6 February 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2639 (Part 7) | Prompt: a nice illusion

Part 6

Olivia sat stiff, focusing on the window outside gazing over Nathan's shoulder as he tapped his fingers on the table. He kept silent as he noticed the overly large receptacles on the both sides of her face twitch. One of the numerous odd behaviors she exhibited. Two weeks passed, and no amount of prodding produced results.

"She'll die if we can't figure something out," Ophelia whispered from behind Nathan.*

"Well, nothing in; nothing out. She just sits staring out the window. Odd thing is, she hasn't attempted to escape. Not that I've restrained her, mind you." Nathan shook his head before pounding his fists on the table before shooting a defeated glance at Ophelia.*

"It's like she's waiting for something or someone. That's my unprofessional opinion," Ophelia blurted.

"You may be on to something," Nathan replied, then searched Ophelia's eyes. "I've another idea. What sustained her while she was hiding in the brush near the pasture? Perhaps we'll find clues there." He waited.

This time, Ophelia nodded, but offered no answer merely stating the obvious, "but we don't dare take her out in daylight. Nosy neighbors surround you."

Nathan's lip curled, suppressing a laugh. "Agreed. Twilight tomorrow then. I'll pick you up."

Before Ophelia could answer, a banging against the window interrupted them.

Nathan rose quickly, toppling his chair, while Ophelia grabbed a blanket nearby and covered Olivia. With the help of her cane, she scurried the child away toward the spare bedroom, locking the door. Nathan flung open the front door and stepped outside with his flashlight. He pointed in the direction of the window and discovered that, crouched underneath it was the only other person he'd give anything not to be accountable. The long, white hair identified the trespasser. He rushed over and grabbed the man by the collar, not able to lift him up.

Ophelia listened behind the bedroom door. Finally recognizing the voice, she ushered Olivia into a closet. The next instance, she stood in the living room, leaning on her cane. The patch over her eye a formidable sight. Hiding her surprise, she studied Nathan as he stood face to face with Herman Birdstone.

Attempting to deflect, she interrupted. "Herman, two hours past your bedtime, I'd say. What brings you out this fine night? Is Mona ill?"

"You both know why I'm here! Herman scoured the room while Ophelia and Nathan spied his gaze. A no-nonsense fellow in his mid-sixties, he sported a gray beard with a string tied midway before it reached his chest. He cared not for pleasantries.

"Have a seat. We need to explain," Nathan offered, attempting to ease the tension.

"I'm fine standing," Herman retorted, then continued, "Let's cut to the chase. Where is yours? And do you have one too, Ophelia?" Herman stood with both hands on hips.

Nathan and Ophelia exchanged knowing glances, surmising that Herman wouldn't be standing before them if he didn't have information he knew they needed.

And by the look of the brown sackcloth in one hand, the parcel was heavy.

Now, Part 7:

The air in Nathan's living room was thick with distrust as he shot a quick glance toward Ophelia before cautiously inching closer to Herman, all the while eying the sackcloth.

Nathan noticed his gaze and quickly jerked his hand behind his back.

"How did you know?" Nathan queried, his voice shaky.

"That you were hiding the female?" Herman replied quickly and assuredly, then paused as if deciding whether to divulge all. Moments later, he continued. "The sickly-sweet odor leading to your farm. Then, the faint glow from your window. Same as the one I got, but the species resembles a male. It may sound inhumane, but she's got to go to the cellar or risk discovery until we can figure out the meaning of all this."

Without another word, Herman brought his hand around and moved in closer, almost touching Nathan's chest. "Here, take this sack. She'll need its contents," he uttered in a matter-of-fact tone. He spied Ophelia, a sneer at the corner of his lip.

He was about to continue when Nathan broke in, "How long have you had yours?" A worried frown spread over his forehead. And how did you know what to feed it?"

Herman hesitated, then thought it best to divulge all he knew. Perhaps their combined knowledge could solve the mystery.

"Seven months. Discovered him digging up soil on my property. Covered in dirt as if he'd been underground. On closer inspection, this bag of gems was buried under a clump of rocks nearby. Digging away like a madman with those deformed hands and feet as though depositing or removing something. Almost killed me to get at those gems. The instant I gave him one, he swallowed it, then glowed like a lit up Christmas tree."

