Chapter 3: Bad omen

After walking for a while through the streets, I feel someone observing me and I look to my right. It was Alex smiling softly at me. When he saw me staring back, his smile turned into a smirk causing me to frown my eyebrows: "What is it? Do I have something on my face?"

He shook his head and just smiled, making my heartstrings tighten at the sight: "For the first time, my mind is clear enough to actually see you." My head turned slightly: "Oh, then what do you see?"

Reaching with his finger towards my bangs, he wraps one of my locks around my ear: "The one who saved me from my madness." My cheeks blush slightly at his words: "So… am I like a knight who saves sleeping princes?"

Laughing at my tomboyish excitement, he stops: "You are way too pretty to be a knight, Evelyn." As if I couldn't blush harder, my face became steaming hot: "P-pretty, me? Do not be absurd, Alex. I-I am quite plain, a-actually."

As soon as I said this, he stopped laughing and ceased walking: "You are not serious, right? C-can't y-?" As he was going to keep going, we arrived at the orphanage: The Houndsditch Home for Wayward Youth.

This place was a shelter in London's East End for unfortunate children, especially orphans: "So, this is the place, huh?… If Nan hadn't took me in, eight years ago, I would have been sent here."

Alex frowned and wrapped his hand around my own: "I apologize for making you remember something sad." I offered him a small smile: "It's okay. It was a long time ago, Alex.

I took in the scenery as I felt my life would change the moment I entered the building. The Houndsditch home was a two-story formal brick building. It was solid and tall in construction.

It was attached to similar buildings on both sides. From the outside, it was surrounded by a tall iron fence with no front garden, with a copper sign clearly reading the name of the home and the name of Doctor Bumby on the front.

Tightening his grip on my hand, I noticed Alex was nervous. Can't blame him. If I suffered as much as he did with doctors, I would be too. Trying to cheer him up, I removed my hand from his grip and patted his arm: "It will be okay, Alex. I will be here every step of the way."

Offering me a small smile, he looked at his hand like it missed something: "Thank you, Evie. Let's go, then." I nodded and we entered through the mahogany wooden semi-closed doors.

As soon as we entered, I paled as I took in my surroundings. I wanted to puke at the sight, something which didn't go unnoticed by Alex that wrapped his arm around my waist: "Evelyn, Evelyn? Are you okay?!"

Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on his voice as all I saw around me were dead children with numbers around their necks. Their eyes were void and their clothes bloodied. What happened in this place?

Then I was snapped back by a brown haired girl with braids, pulling my skirt: "Are you alright, lady?" She seemed alive, at least her eyes still had some shine to them, despite the number five on her apron.

I crouched to her face-level and placed my shaky hands on her shoulders. The moment I felt her there, I sighed and offered a small smile to her: "Y-yes, I am just a little tired. What is your name, sweetheart?"

She offered us a toothy grin and did a small curtsy: "Violet, miss!" The girl turned towards Alex who waved at her slightly: "Are you going to live with us, Mr…?" "Yes, I am. How do you-?"-he asked but she took off towards a corridor: "DOCTOR, HE IS HERE!"

Alex lifted me to his level and caressed my back: "That was quite some introduction. What happened, Evie? Are you okay?" I looked ahead at the portrait on top of the fireplace. In it were several orphans with numbers in their clothes and between them was a man that gave me the chills for no reason.

I took a deep breath and drew a forced smile as my eyes traced every spirit in this room: "Nothing, it must be exhaustion. I spent last night reading instead of sleeping." He squinted his green eyes at me: "Are you sure? I can always take you back home, Evie."

I pulled his wrist: "Yes, I am okay. Let's go meet that doctor." I walked around the disarray of toys and tried to avoid looking at the ghosts. Alex followed me and we climbed up the stairs.

While we walked across the corridor, I saw six rooms: two on each side of the corridor where the children probably lived. At the end of the hall there was another room closed. A sign with Angus Bumby written was nailed into the door, most probably his office.

Yet, instead of walking forward, my legs stood glued to the ground. A pat in the arm broke me of the transe: "Come. If you feel uneasy, you can stay behind me." Nodding at his idea, I followed behind him as he knocked on the door.

"Come in…"-a deep disembodied voice came from behind it. My taller friend opened the door and peaked through it. I could only see a tall red velvet armchair and a lounge chair in front of it, made from the same fabric.

"Come in, come in."-the voice pressed on. We looked at each other and nodded. Alex entered the room and I followed, closing the door behind me. Staring through a large glass window was a middle-aged man.

