3. Lily-of-the-Valley

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Start the song. It's Swamp Pit by Rebecca Zapen.

Lily-of-the-Valley:
Meaning- sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary

"This is the garden," Papa told the children trailing behind him. "This is where my children play during the day when the weather is good enough. One of my sweet daughters broke her foot recently though, so it's rare that they come out. They'd hate to play without her."

Papa's eyes met Josh's then, and Josh realized his feet were still frozen. There were only adults in this town, and most of them made Josh just as nervous as Papa did. He hadn't seen anyone his age apart from his sisters for two years. His shock must have shown on his face because Papa gave him a warning look.

Josh still couldn't speak though, and Nicole was silent too. They both stared at the new arrivals, drinking in the fresh faces in case they disappeared too soon. There was a small girl, who was holding Papa's hand and looking around the garden in awe. Beside her was a boy who looked younger than Josh, but not by more than a couple years. In his arms was a boy even younger than the small girl. His face was tucked away shyly in the crook of the older boy's neck. Then there was the one that Josh's eyes kept coming back to.

The other boy was thin and had large doe eyes that shot away from Josh whenever their gazes met. He kept fiddling with the hem of his shirt anxiously. There was something different about him, but Josh's brain was moving too quickly to put his finger on it.

"Oak, is everything okay?" Papa asked, and Josh's eyes shot back over to the old man's.

It was rare that the name Papa had wanted to give him was used. It was only implemented when members of the community were around. It didn't take a genius to connect Josh with the Josh Dun on the news. Same face, same hair, same piercings, same name. No one could know, so to strangers, his nickname was oak.

"Yes, Papa," Josh replied quietly.

"Where are bluebell's crutches?" Papa asked, pointing to the girl in Josh's arms.

Nicole pointed to the gate. "Over there. They get stuck on the grass and cobblestones, so oak said he'd just carry me instead. That way I won't fall and hurt my leg again."

Papa nodded, easily accepting that lie. "Where are your sisters?"

Telling him their truth would make him happier than the real one. Nicole smiled as she told him of their game. "You mean Queen Peony and Princess Petal? They're in the willow thrones on the far end of the kingdom. We had to find Princess Petal the finest pink flowers in all the realm."

She held the bundle of pink rhododendron blossoms out to Papa, who smiled that sickly sweet smile that made Josh unsure of whether they should really feel like he was their papa or not. "She'll love those. You better not keep her waiting. Take these kids with you. You can have another hour before lunch."

"Yes, Papa," Nicole and Josh chorused instinctually.

Papa left them with their burning question unspoken and unanswered. Were these the Joseph children, or were they new siblings? Unsure of what else to do, Josh forced his feet to start walking again. He started back toward the willow tree, no longer in the mood for games of any kind. The strangers followed quietly, clearly just as hesitant as Josh.

It was amazing how much his social skills had deteriorated in such a short amount of time. He couldn't think of a single way to start a conversation with these people, and the thought of asking them who they were made him feel sick with anxiety. He wouldn't be able to handle it if he was told some sort of flower in place of a name.

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