Standing in the hallway of the apartment was the social worker and two small identical boys. My nephews. "Kyle Townsend, nice to finally meet you," she said, "and you must be Tessa James!" the woman beamed and reached out to shake my hand. I looked down at the bandage and she sighed. "Oh my goodness what happened?"
"Oh, I just - I didn't realise the stove was on and - I just burned my hand,"
The social worker, who I believed was called Marie, began to ramble and tell me I should have been more careful. I nodded and smiled, not really listening to her lecture. I was more focused on the younger boy, who had an expression I had never really seen before, or that I could describe. He was smiling, almost sinisterly and his eyes were angry. He wasn't specifically focused on me, but my hand. The other boy's expression was blank. I looked up at Kyle who was chuckling along to Marie's new story. I smiled, wryly, trying to ignore the child's face.
"Anyway," Marie said at last, "Why don't I introduce you all: this is Nathaniel, he is five years old," she gestured down to the slightly taller boy. He looked exactly like his mother, almost like a miniature version.
"I'm five," he said to Kyle and I, holding his hand up. We chortled as he repeated Marie.
"And this is Micah," Marie paused and looked at me, seriously. I raised my eyebrows in confusion, but she ignored me and carried on, "he's only three,"
Kyle invited everyone inside and showed them where the living room was. He turned on the television and switched the channel to a children's programme after Nathaniel declared it was his favourite show. "How about we go and bring their luggage in?" I said to Kyle, tugging at his sleeve. I didn't give him a chance to reply, instead leading him into the hallway. There were four huge suitcases, packed with toys and clothes.
"Do the kids seem... weird... to you?" I whispered, stopping him from re-entering the apartment.
"No, why?" he looked down at me, puzzled.
"It's just the way Micah looked at my hand... it was weird,"
"I'm sure it's nothing. Those kids have been through a lot, they're sure to be a bit messed up. We knew this when we put ourselves forward to look after them,"
"I know, but -"
"Relax, Tess. We haven't even got to know them properly yet. Let them settle in. They're your nephews after all."
YOU ARE READING
Mind Fires
HorrorWhen Tessa James agrees to take on her young nephews after they are removed from their mother, she thinks it will be a simple task. But when the boys' behaviour becomes abnormal, the reasons become clear as to why their mother neglected them. Tessa...
