Lost Children

I

Sister Lilian couldn't help the limp boy down the flight of stairs. She let him lie on the floor by the trapdoor; it was as far as she could take him without wilting under his weight. Nathaniel was almost her height and presumably troubled and weary.

The curious boys had peered from the trapdoor then. They had come out of their dorms, creating a great ruckus.

One of the older boys had just sputtered a crafted story of a monster on a moonless night to scare the younger ones.

And scare them it did.

The noises that came out of the attic later that night only frightened the younger ones more. Their minds were even more agitated after Sister Lilian, wo went to inspect the attic on the boy's behalf was heard crying out.

"Go get Maurice. Hurry!" She hadyelled at them. Just then another nun had come to inspect the ruckus.

"Sister Maria! Take them to their dorms." Sister Lillian pleaded, her voice wavering with concern.

The young sister nodded and ushered the young boys away, like one handles a flock of sheep. "You heard Sister Lilian! Off you go! Say grace and go straight to your beds."

Sister Lillian stepped down the trapdoor, keeping her eyes on Nathaniel who lay by the trapdoor, curled into a ball, by Sister Lilian's side, like a shriveled stray pup. Not long after, a man came to help the nun carry the boy down the stairs, out of the attic.

Sister Lilian's trembling orders were heard, and Maurice, the manor's east wing caretaker immediately went to lift the boy off the attic floor. The boy stiffened as two arms slipped underneath him, but he was too weary to fight back.

Maurice took careful steps as they climbed down, with Sister Lilian praying behind. Nathaniel's eyes squeezed shut against the light.

The boy's mischievous arrival had awoken the entire Manor at the ungodly hour of night. Nuns ran about in their white veils and night gowns, ushering off curious children back to their dormitories. The manor's nurse was awakened with urgent news of assistance and the cook was given a vague one to prepare a warm meal for a sickly child.

The infirmary was a candle-lit chamber with two rows of beds of three against stone walls, covered in white linen. As soon as Maurice laid the boy on one of the beds, Sister Lilian closed the door to avoid the prying eyes of the young boys. The nurse came running, as soon as she heard the news. The untimely call meant she didn't have much time to change into her formal gown. They drenched a cloth in warm water and washed the boy clean before dressing him in a clean dress.

The nursed moved about efficiently, tending the boy, without asking any questions from Sister Lilian, Maurice or the boy who was half asleep and half awake. Neither of them had answers, nevertheless questions were reserved for later.

***

Nathaniel awoke in a dimly lit chamber of stone walls, dressed in a clean white dress. His body felt lighter as he consciously took a breath and processed his surroundings.

The golden light from the morning sun was streaming through the white curtains from the large arced window in the far corner of the room. Candles from the night before melted and snuffed.

He recalled his memories from earlier. He had been carried into the infirmary. Where he was inspected by a nurse. Sister Lilian had taken a sharp intake of breath when the nurse had lifted off his bloodied vest and unbuttoned is shirt. Bluish and red gashes ran across his torso and arms.

Both the nuns had started praying then. A prayer that resembled gratitude and penance. Once the boy was dressed they let him chug down warm broth the cook had just heated up. Only after the warmth of the broth had settled in, had he drifted to sleep.