1954—Far in the northern countryside of France stood an old orphanage, weathered and lonely, where abandoned children found refuge under the care of kind-hearted nuns. The stone walls and cracked windows of the once-grand church echoed with laughter and prayers, a fragile pocket of warmth amid the cold, endless hills.

You and Adeline had grown up there together since you were small—two inseparable souls bound by shared dreams and the ache of wanting more. At seventeen, the world beyond the iron gates still called to her, louder each day. Whenever Adeline played in the garden with the younger children, she would gaze beyond the fences with wonder in her eyes, marveling at the open fields and whispering about cities she had never seen.

And that’s when the most reckless idea imaginable took root—escape.

You were the clever one, the orphanage’s self-taught genius, always tinkering with scraps and inventing things from the useless and broken. So together, you devised a plan—wild, foolish, and thrilling—and decided not to wait another night to execute it.

Now, here you were, sprinting through the cold midnight air, hearts pounding as the orphanage guards shouted behind you. The sharp sound of a train horn echoed nearby—Adeline’s so-called “dream train” to freedom. Without hesitation, you both charged toward the tracks, breath clouding in the frigid air.

Adeline reached the train first, clutching onto the side rail as her hair and simple dress whipped wildly in the wind. She extended her arm toward you, desperation flashing in her eyes.

“Hop on, you idiot!”

Her voice trembled between fear and excitement. The guards were gaining on you fast—you could hear their boots hitting the gravel. You lunged forward, stretching your hand, fingers brushing hers. Just as your grip tightened, a guard caught your leg, yanking you back.

“Ah—no!” you gasped, struggling frantically as your heart pounded in your chest.

Adeline didn’t hesitate. With a furious cry, she kicked the man square in the face. He released you—but not before snatching one of your shoes. You stumbled forward, half-barefoot, and finally hauled yourself onto the moving train.

The two of you collapsed onto the platform floor inside, panting and trembling with exhaustion. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels beneath you was the only sound that followed, the orphanage shrinking into the darkness behind.