Misty Fairchild and the Heart of Alignment by Michael D. Brooks

Author:Michael D. Brooks [Brooks, Michael D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798986704401
Publisher: EleventyFirst Publications

Chapter 17

Fifteen Years Ago

She prided herself on her no-nonsense approach to child management in a group setting, and while she did not exactly feel motherly towards her charges, she did have affection for them. Most of them.

The truth was, if asked, she could not have given any specifics about why she hated these children so much. And yes, God help her, she hated them. And feared them. She never caught the Lee twins doing anything, but accidents happened. Uncanny, unsettling accidents.

The rest of the children were in terror of them, though none of them could ever explain exactly why. Something was truly and horrifyingly wrong with them, and she could not wait to wash her hands of the pair.

Mrs. Fitzsimmons cleared her throat and twisted her handkerchief tighter between her stiff fingers. A cold breeze ruffled her long skirt and lacy blouse. It stabbed her joints where the arthritis had settled.

A slate gray sky hung heavy in the drab Nebraska morning. Bare limbed trees stood out stark against the flat landscape. Snow insinuated itself in every gust. She thanked the heavens she had worn the thick woolen maroon suit today. The fitted blazer shielded her from the damp in the air. It did nothing for the chill in the pit of her stomach.

A couple dozen children of varying ages ran, jumped, climbed, shouted, laughed, and barked commands to one another in the chain-link enclosure that sat adjacent to the Children’s Home Mrs. Fitzsimmons directed. The old Victorian had been converted by the county into a home sometime in the twenties, and Mrs. F had the run of it for the last two decades.

Two little boys pushed toy trucks through roadways dug in the sand box, far away from the other kids in the grassless play yard. They were eight years old and identical in every way, from their jet-black hair to the smattering of freckles across their noses.

No one had ever enquired about adopting them before today. Before this unsettling stranger. Ghastly was the best word for his appearance. He reminded her of a Christopher Lee villain from an old B horror movie. He was dressed well in an expensive tailored suit, and even had one of those garish pinky rings that, in her mind, denoted mobsters and other criminals who made their fortunes in blood.

If anyone could adopt and be suited for the Lees, it would have to be a career criminal or serial killer. They deserved each other. Her lips twitched at the thought.

Mrs. Fitzsimmons swallowed against her dry throat and slowed her words to minimize a stammer. “Y-yes, it’s quite sad, really, Dr. Gualtieri.” A nervous flutter threatened to betray her voice. “The boys came to us when they were tiny little things. Neither of them has ever spoken a word. The doctors have never been able to find anything wrong with them, though.”

Another child approached the sandy pit. Alarm spread over Mrs. Fitzsimmons in alternating waves of warmth and chill. She sucked in a quick breath. Her right arm twitched forward involuntarily, and a small spasm shook her head.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.