He had a slim figure and broad shoulders. Noticing we had entered the room, he turned towards us and I could see his other features. His face was very long and thin, with a pointy chin and defined cheekbones. His hair was dark brown, and was cut to the nape of his neck, and combed into a side parting to his right-hand side. He also had a full beard and mustache. His eyes were small and pale blue in color. His outfit consisted of black trousers, a white shirt, and a gray waistcoat with a red tie.

I felt him inspect us way more than needed, which made me quite queasy. My hands tightened around Alex's arm as I peeked from behind him. Taking long steps towards us, he offered Alex his hand with a neutral expression: "You must be Alexander, right?"

Alex inspected him and his hand with a pensive look on his face, then he took his hand and shook it: "Yes, I am." As the doctor was going to introduce himself, he noticed me and inspected me up and down. I don't like the way he's looking at me. It's the same way men look at my sisters in the brothel.

He approached me, took a bow and offered me his hand as if to kiss it like it was the norm: "And who is this delightful young lady which you brought?" Besides the apparent smile on his face, I wasn't moved by it. I don't trust him at all.

Noticing that I was silent, Alex placed himself in front of me: "This is Evelynn Whitlock, my childhood friend and she's a little bit shy." I noticed the doctor's smile perk up slightly as he stood up: "I see... You don't need to be scared, my dear. Something tells me we'll eventually become great friends."

(Pfft, not in a million years! I do not like you Mister "I have dead children roaming the halls! ») Then he turned towards his armchair and invited us to sit on the lounge chair. He explained that Alex would be a caretaker to these children and the doctor would give him therapy and a roof over his head.

When I thought all was over, he said something which made Alex tighten his hand around mine: "It's time for your first appointment."

I look at him: "Will you be okay, Alex?"-he offered me a small smile and gave me his suitcase, pushing me towards the door: "I will. Wait for me, in my room. I will be right there."

Giving him a weak nod, he closes the door in front of me and I only heard: "Now, lay in the lounge chair. I will try some hypnotherapy to help you forget your past."

I walked towards his room and noticed the couple of eyes spying on me through the bedroom's doors. They must probably be the other orphans. I opened the creaking grey door. Inside it was a small room.

It was quite barren with only a bed in the left corner and a wardrobe next to it. A small window on the right shone light into it. Next to the bed was an oval looking package.

Deciding to make this room as cozy as possible, I placed the suitcase on top of his bed and started arranging the few clothes he had. (Oh my, are these his…drawers? Hiiiiiiiiii!) My face blushed darkly, but I calmed myself and folded them to place inside the wardrobe.

Since he had few clothes, I finished up quite quickly and then I saw that the grey wallpaper walls seemed quite bare which made me remember his drawings. Looking around my pockets for needles, I usually had to ground myself whenever my sight got the best of me, I nailed the drawings around the room with them.

I sat on top of the bed and looked around. (Something's missing, but what?) Remembering the package next to the bed, I stared at it. (I wonder what it is? Or who it is from? Can I open it?)

As usual, my curiosity got the best of me and I grasped it. Removing the paper wrapping it, I realized what it was. A portrait of the Liddell's. Alex, his parents, and older sister. The resemblance between them was uncanny.

His father stood in the left with a hand on Alex's shoulder and the other around his wife's waist. Arthur Liddell was a middle-aged man with a squared jaw and small eyes. He had thick, dark hair, and a full beard and mustache. He was wearing a dark suit with a jacket and waistcoat.

At his right stood his wife, Lorinna. A woman with short raven hair in an updo and probably the same eye color as Alex. She was wearing a sumptuous long-sleeved dress with a brooch around her neck in a choker. She seemed so pretty, and I could see how much love she felt towards her family just through the loving hand she had on her daughter's shoulder.

Then at the left, in front of his father, stood Alex. His hair was shorter, but his eyes retained the same mischievous nature. Yet, these eyes had a childlike innocence which was long gone. He was wearing a smaller version of his father's suit and in his arms was his toy bunny, which they took from him in the Asylum.

And for last, next to him stood his sister, Elizabeth, lovingly known as Lizzie, who was probably around my age when this picture was taken. Lizzie must have taken in her mother's looks because she was as pretty, if not more.

She had shoulder-length dark wavy hair that had bangs hanging on the left side, an oval face, large eyes, pale skin and donned a long-sleeved shirt and a skirt held up with suspenders.

