The Children of Fear Read online

  Don’t think about that, Luke ordered himself.

  He listened to the sound of the wheels. The rhythm pounded in his head.

  Must save Mary. Must save Mary. Must save Mary.

  Luke stretched his arm toward the ladder. His fingers only skimmed the side.

  He leaned farther out. Straining to grab hold of the ladder.

  The train jerked to one side. Luke’s feet slid out from under him. He was falling. Plunging toward the ground.

  He snagged a rung of the ladder with one hand. The muscles in his arm burned as he struggled to support the weight of his body.

  Luke took a deep breath and swung his body around so he faced the ladder. He grabbed the rung with his other hand—and started to climb.

  The rickety ladder trembled with each step Luke took. He scrambled onto the top of the train, pressing himself flat against it.

  He studied the train in the darkness. Up ahead, he caught sight of the smokestack and the gray smoke billowing into the night. It’s not too far to the engine, he thought. If I can make it up there, the engineer will help me get a doctor for Mary.

  Carefully Luke drew himself to his feet. Like a tightrope walker he’d once seen at the circus, he walked slowly down the train.

  The train lurched, and Luke stumbled to his knees. Pain shot up one of his legs. He stood and continued toward the engine car.

  There was no time to waste. Mary needed every second he could give her.

  He reached the end of the car. He studied the distance between it and the car ahead of him.

  Dizziness hit him as the train clacked over the tracks. Everything blurred—the tracks, the train, the ground.

  Luke crouched down and wrapped his hands around the edge of the car. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He began to repeat Mary’s name in his mind.

  He opened his eyes and stared at the next boxcar. He judged it to be at least six feet away. It swayed as the train rushed over the tracks.

  He glanced down. His gaze locked on the iron wheels. They could cut me in half, he thought.

  I have to do it, Luke told himself. He shoved himself to his feet.

  Then he ran. Ran hard.

  And leapt.

  He hit the boxcar hard. The air rushed out of his lungs. He didn’t bother trying to stand. He crawled to the end of the boxcar on all fours.

  Splinters dug into his feet and hands.

  When he had almost reached the edge, he stood up and ran. He jumped onto the next car and stumbled down it without pausing to rest.

  Only two more to go, he thought. The cool wind whipped around him.

  He crossed the boxcars as quickly as he could. He imagined the poison pumping through Mary’s body. There wasn’t much time left.

  Luke climbed down the ladder on the side of the engine car. He swung himself inside.

  The engineer jerked his head toward Luke. “What are you doing in here?” the man shouted.

  “It’s one of the orphans. She’s been bitten by a black widow spider,” Luke told him. “You’ve got to get her some help. Quickly, or she’ll die for sure.”

  The engineer’s eyes widened. “A black widow! I’ll stop as soon as I see someplace where we can get help.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said. He reached for the ladder and felt a strong hand grab his arm. He glanced over his shoulder.

  “Stay here,” the engineer ordered. “It’s too dangerous up there.”

  “No. She needs me.” Luke jerked free and clambered out onto the ladder before the engineer could grab him again.

  His heart thundered in his ears as he climbed back onto the top of the car.

  The train rumbled. It lurched back and forth. Luke knew it could easily throw him off.

  But Mary must be terrified, he thought. I have to tell her that we’re going to get her to a doctor.

  Luke made his way down the train as fast as he could. He climbed down the ladder, swung back inside the orphans’ boxcar, and slammed the door closed.

  He ran over to Mary and dropped to his knees beside her.

  She gazed up at him, her blue eyes round and shining with fever and fear. He smoothed back her hair and felt her forehead.

  She’s burning up. He noticed that her clothes were drenched in sweat.

  “You’ll be all right, Mary,” Luke said. He cupped her cheek and turned her face toward him. “The engineer will stop soon. You’ll be all right.”

  Her beautiful blue eyes glazed over.

