Ethan

I wasn’t used to big cities but I had lost my job and my town didn’t have much to offer. Jeramy, a mate from school, had contacted me about having a place to fill at his magazin . He had been different from the rest of us, big dreams and an attitude to match.

I lifted my foot and placed it on the subway. I hated this. No point having a car here. The subway was so packed that there was not enough space to breathe. I gave a sigh of relief when I finally stepped off.

I lit a cigarette and looked around me. Everything was so big, even the smallest building was bigger than any building at home. I took the last drag from my cigarette and flicked it away. My phone pinged. Jeramy had sent me a text: Stuck in a meeting, can’t get you. Look for my face. I chuckled nervously.

It was like being stuck in a forest without trees during a storm. The people around me pushed me back and forth, I couldn’t understand why everyone was in such a rush. Stores and restaurants flew past my eyes and then I saw it, Jeramy’s face. It was a small convenience store and on the outside of it was covered with different magazines. It took a while for me to find the right magazine inside. Truth under the myths. I also picked out a sandwich. My jaw dropped at the price, it was double, if not triple of what I was used to. I didn’t want to make a fuss and just used the last of my money.

I saw a park bench on the other side of the road. I sat down and started eating my sandwich. The magazin was about different myths and folklore. They went around the city and investigated the stories. Most of the stories in the magazin turned out not to be true, but it was a fun read. At the back of the magazin there was an address to their office.

I took out my phone and searched for the address, it didn’t seem to be that far away. Everything looked the same, it was hard keeping my eyes on the phone when someone walked in to me with every step I took.

The magazine was part of this 1700 building, the door inside was in the corner of the building. Truth under the myths office was on the fourth floor. I was out of breath from walking up the stairs.

There were eight people there, sitting at their desks. A woman came up to me.

“Hi, how can I help you? She said.

“Hi I’m Aurora. I’m here to see Jeramy,” I said.

“Oh yes, he told me you were coming. I’m Olivia by the way,” she reached out her hand and I shook it. “Jeramy is still in a meeting, but if you come with me I’ll show you where you can wait,” she walked me to a door at the back of the office and pointed at a chair.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Tell me if you need anything else,” she said before walking off.

A woman with a small kid walked out from his office, her eyes were swollen. Jeramy came out and gestured for me to come in.

“Hi, how have you been?” Jeramy said, giving me a hug.

“It has been hard the last couple of years. Most people have had to sell their houses, we have been lucky so far,” I said. “But you have really made a name for yourself.

“Yes,” he chuckled. “You didn’t bring your son?”

“No, I thought it was best to get myself settled first.”

“Oh,” he sighed. “But he will be here before his birthday?”

“If everything goes well then Ethan will come too.”

“Don’t worry, I will set you and your son up for life.” He patted me on the shoulder.

#

He had fixed a room in his apartment for me and he also placed a bed for my son. The apartment was a floor above the office. I was soon introduced to the rest of the office and got a desk of my own. I didn’t get much to do, mostly editing the articles and the pay was good. I got used to city life faster than I expected. It was nice being able to get anything I needed without having to walk more than ten minutes. It was hard getting used to not being able to talk to my neighbours but I didn’t miss the gossip. I could see how this city would be a good place for my son to grow up in.

Jeramy was relaxed about most things except for Friday nights. He had a bible study group then. I thought it a bit odd for someone owning a magazine about uncovering truths to be so involved in religion. I was either to not be home or stay in my room until it ended.

#

After a month of being here my parents came to visit me. I almost started crying when I saw Ethan, I hugged him tight for several minutes. My parents complained the whole time. The price was too expensive, even though I paid for everything. People were rude and nothing to see. I brought them to parks and museums but nothing was good enough for them. I was relieved when they went back home.

Jeramy let me work from the apartment so I could spend time with Ethan. He made friends, at a playground, close to our home. One of the moms showed me a newspaper.

“It’s been all over the news for the last year, six year olds disappearing just a few days after their birthdays,” she said. “And now this.” She pointed at an article. It was of a woman cut in half with her insides layed out in a circle and her heart in the middle of it. My heart stopped, it was the woman who had been in Jeramy’s office on my first day. Her kid was missing.

“Could I have this?” I trembled out.

“Um, sure.”

#

I frantically knocked on Jeremy's office door.

“Hi, I didn’t…” he said. I pushed through the door and slammed the magazin on the table.

“Are you looking into this?” I asked. He looked at the newspaper.