I looked around for something to nail it to the wall. It would be a nice sight to have next to him when he woke up. (What I would give to have something like this to remember my brother. Sometimes, I notice that I'm starting to forget their features. I don't want to forget them! That's the only reason I look at myself in the mirror. I'm the only thing that reminds me of my mother. The body that I hate so much to stare at, also makes me remember one of the people I ressent the most.)

Not finding anything to nail it, I placed it on top of his bed, and I stared at it, trying to grasp how a normal family was supposed to look like. Looking at Mr. Liddell made me wonder about my father. Who was he? Was he rich or was he poor? Would he like me if he knew I existed?

I always wondered about this when I was younger, and I saw other children with their parents. Rhett and I practically raised ourselves. Our mother spent most of her time out, often for weeks. Not even caring if we're fed or anything.(I never understood why she avoided us so much. Sometimes it was like she didn't even see us. The only person that mattered to me was my brother. I miss him so much. He was the only one I wouldn't have minded to see in spirit form, but alas I'm not able to.)

A tear ran down my cheek at thoughts of my other half. A door crashing made me flinch and look ahead. Alex came stomping towards me: "Alex, are you-?!"-the moment I was going to ask him something, he fell on his knees beside me and laid his head on the bed. I heard him sobbing, so I placed a light hand on his back and rubbed soft circles to reassure him.

"What happened? Are you... okay?"-I asked, worriedly. He nodded and looked slightly up: "I apologize..., it's just …too much."-he stuttered. Wrapping my hands around his arms, I nursed his head to rest on my lap: "Shh, it's okay. I'm here."-I waved my fingers through his messy raven locks to try to calm him.

He looked up surprised and leaned into my touch: "Please…don't leave me, Evelynn. Please."-his words and tears surprised me, but I offered him a reassuring smile and brushed his hair out of his eyes: "I'll try not to. Let's hope I don't lose my way. Only God knows how bad my sense of direction is."

A smile appeared on his lips and he chuckled at my attempt of a joke: "Hahaha. I will do my best to stay close." Then he laid his head once more on my lap and just tried to calm himself, while I felt someone spying on us.

Looking up, I noticed the glint of glasses peaking through a door's crack, at the end of the wall. Angus… Drawing a small smirk, he closed the door and I tightened my grip on Alex's arms. (I will not let you hurt him! They may trust you, but I do not.)

Eventually, I helped Alex settle down on his new bedroom and the moment he saw the portrait it was like I was seeing the same childlike innocence I had seen on his younger self.

I decided to leave him for today, since he needed to rest, but he pulled my wrist: "I apologize for the way I reacted. I showed you an ungentlemanly part of mine." His seriousness made me giggle: "Oh Alex, since when do you care about acting like a gentleman? You never cared about what others thought before."

His emerald green eyes burned into mine: "That's because I care only about what you think." What he said made me blush heavily, but I hid my face: "You don't need to worry about me. Just be yourself."

I removed his hand from my wrist and placed my hand on the doorknob: "Evie…" Glancing at him, I offer him my best smile: "I should go back or Nan will get worried. Goodnight, Alex. I will be visiting you tomorrow."

He offered me a small smile and nodded: "Goodnight, Evie. I will be eagerly waiting." Closing the door behind me, I climbed down the stairs and noticed someone sitting in the lobby.

It was Dr. Bumby. The moment he saw me, he stood up and approached me: "Returning home so soon, Miss Whitlock?" I kept my distance from him: "Yes, Doctor. I need to return to my caretaker."

He nodded and started circling me like a shark does to their prey: "I see... I have heard about your family, Miss. What a gruesome tragedy… To lose both your mother and twin brother to a murderer."

Walking towards the door in order to get away from him, he grasped my wrist tightly: "Doctor, you are hurting me!" His grip lessened, making me break away from his hold: "I apologize but I just want to help you. You must have suffered immensely from what you saw. What if I give you some therapy as well?"

Despite how much my thoughts and nightmares plagued me, I did not trust this man one bit: "I appreciate the help, sir, but I am okay." I rushed to the door as quickly as I could. When I was going to open it, he said: "What a shame... Few people would like to have a damaged girl for a bride."

Gasping at what he said, I gripped the doorknob tightly and ran out of the door with tears running down my cheeks. (He is right. No one would want me like this. Alex would never like me back!)

I ran home and when I entered the brothel, I quickly climbed the stairs and closed myself in my room, crying into my pillow. Nan came to get me for dinner, but I just said that I wasn't hungry.

