A month later...

11th of October, 1969

Within month, events even the time boated quickly in the abysmal space, leaving track of memories. 

The autumn days approached as the crispy, abstractly beauteous, multicoloured leaves slumped down as they blanketed every inch of Boston's fields. The days were rainy, somber. The solid, shadowy clouds swimming in the sky, concealing the saturating sun. Per a handful of days, swarm of millions of gushing down crystal rain drops assaulted everything below, soaking them. 

The first days in the kindergarten of Ellie and Tristan were tough especially for the younger twin as he tended to adapt readily difficult to the society and communicate with other peers. He spent the rest of his time in the kindergarten by being concatenating with his slightly older sister twin and Kaitlyn as they were played with one another only. The other children viewed them as weird especially Kaitlyn and Tristan. Crucially because Kaitlyn inherited some significant facial features of her father such as mingling its hair color with her mother and father's one. Furthermore, her mother was unwed, single, raising on her own an illegimitate child. The other kindergarteners were already alerted via one rumor that was passed that her negligent father's a priest, working in a mental hospital and exceedingly recognized for his wrongdoings and crimes. Further, Tristan was rejected by his peers because he proned to be hushing and introvert boy, who was clinged to Ellie and Sally. 

Subsequently, the kindergarten days were better not just only for the twins, but also for Kaitlyn. There were some of kindergarteners who overlooked the rumors as they didn't care what the others gossiped behind the Howards twins and the oracle's daughter. Their self-esteem rapidly boosted as soon as they made new friends and socialized with other children. Jude, Timothy and Sally couldn't be more contended, in fact, their children are commencing slowly to extend their inner circle with more acquaintances. Little did they know how overwhelming it was. Spiritually. Rendering them even prouder parents. Initially, Mrs.Johnson was peculiarly stern. With the approaching days, the novice kindergarteners mustered with her manners and demeanor as they tolerated her. 

Whilst the Howards twins and Kaitlyn are improving brilliantly in the kindergarten, Shona was constantly with Julia and Thomas at school, uniting as an alliance altogether and they particularly ignored the bullies as Frank confronted them whenever he can and witnessed a heated conflict between schoolers. The first school days were a downright nightmare especially for Shona. Fortunately, there was a Gurdian angel who stood for Shona and Kit's children.

Flashback

4th of September, 1969

"Hey, red-haired weirdo!" One of the bullies from Shona's class attempted to catch her attention, stalking her amokingly though the young girl ignored her classmate. The bully's undertone was obnoxiously vigorous, aloof, besides he sticked out his tongue at her. The red-haired girl walked up to the tree as she preferred to spend with Julia and Thomas her valuable time rather than futily wasting it by facing hooligans. 

Likewise Shona sped up to the Kit's children as their eyes chased their buddy, joining them as she seated on the grass, honing a triangle along. Anyway the bully didn't give up as he opted to catch either of their attention, taunting them with defiant, bland comments. They were far from obtuse to comprehend its consequences if they otherwise reacted to the aggressor's instinctive impulsivity. They knew right away the most sapient choice was to ignore him like he has never existed ever before. He was just like a phantom, roaming around the yard like a lost, ancient soul. 

The school's yard  was crowded with primary schoolers whose joyous, infant squeals and shouts were cruising up in the yard, filling with briskly atmosphere. 

"Oh come on, red-haired alien! Where's your lesbian mama to come and deal with the brat like me?" Her classmate didn't halt to jeer at his peer, twirling provocatively though the group of 3 kids disdained him as it was recklessly oblivious his presence to them. As an addition, the bully evoked chicken, crabbed noises which weren't completely availing for them at all. 

Whereas the blunt boy didn't oppress his rowdy, lackluster comments towards the desolated children, all of a sudden Frank was fed up as he intervened by tramping up to Shona's classmate until he placed his colossal, warm hand on the young boy's shoulder as he sensed something in front of him, flinched as he turned to the security guard, gritting firmly his infant teeth as his grayish emerald eyes met the middle aged man's glaring winter blue eyes, locked up in one another's stares. Grimaced face with a grotesque frown, highlighting his lips. The second grader just gaped blankly, helplessly the much older male, without daring to peel a single word, factly, he was indisputably, readily mortified and embarrassed, sensing his cheeks becoming rosy within seconds after facing his danger. 

"How dare ya to mess up with innocent children, Chester?" Whilst the middle aged man enquired gravely Chester, he swallowed hard after hearing such acute words that stabbed daggers in his heart as his unresponsive, bone-chilling glaring azure eyes were like razors, impaling radically his eyes, gouging them as he drained his juvenile energy in a simple scowl. "It has been 3 days and you don't stop to scoff at Shona. Just stop it!" He furthered menacingly.

