Page 38 of The Asylum
A lump caught in my throat. They were waiting for Michelle and me. I just knew it.
“Callie!” Sunny hissed from behind me.
I moved forward five more steps.
“Nobody here means you harm. We offer you respect and dignity and will not allow anyone to bring you grief or trouble. I know why you’re here; your murders and deaths were unreported and forgotten. Not anymore. These men and women here will do their best to give you back your names and stories. This won’t be swept under the carpet again, and you won’t be lost to lies, cover-ups, and rumours. The truth will come out,” I called.
“My name is Michelle. I’m a priest, and I can help you cross over to the light. God and eternal peace await you all,” Michelle announced, stepping forth.
In the air came a rustle of murmurs, and I guessed the ghosts were communicating. A woman walked forward, and Michelleand I watched as she crossed the vast field to stand near us. Michelle murmured a prayer and held her hands out.
“Sandra Watson,”the name floated in the wind, and Sandra placed her hands above Michelle’s before disappearing.
“Stephen Sugar,”an elderly man said before repeating Sandra’s actions.
“Baby boy, born to Kitty Dubois. Kitty Dubois,”a young teenager whispered, holding a baby. Tears formed in my eyes as she turned to Michelle, bowed her head, and disappeared.
“Someone get these names down,” Maines ordered quietly.
One by one, the watching ghosts came and offered their names before crossing over.
I swallowed with difficulty as a little boy appeared in front of me. He was tiny, about five years old, with tousled fair hair and a thin face. Huge brown eyes looked at me before he smiled.
“Mathew,”he said with a smile. Tears formed as I reached out my hands. With a faint touch, Mathew swivelled to Michelle.
“The boy from the children’s wing,” Connor murmured, sounding choked. Mathew flashed out, and I knew he’d found rest. I wiped tears from my eyes and turned as a nurse appeared. She wore an old-fashioned dress and hat, surrounded by youngsters.
“Catherine Rawlins,”she said, and I made a noise of surprise. She urged a young girl forward,“Joanne Connors. Justin Jackson.”A little boy followed, and I swallowed hard as I tried not to cry.
“You came back for them!” I cried, and Catherine nodded with a sad smile.
“My children,”Catherine replied, and one by one she named them as they crossed over.
“God will forgive you, Catherine; you cared enough to return to protect them. That’s true love,” I said as I wiped the tears streaming down my face.
Catherine waited until they all went across and then placed her hands in Michelle’s.
Rose, the ghost who’d shown us where the children were buried, appeared carrying a baby in her arms. She smiled at us before vanishing, kissing the baby with love and happiness.
One by one, the ghosts came and reclaimed their identities before fading out. Finally, there were none left bar two men.
“Watchers. Keep promises. Will leave when finished,”the Ovilus that Jack carried switched and spat words out.”
I frowned. “You’re going to stay and ensure every last grave is found?” I asked, looking for clarification.
“Yes.”The two men disappeared, and two names emerged to us.“Jonas Monroe. Seth Armstrong.”
Around us, silence fell. There was movement behind us, and my team surrounded me. Maines came to my side.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” he murmured.
“No. And we probably never will again.”
“You didn’t film it,” Maines stated.
“No. Because tonight wasn’t entertainment or about proof. It was about giving respect and dignity back. It was about honouring their lives and acknowledging their murders and deaths. We gave them their names once more,” I replied as tears still tracked down my face.
“You’re a hell of a woman, Callie Dixon,” Maines muttered, and Sunny grunted from behind me.
