nearly forgotten. I rushed into my room to get prepared and then to the lounge, trying my best not to be late.
    When I entered the room, Elif was there. I had forgotten how beautiful she was. I immediately sat opposite her and held her hands in mine. One of the competition officials stood near us, making us feel his presence. I wanted to ask her what was going on outside, if people were watching us, who they were supporting, whether or not I looked stupid in front of the cameras, if there was anything I’d missed, but of course, I couldn’t ask any of those questions because I didn’t want to be disqualified.
    “You look pale,” I said, “but even this looks good on you. Oh, how much I’ve missed you.”
    Elif held my hands more firmly now. “Are you all right?” she asked. “Do you need anything?”
    She couldn’t talk about anything, but I could. “The meals are great. My opponents are tough, but they are all nice, and there are a lot of things I’m learning from them. Actually, if I didn’t feel your absence, I could even say I enjoy being here. By the way, Mr. Hıdır asked me to tell you that he apologizes again for the accident.”
    “It was an accident. I’ve already forgotten,” Elif muttered, embarrassed.
    “He is a very good man in his field,” I continued. “What am I talking about? You must be watching it on TV anyway. This week’s competition is the labyrinth, and I still haven’t thought of how to get out of it. But I will find a solution—wow, I just realized there’s only a short time left before this week’s final.”
    Elif just listened to me with a concerned look on her face while she ran her thumb over my fingers. Time flew by so fast, and, before I knew it, I was hugging her tightly as she left. For a while, I couldn’t let her go.
    …
    As the time for the labyrinth competition approached, the tension between everyone became blindingly obvious. One evening, as we were sitting all together and everyone was lost