This is a random story written tonight, while trying to do some "word wars" with a group of fellow writers. I had no prompt, and I had no idea what I was going to start writing when my fingers started typing. The only thing I was drawing from was my wonderful children that were playing in front of me.
In the Time of All the Children
by Chelsey
In the time of all the children, there was not an adult to be found. No one knew for sure where the children came from that joined into the group, they just knew that they were there. As they came together, there were many fights, but more than that, there was love. Something that all the newest children thought that they had lost. Every one of them remembered a time when they had parents, but none of them could remember how they got here. They knew of love. They knew of hugs. They knew of the peace of being in the protective arms of the adults that would love and protect them. Then…. There was nothing. No one who was there to tuck them in at night. No one to pull the blanket up and chase away the monsters in the dark. All they could remember of that time was that there were parents. They knew not where they had lived, or if they had anyone other than their parents.
And there was the problem. Without the parents, the children only had fear. They were briefed in a place they had never known. The children had to adapt. The older children who would find the ways to pick up the shattered hearts of the tiny ones. The older children who learned how to find the food and make it edible. No one said it was good, but it kept them alive. They would do the best they could, even while frightened, to show the younger children that they were still loved. That there was someone who wanted them around.
For taking care of the younger children, made the older push aside their own fear. It made them forget the dark. Pushed aside the shaking of their bellies as they looked into the fields where the oldest children had gone and never come back. Did they find a way out? Did they find the parents? Why could they not come back?
To lead the charge, there were two children. First was a girl who stood out from the rest. She was the oldest and was one of the first to know of this place. She was the caretaker. She was a mere 13 years old, but she was the one who seemed to lead like a mother. She didn’t remember what was before and she only knew that she was needed here.
Erma was her name. It meant God of War. She had found that in one of the books that she had found in the library of the church. She knew she was brought here to protect those that were placed in her care. She was stronger than the rest. She was the one they all ran to in times of fear. She had no wish to leave, for if she did, it would leave all of her charges without a way to take care of themselves and she could not bring herself to leave them.
Ivan was her brother. Or at least, she thought it was her brother. They both seemed to remember the same parents. So it was thought that somehow, they must have been brought here together. Erma had found that his name meant Gift from God. He was the second child to arrive and had stood by her side through all the other children who had come and gone. He would never leave her, at least, not for more than a hunting trip. He was the sneakiest one and could get food from the animals around without them attacking him. He led the hunting party of boys that had come together, and they never failed to come back with food. They were the only band of people to leave the village and return. Erma always just thought this was because Ivan was such a good leader. And she had been proven correct in that assumption multiple times.
As the two children sat at the head of the table, thinking of the day ahead and what would need to be done, there was a sound in the distance. One that no one wanted to hear. It was the sound of crying. A newly lost child. All actions at the table stopped. Heads swiveled to face Erma and Ivan as they lept to their feet without hesitation. As the two children began to run Erma yelled over her shoulder, "Stay here. Eat while it is warm, and don't leave!" She knew they would listen. They respected her enough for that. Then, as the cry came again, something about it caught Erma’s ear. It was …. known to her. She could not place as to why it was, but it sounded… like home. A sound that was alien but also, familiar.
Coming to the edge of the field, there stood a child no more than 6. She was one of the oldest children to be lost in recent times. Usually the children are just barely able to talk and walk when they showed up on this land. Here stood a child old enough to understand what was going on and why. Would she be able to remember where she had been? Would she know WHY they were all here? Her long hair whipped in the wind and caught on the wetness of her tears as they cascaded down her face.
As Erma came up to the child, there was a familiar look in the eyes that met her. The blue was the same as her own. The shape of her nose was that of her second in command. Her tears ran down her cheeks to dimples that pulled at Erma’s memory. As she reached out to comfort the child, Erma's mouth moved without thought. The words came without a prompt.
“I’ve held you before. Let me hold you again. I am here Danica. We are together again. Ivan is here too. See? It's okay. It is okay. You are safe. We are here. What happened?” The words just spilled out of her mouth before she could even think. This was her sister! She remembered holding her as a baby! She remembered helping her mother change diapers! How did she forget about her sister? This was the dimpled child that had giggled and smiled at her over the edge of a crib. This was the little girl who raced to hold her hand as the family walked to the park. This was the sister that she would swing high in the air with, just to make her smile.