The next day I woke up with swollen eyes and a sore throat. (I don't want to go back there but I promised Alex I would go.) I washed my face and tied my hair into a side fishtail braid. (I always saw mother with many different hairstyles. Where has she learned them? Most of the times I tried to replicate what she did or asked Nan to help me. It was something I enjoyed.)

Then I changed clothes to a pale pink ruffled shirt underneath a wine red high-waisted skirt that reached my ankles. Today was quite chilly so I wore tights of the same shade of red and black ankle strapped heels. I climbed down the stairs and Nan was waiting for me at the end: "Evie, dear! You worried me sick yesterday, child. Are you okay?"

I hid my bruised wrist behind my back and smiled: "Yes, I am okay. I was just tired." She lifted my chin and inspected me: "Evelynn Whitlock, I know you since you were a child. So, I know when you are lying."

"Fine... I have a bad feeling about the doctor who Alex is staying with. Like... a really bad feeling."-I said in a soft voice. Nan places her hands on her hips: "Are you sure about that? Dr. Bumby is a professional and is very good on what he does."

I nod and unveil my bruised wrist from underneath my clothes: "And with a strong grip, as well." Nan gasped and ushered me to the kitchen: "Oh dear Lord, Evie! What happened?"-she dipped my hand in water and rubbed some salve on it.

"He wanted to give me therapy, but I said no." She wrapped a bandage around it and gave me fingerless white gloves to wear over it: "That's no reason to treat you like that. He might have been plastered, perhaps."

Looking at my hands, I offer her a small smile: "Oh well, it doesn't matter. I will be fine. Alex is waiting for me." And I started walking towards the door: "But you haven't eaten anything." I shook her off and to Houndstitch I went: "I am not hungry. I will be back for supper!"

(Recently I feel like I have no soul. I don't eat, I don't sleep. What is wrong with me?) When I arrived at the door of the Orphanage, I saw Alex running after the children to try to calm them down: "Would you all stay still for a moment?! It's almost time for Evelyn to get here!"

As soon as I entered the room, I clear my throat and they all turn to face me: "I see that you are busy, Alex. Should I return later?"-I say with a teasing smile. He mouths «Help me» making me giggle and walk forward: "Good morning, children! Who wants to hear a story?"-They quickly scurry off to circle me: "I do! I do!"

Giggling, I walk past my shocked friend and I sit on the rug with a book I took from the shelf: "Very well. Sit next to me and stay quiet."- Small feet ran to sit in a circle around me, with some laying on their bellies. Violet, the girl from yesterday leaned on my right shoulder and offered me a smile: "Tell us Evie, tell us!"

I chuckle and look at Alex: "Come on, Alex. Sit with us."-He smiled tiredly and sat on my left, with our arms touching: "Everyone's cozy?" They all nodded, and I opened the red-covered book: "Once upon a time there was a young girl who was known for her red cape, called Red Riding Hood. One day, her mother gave her a basket with food and wine for her to take to her sick grandmother."

"Oh no, is granny going to die?"-asked a blonde-haired boy. "Who knows, we will have to read the rest to know."-he whined. "Want to keep going, Alex?"-I ask my friend who was smiling the whole time.

"Me...? Evie, you read so well. Are you sure?"-he asked. I knew that he wanted to connect with these children but spending so much time in the asylum has made him scared of himself: "Of course. Here."

I offered him the book and scooted closer to him: "Very well. Where were we?...Ah! But before the young girl parted to visit her grandmother, her mother gave her a warning: Do not stray from your path and do not speak to strangers…"

As he kept reading and I saw the entertained shine on the orphans' eyes, I felt my eyes getting heavier. (Alexander would make an amazing father. Maybe, I'll just close my eyes for a second.)

And I let my head fall onto his shoulder, making him flinch. He must have noticed I was tired because he scooted closer to me. "Evie has parted to dreamland, but I'll keep going while we're at it."-I drew a small smile and feel in a deep sleep.

An hour later

Third POV

After reading some stories, Alexander and the children soon enough joined Evelyn in her nap. Some children napped on her skirt's spread fabric while others cuddled up to their storytellers.

Alex had fallen asleep with his head on top of Evie's and his hand grasping hers. Then as the director of this establishment entered the building, he noticed them.

Evelyn POV

Feeling another presence on the room, I parted my lids slightly and I realized something terrifying. The doctor has arrived, and he was reaching his hand to us, most specifically…me.

