UnMasked

Chapter 1 : 1 Paper and Inks

Laughter and giggles filled the air with joy as Elize entered the living room. She found the children circling around Christine, playing a familiar rhythm:

Ring around the rosie,  

A pocket full of posies,  

Ashes, ashes,  

We all fall down!

In an instant, they tumbled to the ground, while the infant laughed at their playful downfall and fell softly onto the carpet herself. The others joined in the laughter. Before Elize could interrupt their playdate, Silver noticed her presence and turned to her.

"Oh! Mother, would you like to join us too?" he asked, with the rest of the children looking up expectantly. 

"Yeah, it will be fun!" one of the twins said, while his brother added, "Christine would love it too!"

Elize chuckled as she saw her daughter crawling towards her, babbling in baby language, clearly wanting her mother to join the game. Elize shook her head, bending over to cradle her baby in her arms. 

"Oh, I wish I could, sweeties, but I have quite a busy day," she said. Her children frowned at her response, while Lydia, observing the scene, turned to the little girl. 

"Lydia, dear, it's time for you to meet Johan, don't you think?"

Lydia looked at Elize with wide eyes, but nodded and stood up. "Oh right! Thank you for reminding me, Mother Bird," she said, and Elize smiled at her formality. 

"Why don't you boys lead her to Johan?" Elize suggested to her three sons.

"Aww, but why us?" one of the twins groaned. "I thought we were supposed to have some time playing?"

Silver gave the tired twins an annoyed look before turning to his mother. "I'll go with her, Mom."

Lydia admired Silver's offer as Elize nodded in agreement. "Of course, dear. If that's what you wish, then I'll order you to take her to Johan and return here safely, okay?"

Both Silver and Lydia nodded. Elize then turned to the twins. "And you two will stay with me to take care of Christine, okay?"

The twins sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Yes, Mom."

"Good, now you two should go," Elize said. She watched as Silver led Lydia to the door. The twins turned to her and smiled. 

"Okay, Mom, we'll be going now!"

"Thank you again for the food and clothes, Mrs.—I mean, Mother Bird!" Lydia said.

"You're welcome, dear. Be safe!" Elize replied.

"Okay, bye!" Lydia and Silver said in unison, leaving the room. Elize watched them from the window with a deep sigh.

'...Stay sane.'

_________

"Hello there!"

"Hello to you, fine sir!"

"Evening there, lad!"

"Good evening as well!"

"Aww, what a cutie!"

"Here, dearie, have an apple."

"Oh, thank you."

As Lydia and Silver walked toward town, they passed many strange-looking citizens who greeted them warmly, admiring their cuteness and offering them food. As they approached a clearing, they noticed a young girl with brunette hair in a ponytail, struggling to carry a bag of oranges, some of which had fallen out.