Foster Family

Thirteen year old Jessie didn’t look back as they drove away from the house where she had lived for the past seven years. Living with her abusive stepfather, it had never felt like a home, and now that she was leaving all she felt was relief. This time he’d gone too far. Her mother was in a coma in the local hospital and it wasn’t known if she would wake up. For now, he was being charged with attempted manslaughter but that could change depending on the outcome. She didn’t care what happened to him. Her heart squeezed when she thought of her mother and a single tear rolled down her face; but hadn’t she allowed that man into their lives? She had invited him in and allowed him to behave the way he did. She was supposed to protect her child and she allowed it to happen. The bitterness and blame was too strong and, as sad as it made her, she couldn’t forgive her mother for exposing her to that evil man and everything she had endured in the last seven years.

She must have drifted off because when she woke they were driving up a long tree lined drive and pulling up outside a grand Georgian mansion. She stared, wide eyed and awestruck as she took in her temporary home. Standing at the top of the steps in front of the ashlar porch, was the most beautiful woman Jessie had ever seen. Her long dark hair shone in the sun and her bright blue eyes twinkled as her warm and friendly smile fell on Jessie. Her porcelain skin was perfectly smooth and it gave her an ethereal appearance. As she walked up the steps towards her, Jessie felt like she’d come home. “Jessie, this is Evelyn,” the social worker said. “She’ll be your foster mother.”

Evelyn spread her arms, wrapped them around Jessie’s shoulders and hugged her tight. “My love,” she said, “You have been through so much. You are safe here. This is your home now.” Jessie felt the warmth of her embrace and exhaled. For some reason, she believed this woman she had just met and, for the first time in a long time, she felt positive about the future. “Come, come,” said Evelyn, “The rest of the family are dying to meet you.”

They entered a large hallway with beautiful ceramic tiles on the floor, and ahead was a sweeping central staircase with intricately carved oak balustrades. To their right large double doors swung open to reveal a handsome man with greying hair and piercing green eyes. Evelyn smiled. “Aah Henry my dear, come meet Jessie.” He smiled the most disarming smile and held his hand out for Jessie to shake. “We are so happy to have you here Jessie. Come meet the children. We know you will be great friends.” They entered a large sitting room with an enormous open fire burning brightly. Three heads lifted from their iPads and turned towards the door with big, beaming smiles. Two girls and a boy, all with their mother’s sparkling eyes and all just as beautiful. One of the girls, who appeared to be the youngest of the group, dropped her tablet on the couch and jumped up with a delighted squeal and launched herself at Jessie, squeezing her in a mighty death grip. “Alana,” Evelyn laughed, “Don’t crush her on her first evening here!” Alana giggled. “I’m sorry Jessie. I’m just so excited to have a sister the same age as me. It’ll be like having a twin.” Jessie smiled. “That’s okay,” she said. Jessie was introduced to sixteen year old Freya and nineteen year old Harry, who both gave her quick hugs and told her how happy they were to have her as part of the family. From over in a dark corner of the room, where only the faintest light was visible, there came a derisive snort. A darkness descended over Evelyn’s cheerful face. “Jonathan,” she said, “don’t be rude. Come and say hello to Jessie.”

“She shouldn’t be here,” came the curt reply. “Do not test me Jonathan Fournier.” Evelyn said, the anger clear in her eyes. Jessie could see that Evelyn was not to be trifled with. A figure rose from the couch in the corner and dropped a book with force onto the nearby table. He had dark wavy hair and, as he came closer, Jessie could see he had his father’s eyes but unlike his father they were joyless. “Hello Jessie, I am so delighted to have you here,” Jonathan said in a sarcastic tone. “Jonathan,” Henry growled a warning. “I’m going to bed,” said Jonathan as he marched out of the sitting room.

“I’m so sorry about Jonathan, Jessie my dear,” said Evelyn. “He’s just turned fourteen and I’m afraid he is every bit the stereotypical teenager.” The other children laughed and the atmosphere was broken. They showed Jessie to her room which overlooked a beautiful designed landscape. Jessie gasped when she saw it. Alana smiled.

“First thing tomorrow I’m going to take you exploring in the garden,” she said.

“That sounds delightful Alana,” said Evelyn, “but for now it is time for bed.”

The next few days were idyllic. Alana and Jessie played in the gardens all day and only came in when Evelyn called them for meals. It was like they had known one another forever. Now that the threat of her stepfather’s nightly visits was gone she slept soundly for the first time in years. She barely gave her old life a second thought.

One afternoon, they were chasing through the trees when they came across old steading buildings. Jessie had seen them from her window and wondered what they were.

“What are these buildings for Alana?” Alana’s face grew very serious.

“Oh, that’s the one place we’re not allowed to go. Mama says they’re unsafe.”

“Aw, can’t we just have a little peek?”

Fear spread across Alana’s face. “NO” she said, a little too forcefully. “We would get in a lot of trouble. Anyway, Mama says they’re empty so there’s nothing to see. Come on, let’s go back. It’s nearly dinner time.”

As they headed back to the house Jessie’s mind was distracted by Alana’s strange reaction. Now she was even more intrigued by the strange, old steading buildings.

That night, Jessie couldn’t sleep. She was distracted by the thought of the steadings and her imagination was racing with scenarios of what could lie within. She decided to get up and get a glass of water and came out into the corridor which was awash with moonlight from the large sash and case windows. It gave the corridor a spooky appearance as it highlighted the dark areas that the moonlight didn’t reach. It gave Jessie the creeps and sent shivers down her spine. She hurried toward the stair and just as she reached the top step a figure emerged from the darkness. She jumped and felt her heart pounding, her hands prickling from the sudden adrenaline rush.