Ophelia cleared her throat. Both men turned to find a scowl on her face.

"I wouldn't say they're deformed. Perhaps to us," she trailed off.

A long second elapsed while all three stared at each other, now fully understanding that both the children were not of their country, nor any other on the planet.

"That's irrelevant," Herman retorted. "After the discovery, I placed one of the seed pods in a heavy duty small container and took it to that strange place in town called the Museum of Odd Things. Wouldn't you know it, a photo of it was there, and the item given a peculiar name was listed on that list registry named Directory of Lost Things. I didn't dare say anything."

Silence. Their eyes grew wide as the knowledge dawned on them what they envisioned the discoveries meant.

Others like Olivia and the male were hiding. In their town. Perhaps. Other towns, maybe. Even over the entire world. But who in a position of authority, and was it kept secret from the public? It wasn't a coincidence those two were discovered in close proximity. But why and for what purpose were they brought to the planet?

Those questions lingered for a moment as they looked from one to the other. Then immediately, all eyes focused on the bedroom.

An eerie scratching sound and screeching noise behind the bedroom door disrupted their thoughts. The three adults watched. Immediately, as if sensing a change in her circumstance, Olivia burst through the bedroom door.

So powerful was the child's entrance that the door caught afire. Nathan bolted toward the kitchen to retrieve the fire extinguisher. Returning, he extinguished the smouldering blaze on the bedroom door. Meanwhile, Ophelia hid behind his recliner.

What he witnessed next he couldn't have expected. There was Herman nodding, then extending his hand and opening his fist as if presenting a treat to a pet.

Olivia's eyes glowed as she lunged toward Herman, but stopped short of attacking him. With one swipe, she ripped the bag open with her long nails, caught the seed pods before they reached the floor, then thrust one of them into her mouth.

It wasn't a second later that she jerked her head back and stared at the ceiling. She fell to the floor, then curled up in a fetal position, a purple glow surrounding her.

"Leave her be! Herman shouted. She's recharging."

Nathan and Ophelia just stood there, with Ophelia slightly behind peering over his shoulder at the unexpected discovery. Within moments, Olivia's body straightened as if nothing had occurred. She stood up and stared at the three adults.

"Well, food problem solved," Ophelia quipped in a somewhat shaky, but upbeat tone. She paused. "But what do we do next? We can't keep them as pets. And you seem to know quite a bit in seven months."

"No. We can't. But keeping them is as ridiculous as allowing them to leave and risk discovery by others who don't understand. And I have a feeling that we've discovered something none of us in this world is prepared to encounter or consider the alternative.

All the while Nathan just stared blankly at Olivia. His foolish notion that she could remain with him was now dashed.

"Do you think they know each other? I mean, Olivia and the male child in your possession?"" Nathan stammered a bit embarrassed that he had the same opportunity to discover more but hadn't.

"I'd bet my life on it," Hermann offered in his all-knowing tone. "And, only one way to find out!" Herman exclaimed.

Ophelia wrapped Olivia in the blanket while Herman gathered up the remaining seed pods and returned them to the sackcloth. Then, all four headed out the door.

Into Nathan's truck they squeezed, then set out on their way back to Herman's farm. An eerie quiet hovered over the landscape as they made their way down the dirt road. As headlights flashed along the road, all three wondered whether other farmers had discovered the odd beings hidden in their fields. Someone must have. Else, how did those images get included in the Directory of Lost Things in the Museum of Odd Things.

The moment Herman unlocked his front door and stepped inside, a bright light flashed through the cracks in the basement floor, despite an oblong rug covering the area.

Olivia pushed past Herman and pedaled over to the spot in the floor, the fell face forward, her head searching the cracks in the floorboard. She rose and grabbed the rug, exposing the light.

The next instance, the trap door flung open. She reached down and pulled the male up without assistance, displaying strength the adults didn't realize she possessed.

Standing above the cellar, both beings stood facing each other, glowing in unison as if responding to a melodic sequence.

Ophelia, Nathan, and Herman watched in numbed terror at the power both children displayed as Olivia and the male hovered over the cellar as if levitating.

[to be continued]