September 15,1931 the time is 2:03p.m. and I was reading the Daily Newspaper. The news today says what happened yesterday, so I decided to read them aloud. "A's clinch AL pennant with a 5-0 win over the White Sox, huh I did not expect them to win. 49th U.S. Men's National championship: Bill Tilden beats Francis Hunter (3-6,6-3,4-6,6-2,6-3), again shocker how he beat Francis." I got distracted from the newspaper by looking out the window and I saw a little girl probably around the age of seven or eight. She has white blonde hair, ivory skin, blue eyes, and she wore a red dress with a blue ribbon wrapped around her neck with a white collar. She was quite adorable and it's sad that she will soon be a resident at the Wilnor Manor Orphanage.
"Finn!"
"Yes?"
"Can you come downstairs for a minute?"
"Sure thing Ms.Baker, I'm coming" That's Ms.Baker she's the caretaker of the orphanage, she's pretty sweet and all but sometimes it gets on my nerves.
"What did you need Ms.Baker?"
"I would like to introduce you to Jean-Marie, Jean-Marie Davis. You two will be sharing a room, is that ok with you?"
"Yeah that's fine, I don't mind"
"Ok well I'm glad to hear that, why don't you show her to your room?"
"Sure why not, come on Jean-Marie follow me"
"O-ok"
I brought her upstairs to our room, when I showed it to her she seemed to have been in awe with how gorgeous the room looked. I never really realized that I had one of the best rooms in the whole orphanage.
"Hey Jean-Marie?"
"Yes...umm what was your name again?"
"My name is Finn and it's a pleasure to meet you Jean-Marie"
"W-well the pleasure is all mine, so what did you want to ask me?"
"Oh right, well I wanted to ask if you understand the situation at hand?"
"A-actually no I don't can you explain it to me please F-Finn?"
"I would love to, ok so basically your parents are going away for a while and you are going to be staying here for the time being, do you understand?"
"I-I think so...t-thankyou for explaining the situation to me"
"Hey it's no big deal I had to be explained the same thing, so I know what you are going through"
"Well thank you again Finn" she starts to blush tremendously
"What are your favorite hobbies?" I asked
"What do you mean?"she questioned
"Like what are your favorite things to do?"
"Oh ok...I like to read,cook,garden, and be around kids my age, are you around my age Finn?"
"Well no I believ I'm way older than you, I'm thirteen, how old are you?"
"Oh I'm five and wow you are a lot older than me like..."she starts to count to thirteen from five on her fingers "you are like eight years older than me, wow you are old"
I start to chuckle at her remark "well yes I am older than you but I am much older than you, oh and you said you like to read right?" She nods her head up and down in a yes motion "well I have this newspaper, do you want to read it with me?"
"Oh of course I love reading the newspaper!"
"Wait you have read the newspaper before?"
"Duh of course I have, why?"she tilts her head to the right
"Well I started reading the newspaper like a few months ago, how long have you been reading the newsoaper?"
"For a few years actually, is that bad?"
"I don't know if it's bad or not becuase I was told that reading the newspaper is bad for your brain, but I can tell that it didn't stump your knowledge"
"Well I am smart for my age" she turns and flips her hair
"Hey now no need to be sassy" I say playfully "hey Jean-Marie, how are you so smart?"
"Well I think it's because I taught myself how to read and write"
"Oh wow that's impressive do you think you could teach me how to write?"
"Of course Finn I would love to"
"Thank you Jean-Marie"
"Oh and Finn, can you please call me Irene, I don't like the name of Jean-Marie"
"If you don't mind me asking, why don't you like the name Jean-Marie?"
"Its makes me see, uptight for being called two names"
"Ok I understand"
"Thankyou Finn"
"No problem"
We talked and talked all night until of course it was time to go to bed.
"Hey Finn?"
"Yes Irene?"
"Can you be my big brother?"
I thought for a second until I finally answered her question "of course I'll be your big brother"
"Yay thank you Finn!"
"No problem, now come on its time for bed"
"Ok Finn"
We climb into bed and I feel a pair of arms wrap around my body and a head on my chest and I noticed that it was Irene "Finn I'm scared will you please protect me?"