“It was dark! Mommy and Daddy! I could hear them coming but their not here! Erma? Ivan? I want Mommy and Daddy!! Liam! Where is Liam? He was with me! Erma, why am I here? Where is Mommy??” Danica cried, eyes wide as diner plates, her questions falling out of her mouth like a waterfall.
Liam? Who was…. Liam…. her little brother Liam! He had only just been walking and learning about jokes last Erma remembered. His little chubby legs as he ran around, never wanting to wear shoes!
Had she been here so long that she had forgotten her siblings? Seeing Danica made all the memories flood back. Everything came back. Sleeping in the same room as Danica. Asking her parents if Liam could sleep in her room that night. Playing in the leaves and throwing them high in the air to make them rain down on her siblings. Helping her mother bake a cake so that she could hear the happy squeals of all of the children in the house. Tickle fights with Ivan who now stood behind her. Mouth hanging open in shock.
“Danica, it is still dark, how long did you walk for before you found us? Which way did you come from?” Erma grew nervous with anticipation. Maybe since she was older, she could lead them back to how she got here. Maybe they could go home.
A piercing, almost blood-curdling cry could be heard just a few feet away. “DANI!!! MOMMY!! AAAHHH!!!”
Liam. The darkness had gotten Liam. The fear that sounded in the child's voice made all 3 of the children spin around to look for the source.
Erma locked eyes with Ivan who took off running in the direction of the sound. It was only moments when Erma and Danica heard “Ummm….. Erma? You NEED TO GET OVER HERE!” Ivan raised his voice to be heard. “NOW!!!”
As Erma ran with Danica’s hand in her own, she could do nothing but worry, for not much un-nerved Ivan. To Erma, she could hear the fear dripping from his voice. As they broke through the tree line to an open clearing, they watched as their brother, Liam ran toward Ivan. Running as if his life depended on it, still in pajamas, face wet with tears. Liam was only 3 years old, but he knew his brother and knew the protection that his brother could provide. From the spot in which he ran, there was a large, looming cloaked figure that gave off the feeling of dread. The feeling of death. He was tall, but due to his cloak and hood, one could not tell if his body is real or not.
“Currin children. Listen well.” The figure reached out with his staff as he spoke. “I am the head reaper of souls.” As he stated his title, a warm breeze blew across the 4 children’s faces. It made them fell almost safe in the face of death and fear. They felt almost as if they were wrapped in a hug, despite the reaper of souls that stood before them. As they took a collective breath he continued. “You are all safe with me. Have no fear. There has been a mistake. Your souls were not meant to leave at this time.”
“Wait” said Erma. Confused in every way and still reeling in shock from the two new arrivals. “What do you mean ‘our souls’?” As she looked up at the reaper, she could just make out a pair of red glowing eyes under the hood. “You mean that we are DEAD? I don’t think so! We eat, we play, we sleep! Dead people don’t do that!”
“You are not dead my child” said the reaper as he moved from behind Liam to stand in front of Erma. “You are in purgatory. A place that is neither heaven nor hell. A place that you four are not meant to be. However we can still fix this mistake if you will trust me.” As he spoke, the red eyes seemed to lessen in intensity and instead of feeling fear and dread, they invoked a feeling of warmth and caring, like the fire in the fireplace on a cold winter night. "Due to the mistake though, your parents have not seen any time pass. They have not been given a change to see that you are gone." The reaper continued.
For years the children had been taking care of themselves Erma thought. Go back to their parents? Could it be real? It hurt to even think of it. Her heart seemed to tear out of her chest as she thought of all the children she had comforted in the time she had been here. They needed her. Did her parents? Didn't she deserve to be comforted by their arms again? This figure stated that her parents didn’t even know that she was gone. To her it had felt like years of being here. Like a lifetime had been spent helping children get past the fear and loss. If she stayed and they walked away from this cloaked figure, they may be stuck here forever. Never to really find a way out. If they went with him… would they end up like the children who left into the fields? Those that never returned?