I open my eyes abruptly and sit up: "Doctor?!"-I whisper-shout so that I wouldn't wake the children. His eyes opened widely in surprise and stood up like nothing had happened: "Why, I was just going to wake you all up. The floor's filthy and it's not a place for you to sleep."

His eyes had changed completely from the usual pale blue to a darker tone, just like if he was going to attack. That gaze and man chilled me to the bone. Clearing his throat, he clapped to wake up everyone: "Wake up, children. It's time for lunch."

One by one they woke up and sat up: "Awww, but I was liking the stories."-whined Violet. Another boy with ginger hair stood up: "Evie will you read to us again?" Still in shock of what I had seen, I gave him a small nod: "…Why, of course."

They went to the dining room and then Alex started stirring up: "No, just a few more minutes…"-he kept muttering into my hair. I snapped out of my shock since the doctor left with the children and patted him in the cheek: "I know that I am quite comfortable to sleep on, but Alex you need to eat."

His eyes opened slightly and he realized where he was which made him stood up abruptly: "Oh my, I'm sorry for sleeping on you. It's just you were so cosy, and your reading was so relaxing."

I chuckled at his embarrassment and offered him my hands to help him lift me up: "It's alright. You have the cutest snores which sound like a teakettle, hehehe." Leaving towards the kitchen, he followed me: "C-cute?! Me? I am not cute. I am menacing, threatening. Not adorable."

Patting his cheek, I giggled: "Well, to me you are adorable. So, deal with that, sir." And we kept the day teasing each other. The children wanted more stories and this time Alex told us about his adventures in Wonderland. (Wow, I would love to see it one day. Without the whole corruption, of course.)

As I saw the curiosity and the excitement the children had, which matched my own, it made me want to protect them. (If I don't ever get married, I would like to work in an orphanage. After all, I love children. Of course, being a mother is a great dream of mine but…I don't think that anyone would be able to love a mad girl who can see spirits.)

I looked at Alex who was mimicking the Queen of Hearts, which made the children laugh their ass off. He looked at me and drew a smile. (Would he ever love me…?) Smiling at him, I hugged the triplets on my lap. (As long as we are together it's all that matters…)

A couple months passed, and Alex was looking worse than he was. Now, he would hallucinate of Wonderland everyday and sometimes he would zone off for a while. (What the hell is that monster doing to him?! Instead of improving, Alex is getting worse and it's not just him, the children too!)

The other day while I was arranging their toys, I saw Violet looking at a wall as she sang: "The Sandman's coming in his train of cars, / with moonbeam windows and with wheels of stars. / So hush you little ones and have no fear, / the man in the moon, he is the engineer."

I approached her and patted her shoulder: "Vi, dear. Are you alright?"-she didn't answer me and just kept singing. (What's happening?! Alex is acting weird; the children are acting weird. Can anyone explain to me what is happening?!)

Today I was looking around for the children, but I realized something... we were missing three children. (Where are they? I have been looking for them all over and nothing.)

I decided to go wait for Alex in his room as we usually did. Sitting on his bed, I looked around and saw all the new additions to his walls. More drawings of Wonderland and some of the children and me.

In the middle I noticed one made with exquisite detail and colour. It was me. Well, a healthier and richer version of mine. It was me sat under a tree with a sumptuous green dress as I read a book.

Looking down, I knew that this drawing could never be me. There were no eyebags and my eyes seemed happier than they actually were. I looked... healthy. The door opened and Alex saw me in front of the drawing: "Evie, are you crying?"-he walked towards me and I realized that I was crying all this time.

"I-I…Alex, three children went missing. I have looked everywhere, and I cannot find them. What if someone got them?! They must be scared and alone in those cold streets."-Alex wrapped his arms around me and hugged me: "Shh, shh. They are alright, Evie. Doctor said they were adopted yesterday."

I looked up: "I do not trust him, Alex. He terrifies me and I fear what he may do to you and to all of us. You are not getting better, Alex. Forgetting is not healthy."-I try to explain but he breaks the hug.

"Evelyn, he knows what he is doing. He will do no such thing. Also, I need to forget in order to be normal and I just can't take anymore of the memories."-he lifted one of my hands and drew small circles on the palm.

"A-Alex, you don't need to be normal. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. You haven't seen the way he looks at us. It's like we're pigs going to the slaughter. I am scared."-I placed my head on his chest and sobbed. His arms wrapped around me shoulders and reassured me once more: "Don't worry, I will protect you, Evelynn."

And so, I spent the whole evening on his arms as he rubbed comforting circles on my back. I don't know how long I can take this…

Chapter III-END