Jacksonville Daycare Center
Two men came to carry out their drug trials on my kids. I had no choice about it. They mentioned something about it being legitimate and authorized. They set up a lab in a large room the daycare never really used.
All I knew was that the children were frightened. I suppose the crying got to them, because one of the men took noticed. I think he said his name was Dr. Bishop. He started a headcount of the children with his finger.
"...28, 29, 30. Good." He clapped his hands once.
"Now boys and girls, listen up. We are going to play a game. I want you to form two lines, facing me."
That seemed to do the trick. The older kids started to line up, while he waved the little ones over and put them in one of the two lines.
"Good. Now hold hands with your neighbor."
Three-year-old Olive stood at the very end of the line. She wasn't afraid any more. She grabbed Nick's hand.
I don't recall when the fire started. All I remember was little Olive begging them to stop.
"Please. I don't want to do this anymore."
"It's okay. It's alright now. Nobody is angry with you. You didn't do anything bad. It's alright Olive... everything's going to be okay."
I was told the fire was quickly contained. Olive was sitting in the corner of a room. Scorch marks covered every square inch of it except for where she was. It appeared as if a shield had formed around her. Whatever happened, I knew I couldn't just leave her there.
Olive didn't say anything the whole time I held her. She just glared at the scientists whenever one of them came near. The one I heard the kids called Willem walked over and asked if he could have a talk with Olive. She flinched, but he was able to persuade the girl to follow him.
All the other kids had gone home that day. Except Olive. Her mother was coming to pick her up at 4:30pm. I watched over her as she napped. I don't know what that Willem had said to her. She didn't say very much either since he had had his talk with her.
Right on time, I heard Mrs. Dunham's car pull up to the entrance. I went to the door to let her in. She was pregnant with another child.
"Thank you for keeping Olivia later than usual. I had a doctor's appointment." She caressed her abdomen.
"It's no problem. We love having her around."
We start walking over to where Olive was sleeping.
"Is it going to be a boy or a girl?"
"Olivia is going to have a baby sister to play with."
"Congratulations."
Olive was still sleeping as Mrs. Dunham lifts her up to go. The girl stirs for a moment before setting her head on her mother's shoulder.
"Mama." Olive starts to whimper.
"Oh. What's wrong baby girl? Did you have a bad dream?" She strokes her back as she carries her daughter to the passenger side of the car.
Walter Bishop watches, from a window, the girl leaving with her mother.
"How did you do it, William? How did you make her forget the incident?"
"It was simple really. I just had to suppress her memory of this place. It was easier that way. You see she won't be coming back. I found out her family was moving to another city."