Wait…. If they were dead, did that mean? Erma could not even bring herself to finish the question let alone asking it out loud to the figure. Could it be that when the kids left, did they find a better place? Or a worse one?
“Please, tell me. If we are dead, then why are we here instead of heaven like our mother told us we would go?” Ivan spoke up and said words that Erma could not bring herself to say. As he spoke he bounced Liam up on his hip and the little boy clutched at Ivan like he was a life raft on the ocean. The relief of Ivan’s arms had made the little boy calm. His tears seemed to slow as he held his brother with all of his might. Closing his eyes against his chest.
“Children who are taken before they have proven their intent in life, are sent here to find their place. It was unknown to me that you were here until just recently.” Said the tall, dark, figure as he took a step back to better look upon Ivan. It seemed that for where he stood, he could not find a way to look and connect with all four children.
Erma decided that, as a family, they needed to face all of this together. She reached down and picked up her sister who sniffled in her ear. “Erma, I wanna go home. I want mommy. Please.” Danica whispered in her ear, soft as a feather in the breeze. A small sob escaping her lips.
As Erma saw the same feelings reflected in Ivan’s eyes, the choice was made for her. This was a figure that they would trust. Together. They would face anything. She could not let these children, these siblings, be without her or her without them. No matter what, they would be together. In death, or in life. It was her duty to take care of them and she was not ready to hold them both as they cried for a mother that she could barely remember. She would fight to get them home.
“What of the other children who are back in the village?” Erma’s voice almost broke as she thought that all of them should be able to go home, not just her family.
“They are already being taken to their forever. They were meant to be here. Erma, Ivan, both of you have taught them well. You have taught them to be good. They will go to a happy forever. I want to thank you for that. You have found your calling. Helping those who need you.” Said the reaper. “Erma, you have shown them that it is okay to be afraid, but you can't let that fear cause you to lash out and hurt those around you that you love. Ivan, you have shown them that they should show care and only kill if needed. If there is ever another choice, take it. That when you take a life, you have to respect that life.”
As both Erma and Ivan turned together and looked at the figure. “So, why are Dani and Liam here?” They asked in unison.
“The only way I could get any one of you out, would take all of you being together to get the power that is needed to get you out. You are stronger together. Your parents have taught you that. Family is strong. Family is always there. I hate that I had to scare all of you, but it is the only way. You need to be together” As he spoke, he shrunk in size. “It takes a lot of power to come and go from here.”
“Are you sure you will be able to get us out? Like, is there a chance that you are gonna not be able to do this?” Erma said. It had already entered her mind that if he said that he could not get them all, she would stay behind. These kids deserved to be home with mom and dad. They didn’t deserve to be here. She loved them all to much for them to be stuck here. “Sir, If your unsure of getting us out, you would tell us right?”
“I have the power child. Don’t worry. You don’t have to worry.” He said, quieting her fears. “It is time children. We must go”
As all four children looked at each other, a darkness overtook them. All was quiet. The only sound they could hear was the sound of their own breathing as the slight hiccups as Liam was still holding Ivan with everything he had. As Ivan looked at him and ran his hand over the top of his head, Liam’s eyes widened. “No! Don’t let go! Ivan!!!” and the other three children watched as Liam faded and dissolved in Ivan’s arms. Ivan stood in shock, unable to react. Did he fail? Did he lose Liam?
“NO!” Erma screamed with everything in her. “LIAM!” it was of no use. Liam was gone. She reached and clutched at Ivan. He felt solid beneath her fingers, but this did nothing to comfort her. “Don’t let me go! Dani! Ivan, hold on to me!” but it was not use. The words where not even out of her mouth as Danica’s cry grew soft as her body faded like smoke and left Erma’s arms.
“Ivan….. Please Ivan. Don’t leave! Don’t let go” Erma felt the hot tears as they ran down her cheeks. She had just got them back! The figure PROMISED that they would be ok! How could this happen? “Ivan! I can’t lose you! Don’t” but it was no good. As she tried to blink back the tears, his face faded from her sight. He was gone before she could fully understand what had happened around her.
“No…… oh please no….. They need me…… You promised we would be okay! Please!!…. I need THEM! PLEASE!”