  “I saw the evil,” she whispered. “I saw the evil, Luke. You must kill…

  Chapter

  16

  Luke stood in front of Mary’s grave. Corey whimpered softly beside him. The little boy clutched Luke’s leg tightly.

  A black wrought-iron fence circled the small cemetery. Nearby, a white clapboard church served as a silent sentinel.

  Leah waited at the gate. She refused to come into the cemetery.

  She had not smiled when Mary died.

  But neither had she cried.

  The train had finally pulled into this tiny town near midnight. But it had been much too late for Mary.

  Perhaps it is too late for all of us, Luke thought bitterly.

  When Luke closed his eyes, he could hear Mary’s dying words. I saw the evil. You must kill …

  But he couldn’t. He couldn’t kill his sister.

  Even though he believed she killed Mary by sending the black widow to bite her, Luke couldn’t kill his sister.

  Corey’s whimpers turned into sobs as he placed the mangled wildflowers he’d picked on Mary’s grave. He had begun to cry the minute Mary died. He cried through the night, in his sleep, as he tossed and turned.

  He is so small, Luke realized. Too young to see so much death.

  Luke looked one last time at Mary’s grave. Then he turned away and studied the small town that stretched out before him.

  Last Chance.

  An odd name for a town, Luke thought, but it looks like a good place for a family to make a new start.

  Stores lined both sides of the dusty main street. All the buildings were wooden. The general store, the bank, the hotel. At the end of the street, away from everything else, loomed a big stone building.

  The words INSANE ASYLUM had been carved in the stone above the door.

  Is that where Leah belongs? he wondered. If I put her in a place like that, would it prevent her from hurting anyone else?

  Someday, he thought, someday soon I will have to make that decision. But not today. Today I must find a family to adopt us, a home where we can live.

  Perhaps Leah will return to her old self and all of this will seem like a bad dream.

  The train had gone on without them, taking the orphans farther west.

  Maybe Mary was right. Maybe it was the orphan train that brought out the worst in Leah. Maybe with a family, Leah would start using her gift as Father wanted her to. She could use her gift to guide the animals. Not turn them into monsters.

  Last Chance.

  This town will be our last chance to be a family, Luke realized.

  We’ll start over here, he decided.

  We’ll find a family in this town to adopt us.

  Corey will talk again and Leah will stop her evil ways.

  I’m sure of it.

  Leah, Corey, and I will stay together. As a family.

  And no one will try to hurt us.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Luke walked along the dusty road, Leah and Corey following him. Oak trees gave them plenty of shade to protect them from the sun.

  Leah grunted as she lifted Corey into her arms. “How much farther, Luke?” she asked.

  Luke could see smoke spiraling from the chimney of a nearby farmhouse. He pointed. “We’ll try over there first,” he told her.

  “First,” she mumbled, and shifted Corey on her hip. “Are you expecting a second, and a third, and a fourth? How many in all?”

  “As many as it takes,” Luke replied, and quickened his pace.


  As they approached the large two-story white farmhouse, Luke’s hopes soared. The front had four windows on the first floor and four windows on the second floor. If each window belongs to a separate room, they should have space for us here, he thought.

  A plump woman sat on the front porch, churning butter. Three small girls sat at her feet. Another girl swung on a thickly knotted rope hanging from a nearby tree.

  The woman smiled kindly as Luke stopped in front of the porch. “ ’Afternoon, ma’am,” Luke said. “I’m Luke Fier—”

  A boy dashed around the corner of the house, another close on his heels. Luke jumped back before they could collide with him. Six children. He’d seen six children so far. Still, he hoped …

  “My brother, my sister, and I are orphans.”

  The woman’s smile faded.

  “We’re looking for a place to call home,” Luke continued. “I know how to work the fields—”

  The woman rose, raising a hand to stop Luke’s words.

  Luke knew what her answer would be before she opened her mouth.

  “I’m sorry, but we already have twelve children. The farm hasn’t done well this year. We can barely feed those we have. You might try the Greens. Just follow the dirt road. You’ll see a bright yellow house. Try there.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  The woman dropped her gaze to Corey. “Let your little brother come play with my children once you get settled in.”