"Uhh...umm...o-ok I-I'll protect you Irene" I wrap my arms around her in a hug.
I hear a noise like a pair of bells jingling, so I decided to let go of Irene and follow the sound. I walked towards the carving encrusted door and tried to open it only to be pushed back by the door itself. "Huh that's weird I can't open the door" I whispered to myself. I hear the noise again and this time it's louder like it's right outside the door. I slowly put my hand on the gold looking door knob and slowly started to turn the door knob. "That is so strange why is it that when I tried the first time it was locked and when I tried the second time it was open, I'm so confused." So I decided to open up the door and what I saw before my eyes was so gruesome. There was blood dripping from the ceiling flooding floor, as if the ceiling was crying into a pit of blood, it was truly revolting. I closed my door and and turned around to the way of the bed and I saw a figure, tall and kinky, it was wearing a white gown looked like a wedding gown, blood was hugging the dress making it difficult to even see the whiteness in the gown. As I moved closer and closer to the figure I made out a face, it was a woman, her hair looked gray and white, it was up in a bun. She looked pale and white as if she had just seen a ghost. When I got up to her face I finally realized that it was Ms.Baker. I reached my hand out to touch her arm, but her arm passed right through my hand. She opened her mouth and said something I will never forget. She said "protect her" and then disappeared.
"Finn!Finn!Finn!"
"Huh?"
"Finn wake up!"
"W-what?"
"Finn wake up!"
"Ok I'm up I'm up, what is it?"
"We have to hurry and get out, there are police officers telling everyone to get out of their rooms"
"Ok then let's go, come on"
As we left our room it was like a stampede of kids and police officers running through the halls of the Wilnor Manor Orphanage. A police officer approached me and Irene, he spoke in a tone that meant business "Finn Swallow! Jean-Marie Davis!"he called out our names probably not knowing that we were right in front of him. "Finn Swallow! Jean-Marie Davis!"he yelled again. Me and Irene head toward the police officer "Umm...excuse me sir?"Irene shyly asked. The police officer turned around and bent down to Irene's height to face her "yes little one?"he asked "Umm...I'm Jean-Marie and this is Finn" she motions her hand toward me. The police officer looked at us with shock , we shared the same expression "I would like you two to follow me please" we shook our head in acceptance, not knowing what was going to happen to us.
The police officer took us to the front of the orphanage and told us two simple words to follow, he said "stay here" neither of us were able to respond to him becuase he was gone in a flash. Shot. Dead. Right in front of our eyes.
I turned around to see a crying Irene "Irene what's wrong?" I asked the scared girl
"H-He j-just d-died r-right i-in f-front of u-us F-Finn" she stuttered
I sighed "I know Irene but it will be ok, as long as your safe everything will be ok"
"Ok Finn, as long as I am with you I will be ok"
With that last word she embraced me in a hug and we just stood there hugging in the road until a different police officer came over to us and told us to get in the cop car. We did as we were told and went into the police car.
We arrived at the police station twenty minutes later. The police officer sat us in a waiting room of some sort. The walls were painted white, the chairs were uncomfortably cold and round, and the air in the room felt too cold to even stand.
"Finn Swallow"
"Yes?"
"Please come here"
"Ok"
The police officer called me into a room that had a giant mirror on one wall. The police officer told me to sit down in a chair in the middle of the room at a table.
He spoke first "Hello Finn my name is Chief Rodger and I have a few questions to ask you" I just nodded in response at his statement.
"So Finn how long have you been a resident at Wilnor Manor Orphanage?"
"About eight years or so"
"What type of relationship did you have with Ms.Baker?"
"She is like a mother to me"
"Ok last question, what is your relationship with Ms.Davis?"
He is taking about Irene, my relationship with her? Well she asked me to be her brother, but we aren't blood related. She asked to be her brother and I said yes. So what am I?
"Well Chief to be completely honest, Ire-Jean-Marie asked me to be her big brother and I said yes. Not for pity, not so that I could feel loved, I said yes becuase I want to protect her with all my heart" I could feel tears running down my face "the relationship I have with Ms.Davis, me and Jean-Marie are brother and sister. We are family" With that he walked me out the room and into the waiting room.