Suddenly. everything was bright. In a time when she had been surrounded by darkness, it was like someone had switched on the overhead light. As Erma tried to adjust to the change, she realized, the reason it seemed to switch was because it was a light… There was a light above her head. One that for some reason, she thought SHE had left on. As she tried to move and lift herself upright, a weight stopped her. There was something on her arm. She couldn’t move it.
“Erma? Erma? Are you okay?” Came a voice from what seemed like far away.
Oh, that voice. That voice that was so far away in her mind. Erma knew the voice, but she could not make her brain put a face to it. As she looked around the room, she saw pink walls. She saw windows. She saw…. Toys, pillows, blankets. Then, as she tried to move again, she registered why her arm would not move.
“Erma? Why are you crying? Why are you screaming? Is everything okay?” That voice again. It was coming closer. You could hear the footsteps in the distance. “Talk to me Erma!”
There, laying on her arm, was a girl. One with long ash blonde hair. One who just moments ago had looked to her to protect her. One who had just brought back all her memories. One who she would give her life for. “Dani?” Erma whispered. Hoping with everything that she was that this prone figure would respond to her.
“mmmmmm. Erma......” Said the little lips as she turned over half rubbing her eyes, but not actually waking up.
“Erma?” The voice was closer, almost right outside the door. As the sound carried across the room, a woman’s head appeared in the doorway.
“MOM!” The world spun as Erma pushed Danica off her arm. She quickly bound her way across the bed and flung herself into the woman’s arms. As the woman caught her there was no hesitation in her body. She immediately wrapped herself around Erma and spun toward the hallway.
“Erma! It’s okay. We are here.” Her mother said. Murmuring comforting words and sounds in her ear as she rocked and held her.
Wait, we? Who else is here? There was mom and Dani with her, but who? Just then a strong, warm hand rubbed Erma’s back. A strong, male voice whispered to her as the hand moved. “We are here. It’s okay. You are awake, we are here, we are not going anywhere.”
As the group sunk to the floor together, there were several light foot falls from the hallway. “Erma?” said the small boy that led the way. His bright blue eyes where full of questions, even as he rubbed the sleep out of them. His chubby little feet making soft sounds as they come across the hall. “We safe?” he said.
“Liam, come here. Erma needs loves.” Said mom as she held out one arm, but didn’t loosen her grip on Erma with the other. “We are all ok. We are all ok.” She continued. Softly rocking the growing group.
As Erma looked at Liam, reaching out to make sure he was real, she raised her eyes to the other figure that came down the hall. The boy was pale, but not due to lack of seeing the sun. “Erma? Are we.....?” he trailed off looking deep into Erma’s eyes. He tentatively reached out to dad and as a smile spread across his face, he quickly wrapped himself around the large shoulders of the man in front of him. "OOF!" Said the man as he reached around to grab at Ivan and take him into his open arm.
“Mommy?” Came a small voice from the abandoned bed. “Mommy? Erma? Don’t leave me!!!” Her voice growing almost hysterical as she sat straight up in bed, waking fully within a heartbeat of her voice leaving her throat. Danica seemed to almost fly as she was quickly out of the bed and wrapping herself into the now group hug that filled the hallway.
After a few moment of the group holding each other, Mom broke the silence. “Well, I don’t know what you all were dreaming tonight, but I think we should all go down the stairs and curl up together on the couch. I think we all need snuggles.” however, she didn't let anyone go from the hug right away.
As the group finally released from the hug they didn’t move very quickly to move away from each other. They all seemed to need to feel that the other's were still close. As Erma began to finally look around and take in her surroundings she noticed a figure stood at the end of the bed, watching them intently. As his cloak fluttered around him, he lowered his head into a deep bow aimed at the group. As his head lifted, Erma looked deep into his red eyes which no longer seemed angry or scary. As his hand raised to the blackness of his face, one finger raised as if to sit in front of his lips. Erma watched as he faded away from the foot of her bed.
“Erma? Are you coming? And, can you bring your blanket? It should be big enough for us to all share.”
As Erma grabber her blanket and headed down the stairs, somewhere, deep in her heart, she knew. Things were going to be ok. She was home. THEY were finally safe.