  They found the Greens’ house without any trouble. It reminded Luke of a big yellow canary sitting in the middle of a big green nest. He had never seen a house painted bright yellow.

  Lacy white curtains billowed out of all the windows on the first and second floors. Smoke spiraled out of the brick chimney. Someone had painted the chimney yellow as well.

  On the white front porch, two empty yellow rocking chairs rocked in the breeze.

  A man dressed in overalls and wearing a rumpled hat shoveled slop around in a hog pen. Six black hogs with white spots grunted and lumbered around the man.

  Luke had never seen such huge hogs. They stood taller than the man’s knees. Their deep grunts and squeals echoed across the yard.

  That must be Mr. Green, he thought as he watched the man shove a hog out of his way. His tall, thin body looked lean and strong. He wore a pleasant expression as he tended the hogs. White hair stuck out in all directions from beneath his hat.

  Luke looked back toward the house and saw a woman kneeling before a flower bed, digging the dirt around some bright yellow posies. That must be Mrs. Green, Luke realized.

  He didn’t see any children. He didn’t hear any children.

  He moistened his fingers with his tongue. Then he slicked down his hair. He did the same to Corey.

  “Be on your best behavior,” he said as he knelt in front of his little brother.

  “You sound like the matron,” Leah said, and Luke could hear the resentment in her voice.

  “I’m sorry,” Luke said as he stood. “I don’t mean to sound like her. But I’d like us to find a home, and this looks like a nice farm.” He sighed heavily. “Please try, Leah. For Corey’s sake. He needs parents. Once he has a home, I’m certain he’ll feel happier and talk again. We might all feel happier,” he added.

  Leah exchanged glances with Corey. Reluctantly, she nodded. “All right, Luke. I’ll be nice.”

  Leah’s promise had excitement thrumming through Luke’s veins. With Leah’s cooperation, he thought they might have a chance to find a home here.

  And put the evil behind them.

  Taking Leah’s and Corey’s hands, he walked toward Mrs. Green.

  “Excuse me, are you Mrs. Green?” Luke asked quietly.

  The woman jumped back, pressing a hand to the white lace that circled her throat. “Oh, my goodness. You startled me.”

  Mrs. Green smiled, and her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Yes, I’m Mrs. Green. Who are you?” she asked in a kind voice. She lifted a hand and touched her white hair. She wore it in a bun. But it wasn’t a tight bun like the matron had worn, Luke noticed. It looked soft.

  “I’m Luke Fier. This is my brother, Corey. And my sister, Leah,” he told her, pulling Corey and Leah forward. “Our parents died. We were traveling on the orphan train and now we’re looking for a home—”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Mrs. Green exclaimed as she rose to her feet. “You poor children.”

  Luke spotted Mr. Green leaving the hog pen. “What’s going on over here?” he asked as he neared the house.

  Mr. Green’s gray eyes appeared concerned as he stopped beside his wife. Mrs. Green placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “These are orphans. They are looking for a home. Isn’t this little boy darling? We’ve always wanted a little boy.”

  Luke decided it was best to be honest up front. “He hasn’t talked since our parents died.”

  “Of course he hasn’t,” Mrs. Green replied sympathetically as she knelt in front of Corey. “He’s grieving. He probably misses his mother very much.”

  “It’s quite understandable, poor boy,” Mr. Green added.

  Mrs. Green rose and took Leah’s hand. Luke watched as she leaned close to Leah. “And it’s always nice to have another woman around to talk with,” she told Leah. “My, what lovely eyes you have, my dear. And such pretty dark hair.”

  Leah smiled, the first genuine smile Luke had seen on her face in ages.

  “Of course, we’d be pleased to have you too,” Mrs. Green told Luke.

  Mr. Green grabbed Luke’s hand and pumped it vigorously. “Yes, yes, we’d be pleased to have you all. I can use the help of a strong young man around here. What do you know about hogs?”

