The Shadow and the children

Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to fundraise and raise awareness after losing my dad to this awful illness November 2020.

Part three of a five part story.

The Shadow

Since his strange sighting Jamie is convinced that the shadow is communicating with the children.  They are too calm about their missing friends. When asked they deny knowing anything, just dismiss it saying they are safe.  The police appear confused, no trace is left, no evidence of a struggle, as if the children go willingly.   Why would they want to leave?

These last weeks I have met with other mums, the conversation has neared hysteria. The unrest in the village is uncomfortable and as more vanish the intensity continues to increase.  Twenty five children missing, the police are in a state of disarray.  The theory of a Pied Piper was surely not unbelievable.  All families had been questioned and no one knew anything.  When was this going to end?

A plan

As Hannah sat gazing out of the window, trying to see something in the darkness, she thought of her friend, Rosie.   Days ago, she had messaged asking her to come with her to the better place.  Away with the shadow man to where everything is good.  Someone had to rescue them, she had seen the upset it had caused in the village.  They all belonged here, not in some blissful no where world.  Their parents need them, and they need their parents.

Hannah was nearly ten, but she knew she could do this.  She couldn’t take Joe as mum needs him, they couldn’t lose both of them. Somehow, she needed to get the children back, they were otherwise stuck there.  Making the decision to tell Joe before she left, she got down from her windowsill and climbed into bed.

As she closed her eyes, she could see Joe and then the Shadow man.  They were talking and then they disappeared.  Drifting off to sleep she forgot what she had seen until the next morning.

Joe

Waking up to my worst nightmare, I hear Jamie sobbing.

“Joseph’s missing, Hannah’s in bed asleep but Joe’s gone, he’s gone.”

I felt a coldness enter me, then heat like I was going to pass out.  This can’t be happening, not my child, not my boy.

“He can’t be missing, he wouldn’t”

“He’s gone, he’s not here.”

Sitting up in bed I now put my arms around my knees and cuddled myself in tight before the tears started to fall like an endless torrent.   How was this mystery going to be solved? Would the children ever come home?  Some had been missing five weeks now, where were they?

I could hear Jamie talking to the police as Hannah now came in crying and cuddled up to me.  Holding her tight, I need to be strong for her but how can I be?

“Mummy, he will come home soon, he will.”

“How do you know that?”

“I can’t say Mummy, but he’ll be back.

“What’s going on Hannah?”

“I’m not allowed to say, but Joe will be back, you’ll see.”

The fields

Holding her close, I thought about this, was Joseph trying to play the hero?  Things here are bigger than us, how are they going to be found?  The police seem to be doing nothing, but the media are still creating mayhem.

From my bed I can see over the garden and to the fields behind.  The sky is a pale blue, the clouds creating their usual cotton wool patchwork.  Everything out there appears normal, but it can’t be.  They haven’t been normal for weeks.  Staring hard at the far-off fields I know I’m missing something, but what?  What are we all not seeing? When will this nightmare end and the children return home?

I look down at Hannah, feeling her warmth I kiss her on the head.  If she is right, then this will be over soon.  Wiping my eyes, I know we both need to face the day ahead, for now though I just want to stay here, holding Hannah for as long as possible, I can’t lose her too.

 

Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK

Here is my fundraising page if you would like to donate, any size donation is appreciated.