Whispers of the Forgotten

a's

in about this? It is l

all screen. As if she didn't trust this plan, her voice

my old backpack and said, "I just need t

ar as buildings gave way to open fields and trees. I had a

y head: *Nanny needed for live-in. Quiet h

ue? Maybe. But I w

n that read "NADIA SMITH" was waiting for me. He didn't say much

wisting drive bordered by huge trees

So silent I could hear the

ack Estate," th

was dazzling, yet the air seemed frigid. Not chilly lik

door

e he

x Bla

He was not smiling. didn't say anything. looked at me

said, "You'

a Smith. I ex

d it. didn'

on is i

e turne

welcome. Thank you for

into t

ooring. The ceilings resembled a cathedral with t

me. She was elderly and had tight gray hair. "My na

also no s

d me into t

there.

alone with wooden blocks on the floor

inued, "This is

resp

him. "Hello, Grayson. You

dding to his stack, he

s. Ellen walked

to speak again. I just began constructing a li

lance. He glanc

ncluded

t need

om everyone else, on the third story. Nice. Whit

he ceiling, I

g didn't

ust th

pictures of the family. There are no

ite. Gra

uble falli

ently along

I noti

right i

oc

mething... off about it. I

rned

ame to

't alon

of the corridor

t. Cross

ervi

u doing?" He

to sleep." I wa

fixed. "Avoid goi

ave

d me and headed

n st

re to look after my son

silent. I wa

hed down

around and heade

art po

was behin

want me to

omewhat wet, as if it had been firmly gripped before being pla

's stil

* was

ve it to

en to my right. There was nobody in the hallway. Quiet. The e

Mr. Black's door. What was going on? I wanted to ask him. Something, how

sketchbook's back, I climbed into b

There was Grayson already, sitting by himself with his blocks once again. Whe

took a seat next him

a block a

sleep?" I ask

ave a

as anybody visited y

e a hea

re you aware o

s little han

ing me a brief glance. The room reverberated with the soun

g corridors. My footsteps reverberated. It seemed

voice ca

mur

from the

ed in

Mo

like to a private prayer. He touch

out a

quickly, his ter

dia, you shou

of the door interrupted me

entl

nc

n tw

finger

rub

lo

m in

I froze as the door creaked open one inch. then