  “They make good bacon,” Luke said.

  Mr. Green laughed. Mrs. Green began to usher them into the house.

  “Come along,” she told them. “Let’s get you settled.”

  That evening at dinner, Luke decided Mrs. Green was the happiest woman he’d ever seen.

  She had smiled constantly as she fussed over Corey, combing his hair and scrubbing his face before she plopped him down into a chair at the table.

  She fluttered around, heaping mashed potatoes and ham and biscuits onto everyone’s plates. “Tomorrow we’ll get you all some new clothes,” she said as she poured thick brown gravy over the potatoes. “And I’ll trim everyone’s hair.”

  She sat down and began to cut the slice of ham on Corey’s plate.

  Luke’s mouth watered as he brought his first piece of ham to his mouth. No more lumpy porridge, he thought with glee.

  No more rattling trains.

  No more itchy straw.

  No more hard floors.

  We’ll have a soft bed to sleep in. Good meals to eat. New clothes.

  He glanced at Mrs. Green. Then down to the other end of the table at Mr. Green.

  They’re happy people, Luke thought.

  We’ll be happy too.

  At least he hoped they would.

  Chapter

  17

  The Dark Cellar

  If only I had known what would happen at the Green farm.

  If only I had told the Greens everything that I knew.

  If only I had not held my silence… .

  The young man knelt beside the flickering flame. His fingers felt stiff and aching from the cold. He held them over the quivering flame.

  The candle is so much smaller now, he realized. It will burn for only a little while longer.

  Then it will go out.

  And they’ll come for me.

  He gazed into the darkness around him. He knew the snakes were there, but he could not see them.

  The candle flickered.

  Not yet, he pleaded in silence. Please don’t go out yet.

  The candle continued to burn. He slowly released his breath. He flexed his fingers.

  It is time to finish the story. It is time to tell everything.

  Crouching, he turned to face the wall.

  The crimson letters danced
before his eyes.

  I have almost run out of room on the wall, and I still have so much more to tell.

  He clutched the nail and began to write, determined to fit the rest of his tale into the empty space that remained on the wall. Someone, someday had to know the truth.

  The truth about the evil he’d seen.

  Time passed quickly. I no longer counted the days. My brother and I were happy.

  Happier than we had been since our parents died.

  But Leah remained sullen and distant from us all. Every day I watched her, waiting for some sign that her unhappiness had lifted.

  But I only saw her grow even more cheerless.

  And angrier.

  I realize now that I should have spoken to the Greens about Leah. I should have told them everything, everything that I knew at the time.

  I don’t know if it would have made a difference.

  I know only that my silence doomed us all.

  Chapter

  18

  Luke hauled an armload of wood toward the back of the house. He glanced over his shoulder at Corey happily tagging along behind him, carrying one log.

  Luke’s new overalls and boots felt stiff. But he felt proud to be wearing new clothes instead of the tattered rags he’d arrived in. Mrs. Green had bought all of them piles of new clothes at the general store. And new shoes.

  Luke listened to the birds twittering in the trees that shaded the house. I’m happy, he thought as he glanced over his shoulder at Corey. Corey met his gaze with a smile. We’re both happy.

  He set the logs down and began to stack them so they would not rot. Corey helped him.

  He saw the breeze whip the curtains out of the open kitchen window and smelled one of Mrs. Green’s delicious apple pies. “Smells like we’re going to have pie for supper tonight,” Luke told Corey.

  Corey bobbed his head enthusiastically.

  Luke smiled. His brother still hadn’t spoken, but Luke could tell that Corey was happy with the Greens.

  “No, no, no.” Mrs. Green’s voice escaped through the window. “You must pinch the crust, not squeeze it.”

  “I don’t see what difference it makes,” Luke heard Leah reply sourly.

  Luke heard the frustration in Leah’s voice. He finished stacking the wood as fast as he could and knocked on the back door.