Charts on the wall had pictures of hands showing the alphabet in sign language.There were other charts demonstrating words related to music, or teaching.
“Why is there a surgical table in this room?” asked Cam.Luke stared at the table and shook his head.
“I cannot imagine what these kids went through.What were they forced to do?I heard what Keith had to go through before Uncle Alec found him. What did they do to these children?”
“I don’t know, brother, but we’ll find out,” said Eric.“Let’s see what’s in the basement and I already regret saying that.”
It took them a while to even find the door to the basement.It was hidden inside the kitchen pantry.When Eric ran his hand over the top shelf, well above seven feet high, he felt the small button and depressed it.The shelf swung open just enough for him to grab it and pull it open further.
“I didn’t bring a flashlight,” said Luke.“Use your phones.”
The light on their phones guided them down another set of stairs.What awaited was part of their worst nightmare.Surgical tables were bolted to the floor, scattered across the less than sterile space.Surgical instruments were still littered on counters and tables, some having been used.
“Dear God,” whispered Hex.
The basement space covered the entire footage of the floor above, making it appear larger than it actually was.As the men carefully searched for some clues they could take with them, Luke stopped in front of a large metal door, slightly ajar.
“Luke?What’s wrong?” asked Cam.
“This is what Ace had a feeling about.I just know it.”
Cam stepped forward and pulled the door open further.At first, with the darkness, their eyes adjusted to the blackness.Then it caught sight of what they were afraid to find.
“Children.They didn’t even bury them.They just cut them open and let them die, stacking them in here,” whispered Eric.They all stared at the horrific sight, almost sick to their stomachs.
“Luke?There’s scraps of food.Some of it is recent. Bread, a piece of cake.Someone has been here.”
“We need to get these bodies out of here and identify these kids, give them a decent burial,” said Luke.
“We will, brother,” said Cam.“You know the coroner is going to need some time to get all of them.There must be a dozen in here.”
Hex thought he heard something behind them and turned but didn’t see anything right away.The others stared at him and he signed for them to be quiet.He walked toward a table, then waited silently for the movement to happen again.
From beneath the staircase a pair of eyes stared straight at him.He knelt down, staring back and signed to the pair of eyes.
“I will not hurt you.I want to help you.”
The eyes blinked and then he heard the shuffling of feet.A small boy appeared.A boy who had clearly been operated on.He dragged his right leg, his right arm unable to move.
The right side of his head seemed to be concave, dipping in, then out.The top of his head appeared too large, almost swollen and misshapen, giving his head an egg-like appearance.
“Holy mother of God,” whispered Eric.The boy stared up at the giant of a man and then stepped back.Eric knelt as well, quickly signing to the boy.
“I hope you can understand me.We will help you.”The boy just stared at them and then pulled out a loaf of bread to show the men.“You’ve been feeding the other children?”
Eric could barely hold back his tears.The boy nodded and shuffled toward the door where the children’s bodies were.He set the loaf of bread down and signed to them.
“For you.I get more.”
He walked back out and looked at the men.
“Keith is on his way,” said Luke.“We need him, along with some of the medical team.Keep talking to the boy, Eric.See if we can get him upstairs and out of the basement.”
With a little coaxing, Eric was able to get the boy to allow him to carry him up the steps and into one of the leather chairs.He asked the boy for his name and he shrugged.
“Don’t you have a name?” asked Eric with a smile.He shrugged again.“Can you hear me or do you just know what I’m signing?”
The boy made the sign for signing and Eric nodded.