"Where is she?" I asked the chief
"Oh Ms.Davis she's in a different room being asked questions"
"Oh ok"
He just nodded in response.
I waited for a few minutes for Irene, but it seemed that I was waiting for merely an hour. It was 12:58p.m. and I saw Irene waking out of a room and toward me.
"Hey Irene"
She didn't answer me she just stared "what's wrong?" I asked the little girl. She just stood there with a look of awe, then she spoke "Finn, how could you?"
I didn't answer her, I was to shocked to answer her.
"How could you kill her?"she asked in shock "Tell me Finn! How could you?!"
"Kill who?!" I yelled
"Ms.Baker! How could you kill her!?"
"I didn't kill Ms.Baker, why would I? She was like a mother to me!" I didn't want to tell her the truth.
"Then tell me why you were up so late last night!" She shouted
I took a deep breath, "The truth is, I didn't kill Ms.Baker, no one did." I implied
"What do you mean?" Irene asked with a little tilt of the head
I'm sorry Lisa "Ms.Baker was very depressed, she never told anyone this, only me. Ms.Baker...she...killed herself" I explained to Irene while trying to fight the tears that were going to come gushing out of my eyes at any moment now.
"Oh my-Finn I am so sorry I blamed you, I didn't know the true story" Irene apologized
"Exactly Irene you didn't know, no one knew no one except for me" I couldn't hold back the tears now, it was too late I was releasing a wet liquid from my eyes "I miss her so much already Irene, why did she have to kill herself? I know she was depressed but she didn't have to die!"at this moment my whole face was now covered with the wet salty liquid that are my tears. Irene didn't say a word she just hugged me, trying to comfort me. "Irene I just want you to know that I love you and I will make it my life's job to protect you from all kinds of harm and if you ever feel depressed just come talk to me, ok"
She didn't answer at first but when she did it made me feel grateful that I had her. "Finn I am never leaving you, I will always be by your side." Now we both were on the floor embracing each other in a hug, the police officers had to come and drive us back to Wilnor Manor. When we arrived everyone approached me and was crowding me but Chief Rodger pushed them back.
Irene was clinging onto my arm, afraid that we were going to be separated. As we entered the eery building I could feel the eyes of the other residents on me. To be honest it wasn't a pleasant feeling but I didn't care. The Chief walked with us to Ms.Baker's office to meet with the holder of her will. I opened the door making it make a high pitched creaking noise. Me and Irene entered the room while Chief Rodger stood outside to guard the door. An old man with a suitcase sat on a chair in the middle of the room. He was wearing a brown suit and a red bowtie. He had minimul wrinkles on his eyes and forehead.
"Mr.Swallow if you may, Ms.Davis can not be in here to hear any of this" he spoke in a crackle tone that you could tell that he did not want to be here.
"I'm sorry sir but whatever Ms.Baker had for me I will share it with Jean-Marie, so she is allowed to be in here" I stated
"If you insist Mr.Swallow"
I sat down across from him with Irene standing behind me.
"Ok now Mr.Swallow lets discuss Ms.Baker's will" the old man said
"Agreed, lets start" I answered
"Ok so first things first, Ms.Baker left Wilnor Manor to you and her priceless possession to Ms.Davis" he said
I turned around to see Irene in shock that Lisa left her something in her will. I was surprised that she left me Wilnor Manor, why did she leave it to me?
"Ok then that settles it, since I own Wilnor Manor me and Jean-Marie own it, both of us. And we are going to change the orphanage into a fun safe place." I replied
Irene was now crying with tears of joy. "Well Mr.Swallow all you need to do is sign your name right here a-" the old man was cut off by Chief Rodger barging through the door.
"Finn!" The Chief yelled
"What is it Chief?" I asked
"There is an angry mob trying to get inside the room, what do we do?"he asked
I thought for a little bit before I answered, "I will have to tell them the truth"
"Are you sure Finn?" Irene questioned
"Yes I am positive, lets go" I said
She nodded
I walked out the door with Irene clinging on to my hand. Chief made sure that no one could get close to us. I was prepared to tell everyone what happened and that's exactly what I did.