"This freaking alien is ignoring me. Don't you know how rude is to be ignored?" Chester explained as he justified,pointing at Shona with a forefinger and Frank noting the young boy's manipulative demeanor which made him even more livid.

As soon as the Kit's children and Shona heard the security guard's voice, they turned to him as they watched leisurely the both males. They couldn't oppress a smug, mischievous grins on their faces.

"If you ever dare to call her whatever you think will catch her attention, your parents would be aware and probably..." He paused as he pretended to clear his throat, peeping down at the group of 3 infants. Then he shifted his scowled face to the bully. "...you will be out of this school whether you like it or not, gentleman. " Frank's voice was far from serene as his tone sounded menacing and deadly serious. He abomimated whenever Shona is being bullied. His heart sorely ached when he witnessed her peers' brutality and aggression.

Instead of uttering a word, Chester ran away without hesitancy as he was exceedingly abashed as his self-confidence plummet suddenly.

Joyful chuckles evoked Shona, Julia, Thomas and Frank once Chester fled away.

***

11th of October, 1969

Whilst Shona was at school, Valerie was home alone as today was the sole day when she's all day available.

Today was actually a cloudy day with mist fog sailing like a longboat in the sky, blurring its nigh vision. Fortunately, it hasn't rained yet.

The last time when the young scarlet haired woman beheld Lana and Johnny was actually a couple of days ago as the both children of the single mothers, played with themselves on the playground though there were swarm of infants, accompanied by their parents. Nonetheless, they evaded Shona and Johnny as they were murderously cautioned about the lesbian single mother's daughter whilst Johnny was known as Bloody Face's unwed child via rape case. Luckily, in Howards case they were exceptional. Little did the other infants know whose children they were. If the entire Howards were exposed, apart from that they would be detested and rejected by their peers as their parents are alerted of the both former pious faces of the church, notoriously famous for giving unwed children in an orphanage.

When Valerie was sauntering in the small yard of her house, she was uprooting a handful of flowers, in fact, it was a year since her partner Velika has passed away due to cancer.

As she gathered a petite, magnificent bouquet with magenta pyons and yellow tulips, she crouched down to the flowerbed as its pungent alluring fragrance that reached her frail nostrils. The young housekeeper, thrumming as she sang to herself a melodious tune:

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life. You were only waiting for this moment to arise." The young maid sang to herself as she hummed, emulating its instrumentality in her voice. In spite of her lack of talent in singing, she cottoned the lonely moments when sang to herself as the humming wasn't exceptional. These moments could be rare, nevertheless, Valerie genuinely appreciated and harboring them in her heart, filling its fragment.

Valerie loved music especially if it was heavier one such as rock and metal. Although she was keen a rock and metal fan, she didn't mind the other music genres at all. Further, the Beatles were one of her favorite bands. 

All of a sudden, her hazel green eyes reluctantly wandered around the yard as she halted humming, eyeing the dull gravestone. Her face became palish once her eyes caught the gravestone as her smile vanished. Her heart ached, bleeding sorely of mourn. In the interim, Valerie rose as she toddled desperately, slowly as she was approaching the gravestone, grasped timidly the modest bouquet of flowers she has just picked up from the flower bed as gelid tears commenced building in her eyes, sniveling when she crouched down beside the grave, placing the nosegay two inches away from its tombstone, dwelling considerately on the soil, whilst the uninterrupted lament as her hand stealthily shifted up to the tombstone as the smooth skin of her hand met its stone coldness. 

In the meantime, she lowered her head as the frosty tears streamed down her face, her hand gently brushing unwillingly the gravestone's text.

Here lays a loving woman and strong mother

Velika Violet Azarova 

16.01.1918- 11.10.1968

May Rest in Peace

"Velika, I miss..." Valerie murmured despairingly as a thumb managed to wipe her tears with her other hand. The young lady struggled to combat her tears and mourn. "...you so much!" The scarlet haired woman furthered as her uncontrollable grief tormented her like a toy. 

Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, ensuring her unpredictable warmness, comfort and love as she turned to the person as she realized it was actually her deceased partner. Velika! She was glowing as she was like a sent angel from the heaven to soothe the person she truly loved to bones until the cancer combat was over as she lost. The brunette wore a luminous, beautiful smile across her plump lips, radiating her felicity to be back on earth just for a few minutes to behold somebody special. 

The red-haired young lady's hazel eyes widened as they reflected overwhelmness in awe and sheer happiness, scarcely believing Velika is still real or she was just an illusion. An instinctive, howsoever, enthralled smile loomed on her face as the sustained gushing down tears were wiped with the older woman's thumb, shushing as she whispered:

"Sweetheart, I miss you too!" In this time, Valerie took in her both hands Velika's creamy, delicate hand, her fingers cupping her brittle knuckles as she rose her body, kissing her hand. 