“No. This is a murder,” Jeremy said.

“Look,” I said pointing at the woman in the picture. “She's been here and look at how her body is laying, it looks more like a ritual than a regular murder.”

“Yes, she was here asking for a job, but we didn’t have any openings,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

I went to the police station but they brushed me aside. I couldn’t let this go, my son would soon turn six. Eight kids had gone missing just a few days after they turned six. I tried to get in touch with any of the parents but I couldn’t find them.

I was thinking about leaving but Jeremy bagged me not to. He agreed to help me look into the situation and would introduce us to his bible study, so I would feel more safe. There were five other people in the group. They were really curious about Ethan and barely said hi to me. Ethan seemed to really like them. One bible was laying on the table, but they didn’t read it or talk about religion.

The bible group babysat Ethan when Jeremy and I went out to investigate. Jeremy had many contacts and found four of the mothers. It felt like I met the same woman four times.

“Hi, I’m Jeramy and this is Aurora.”

“I’m Denise, do you want a cup of tea?”

“Yes, thank you,” I said.

“This is Delilah,” Denise said. Showing us a photo album.

“Isn’t that Ava,” I said pointing at her nanny. Jeramy looked closer.

“No, they just look alike,” Jeramy said. Ava was one of the people in the bible group.

“Her name is Stephanie,” Denise said. “A family friend. After my husband left, she helped Delilah.” Denise and Jeramy looked at each other as they spoke. “I got up at seven a few days after her birthday and she wasn’t in her bed.” Denise covered her face and sobbed.

#

Four days before Ethan's birthday, Jeramy came and knocked on my door, he had a big smile on his face.

“They caught him,” he showed me the front page of the newspaper. 32 year old Natahan was arrested for the murder of nine people. The children's bones were found in his basement. I let out a sigh of relief.

“Will you please let us throw a party for Ethan now?” Jeramy said.

“Yes.”

I was on my way to get the cake when I was stopped by a homeless man.

“Hi, can I talk to you for a few minutes,” he whispered. That was something familiar about his eyes, that made me pause and decide to give him a chance. We walked into a Starbucks and I ordered coffee for us. He looked down at his coffee for several minutes before looking up at me.

“I’m Dave, Deliliah’s father. I couldn’t save my daughter but it’s not too late for your son.” I looked at him puzzled. “It started when Delilah was two, Denise met a new friend Ava and hired her to be our nanny.”

“Wait, I thought her name was Stephanie?”

“No it’s definitely Ava. Denise changed after that, went to church every week and wouldn’t let me touch Delilah anymore,” his voice broke. “Then when Delilah turned three, Denise threw me out, telling me that I wasn’t pure enough to be around them.” He needed to take a deep breath before continuing. “I tried everything to get my daughter back. But it was just so much I could do, the court took away my rights to my daughter and I lost everything. The next couple of years I followed Delilah. On her sixth birthday they walked into the church and only Denise came out. I never saw her after that, I confronted Denise but she wouldn’t speak to me.” Dave broke down in tears.

“I have to go,” I said in a panic. I ran all the way to the church. Inside everyone was already having a blast. Ethan was playing with two kids and the grown-ups were watching them, laughing. I took a hold of Ethan's hand.

“We have to go, now,” I said.

“But I haven’t opened my present yet.”

The atmosphere completely changed. Everyone looked at me with blank eyes.

“Where are you going?” Jeramy asked.

“We are going home,” I said, hiding Ethan behind me.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” The church door locked and Ava pulled Ethan out of my hands.

“No!” I yelled.

“Mommy!” Ethan yelled, as he was carried to the back of the church. Jeramy and another man took a hold of me.

“Ethan is a special boy and he is meant for great things,” Jeramy said. I fell to my knees bawling my eyes out. Ethan was strapped down to the altar.

“The sixth year is the year of rebirth, the year we give ourselves to the lord,” Ava said, taking out a dagger.

“No, no, what are you doing!” I screamed trying to get myself free. Two more people came up to me and pinched me to the floor. Ava pressed the dagger to Ethan’s heart. He let out a blood-curdling scream. Ava pulled out the knife and lifted Ethan to the sky.

“My lord, we give you this vessel so you can walk among us once more,” she said. The light left Ethan’s eyes. Disappointment ran through the church, they all went down on their knees and prayed.

I ran over to Ethan. Tears fell down my eyes as I felt my son's lifeless body in my arms.