“Oh my god Jonathan, you gave me such a fright,” she said.

Jonathan didn’t smile or apologise. “Why are you out of bed Jessie?” he asked.

“I just wanted to get a drink of water,” she replied.

He looked very serious when he said, “maybe take that with you when you go up to bed from now on. It’d probably be safer.”

Jessie’s heart rate was racing as she returned to her room. Her mind picked apart the exchange with Jonathan. Had that been a threat? All she knew was that she didn’t like him one bit.

At breakfast the next morning, Alana chattered excitedly about her sleepover at her friend Rebecca’s house. Mistaking Jessie’s silence for disappointment at being left out, Alana said, “I’m really sorry you can’t come Jessie but Mama says it’s too short notice to ask Mrs Jones to add another guest.”

“It’s fine,” said Jessie, “I’ve got homework I need to get done anyway. I hope you have a fabulous time.” Alana smiled and skipped off up the stairs to pack her things. Before Jessie left the table, Evelyn caught her. “Jessie, Alana told me that you were both over by the old steadings yesterday. It’s really important that you don’t go in there. They are structurally unsafe and have been condemned. The roof could come down at any time.” Jessie looked into those earnest blue eyes and nodded solemnly.

For the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon Jessie stared blankly at her books. Her unease from the events of the night before made it impossible to focus. She sat in her padded window seat and settled down into the huge fluffy pillows and stared out at the beautiful garden. It was a wet and dark day but the colours were still vibrant. As she sat there, admiring her new home and pondering her luck at finding herself here, she noticed Freya and Harry at the far end of the garden hurrying in the rain towards the steadings. “I wonder what they’re up to,” she thought. She decided to go and join them. She could do with an adventure. She shoved on her slip-on flats, acknowledging that they were completely unsuitable for the weather but being in too much of a rush to care. She raced through the garden, her feet and trousers getting soaked as she went. When she got to the steading she was drenched. Her mousy brown hair was flat on her head and the water dripped down her face and into her eyes. Fresh footprints led through a pend and into the central courtyard, and despite Evelyn’s stark warning, Jessie couldn’t resist following them.

On each side of the pend there were waist height walls with glass above. It was an unusual configuration that made Jessie pause. Just then a face appeared at the left-hand window and banged as though calling for help. It looked like a young girl but she had a dirty rag wrapped around her eyes and a tortured grimace on her face. She opened her mouth in what looked like a scream but no sound escaped as her tongue had been removed. Jessie froze and stared. Her heart jumped into her throat and a cold sweat covered her body. What the hell had she walked into? Behind her came another noise and she turned and looked straight into a young face with terrified eyes and a mouth sewn shut with large, jagged stitches. Jessie jumped and fell backwards. She landed on her elbows and took the skin off them. She pushed herself back until she found the wall and could use it to bring herself to standing. Just at that moment she heard voices at the other end of the courtyard and she squealed involuntarily and put her hands over her mouth to muffle the sound. She regained enough composure to know she had to get out of there and she turned and ran into the woods leaving her shoes behind her.

With that, four masked figures emerged at the end of the pend. “Someone’s been here,” said Evelyn. Freya picked up one of the abandoned shoes and sighed. “Jessie,” she said.

Evelyn shook her head sadly. “What is it with teenagers?” she said, “they never listen or do what they’re told.”

“I know you’re disappointed my dear but I’m afraid we’ve got ourselves a little game of cat and mouse to play,” said Henry.

“Alana will be devastated,” said Evelyn.

“What’s done is done and now we have no choice.” Evelyn nodded her head and the four of them headed out into the forest.

Ahead of them Jessie ran in a state of panic. She scrambled through the trees and tripped over tree roots and at one point landed with her face in a muddy puddle. She heard voices behind her and began to look for somewhere to hide. She found a large badger den and crouched down, shaking and crying. She peered over the top of the den and in the distance, she could see figures in black cloaks and creepy homemade masks. The one closest to Jessie looked like it was supposed to be a goat. Suddenly a hand came up behind her, covered her mouth and pulled her off her feet. She froze with terror.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Jonathan whispered. “I can get you out of here if you do exactly as I tell you. Do not scream. Nod that you understand.” Jessie slowly nodded her head. He removed his hand and indicated for her to follow him. Keeping low and creeping through the forest, Jonathan led her to the entrance to an old mine. “This leads to the main road. When you reach the road turn left and it will take you into town. If you value your life, do not tell anyone what you saw here today. Now RUN. Do not look back!”

Jessie ran. She scrambled through the tunnel and slipped in the wet, muddy ground countless times. Blood oozed from cuts in her shins, arms and head. When she reached the road, she didn’t pause. Her feet were sore and raw but she knew she had to keep moving. She came to the boundary of the town and spotted a hospital just on the outskirts. She ran through the sliding doors and blanked out.

It was the following morning before she awoke in a hospital bed with the curtains pulled around her. Just then a pretty, young nurse appeared by the bed. “She’s awake,” she called. She pulled back the curtains and a doctor and police officer were heading towards the bed. “Can you tell us your name?” the doctor said, but Jessie was too distracted by the news on the ward TV. A young boy of around fourteen had been found in the woods hanging from a tree, naked and disembowelled. Jessie turned on her side, curled into a ball and cried as the magnitude of the sacrifice Jonathan had made for her the night before, sunk in.