"I know, sweetie! I have to confess something though you won't like it." The young woman said in velvety voice as she felt burden in her heart, in fact, her deceased lover would be livid if she has found another partner, offseting the absence of lover. Their eyes were locked up in one another's gazes. The woman's ghost cupped the maid's jaw, her thumb kneading the sensitve skin of her chin as it glided up to her plump, mildly tremoring lips.

"Tell me, Val! Although I won't like it, I still love you!"

"I found a new girlfriend who's amazing and understanding. I love her too but not as much as you." Whereas the housekeeper spilled the tea, Velika's smile didn't vanish from her face. It was rather the opposite. She couldn't subdue a growing broader, veritable smile, curled up in the corner of her lips. She was pleased Valerie was loved, nonetheless the heartwarming words which she fathomed them instantly, rejoiced her even more. 

"I am so pleased you are loved but our love has no bonds, honey. No matter what have you been through or how many times you have betrayed your own ideals, I will always love you! Don't mistake it with obsession!" The calm response from the former living soul emboldened the young woman as the inestimable moment was far from potraying it in the most vivid, ensharpening its details like a blade. The evidence of their passionate and ethereal eternal love was in their facial expressions, the comfort they have, expressing fluently their feelings and emotions even confessions. It reassured even more the housekeeper as she wanted Velika to be here with her. In this world. For eternity. Although it was impossible. She's just already a mirage ghost. Roaming around the world especially the home she shared with the love of her life before her mortality. 

"Thank you for your support and love, Velika! You deserve peace. I wish you stayed here for longer." Valerie insisted though the perputuity won't last forever. "Regardless how sinful you used to be back in your life, just remember the unconditional love that I have for you, sweetheart!" The scarlet-haired woman kept on as Velika wiped the last drying tears of her fresh, youthful face.

The phantom of the older woman just smiled, nodding humbly, relieved. The both females felt flattered.

"I love your daughter and the people of your inner circle. I am wishing you happiness, prosperity, health and most of all, love and be loved by the people who know you the best." The brunette advised wisely the housekeeper. 

Moments later, the ghost of the middle aged woman just vanished in the hollow as Valerie's smile abided on her face as it was lit up by the brief encounter with the love of her life who she didn't expect to emerge as a ghost to reassure her. As an addition, the maid refrained to question whether Velika was real or otherwise just an unusual specter, pandering her to carry on with her life as she was too young to die, but too old to brood. Her heart molted after these poignant words that reached her heart like a summer breeze, fanning vigorously her hair. 

***

Whilst Jude and Timothy were seating on the couch as the twins played with their toys and staff dolls on the both armchairs, far from intrigued to dart eyes to the television screen, Agnes was sitting on her mother's lap and the television was turned on as the both former pious faces of the church watched and followed the TV program.

In the interim, the former nun's head rested on Timothy's broad, muscular shoulder as her hazel eyes were fixed on the television screen with combusting enthusiasm. Agnes watched what her parents did. 

In this moment, they currently watched a documentary based on Briarcliff's horrors which are exposed by Howards' old friend, Lana Winters.

"The church sold Briarcliff Manor to the state of Massachusetts in the fall of 1965. Since then, conditions have deteriorated. These images and sounds are far more powerful than any words that can be spoken. But how can I describe to you the way it smells? It reeks of filth, of disease. It smells of death." The young, aspiring reporter commenced with the deplorable monologue as she held the microphone, moseying inside the institution as her heels clicked infrequently. She was being encompassed not only by her crew who filmed her, but also by a couple of mentally ill patients who starved, suffered spiritually and physically and they were devastated in every way.

"Lana Banana!" Jude whispered to herself derisively, meanwhile the youngest Howard watched mortified the documentary though Timothy glimpsed down at her as he clamped her eyes with a mammoth hand as he didn't want his daughter to have sinister nightmares later on. Further, the twins overlooked the running documentary.

"Sweetheart, you aren't supposed to watch this!" The former priest cautioned his daughter as he shifted his chocolate eyes on the screen, gaping each moment of it.

"Who are you? Do you have permission to do this? You are the first attendant we've seen the entire time we've been here." One of the nuthouse's staff sanitarians, clothed in white outfit asked brashly the middle aged journalist.

"Is it the policy to leave patients unclothed and unclean, some of them smeared in their own feces?" Lana argued as she posed a grave question in coarsing way.

"Uh I'm sorry, there's just too many for us to take care of." The sanitarian apologised the brunette as she kept on with the documentary.

To be continued...