"Every one I am about to tell you the truth about Ms.Baker's death. Ms.Baker wasn't murdered she...um...she...killed herself." I asserted
The looks on their faces were full of sadness and anger. A few people started breaking down in tears.
"NO! It can't be true!" a boy with brown hair yelled out
"I am sorry but it is true" I said
I was feeling empty on the inside, it felt like something was missing from my true being.
"Ahem, I would like to say something" Irene said
"Go on ahead Irene" I answered
"Irene?" Chief Rodger asked confused
"I will explain later Chief" I told him
He nodded
"Umm excuse me?" Irene asked
Everyone stopped talking to each other and turned their heads toward Irene.
"Hi everyone my name is Jean-Marie Davis and I just got here yesterday. I am five years old and Finn's sister. You also don't have to explain the situation to me I already know what's going on. I would also like it if you all address me with Irene. Lastly, Finn was left the Wilnor Manor Orphanage in Ms.Baker's will and I am sharing the ownership of Wilnor Manor and I promise to you that we will try our best to make life for you more exciting and fun as long as you stay here, that is all." Irene stated
The crowd just looked at Irene with shock, I just smiled at her. I pulled Irene to the side "Irene why did you tell them all of that?" I asked
"Well I thought they needed to know about me since I am the Co.owner and I want our residents to be comfortable around me" she replied
All I did was smile and hug her. I grabbed her hand and walked back into our office so we can finish signing the papers.
I turned the corner going into the office and a sight that I never thought I would see. There was blood splattered on the table, the man who brought in Lisa's will was laying face first on the table with a knife on his back attached with a piece of paper.
"Chief please take Irene outside and wait for me to come out" I said
"Sure thing Finn, come on Irene lets go" Chief said
As they left I saw a mysterious person staring at Irene and the Chief, I didn't say anything because I figured that the person was just looking to look. So I let it go and ignored it.
As the door closed I walked over to the man to check his pulse and sadly there was no pulse. I examined the body when I arrived at his back. As I read the note that was stabbed into the old man's back a feeling of fear crawled up my spine.
The note read, "I saw her standing there, her blonde hair flowing in the wind. Her skin soft and fare. She will be mine, but someone is in my way, I will just have to wait in line."
I held the note in my hand, shaking in fear. I heard the door open slightly and I knew it was Irene, I turned around and Irene's face was a facial expression that I will never forget.
"I-Irene what's wrong?" I asked
She picks up her hand and points to an area in the room behind me.
"F-Finn b-behind you!" She yelled
I quickly turned around to see what she was pointing at. I turned around and saw nothing. I don't know why she was freaking out over nothing.
"What is it Irene?" I asked
"There was something/someone behind you" she said
"No there isn't Irene it's ok" I said
She didn't answer me so I didn't talk to her about it any further. I held the note in my hand processing the poem in my head "I saw here standing there, here blond hair flowing in the wind. Her skin soft and fare. She will be mine, but someone is in my way, I will just have to wait in line" I mutter to myself.
"What was that Finn?" Irene asked
"Oh that was nothing Irene" I said
"Oh ok" Irene replied
"Also Irene I think that you should know that right now I am the only person who owns the Wilnor Manor" I said
She had a look of confusion on her face "what do you mean Finn?" Irene asked
"What I mean is that you need to sign a whole different contract so that you are officially the Co.owner of Wilnor Manor, do you understand?" I asked
She didn't say anything for a few minutes until she spoke "I think I do, thankyou Finn" Irene implied
"Ok I'm glad, now lets get going Irene, we need to get that contract made right away" I said
"Agreed, lets go Finn!" Irene shouted
I nod
We walk out of the office and see Chief Rodger standing there on guard.
"Hey Chief " I say
"Hey Finn, where are you two going?" Chief asked
"Oh Irene and I are going to get a contract made for Irene so she can be the official Co.owner of Wilnor Manor" I stated
"Should I come with you?" Chief asked
"No Chief, you have better things to attend to" I said while pointing into the office.
"Understood, I will see you two later then" Chief said
"Yes you will, we must be going now, see you later Chief" I said
"Bye Finn" Chief answered