Chapter 23: 23
Felicia turned to follow Arthur's gaze. Her eyes lit up with understanding when she saw the boy. The boy did not run away when Arthur and Felicia walked towards him. It appeared like he had something to share with the duo as well.
The boy looked up at them with openly inquisitive eyes. His face was covered with sweat from his day of labour in the field. He looked about 8 or 9 and Arthur had some comments with regards to someone this young working hard labour but since it did not seem like he was able to do anything about other family's culture, Arthur kept his comments to himself.
When Arthur and Felicia stood before the boy, he asked in a young voice, "Are you here for my little sister? Will you be able to find her?"
Arthur stepped forward and asked in a formal tone, "Yes, do you know anything about her disappearance? Will you tell us more about it?"
The boy shied imperceptibly back from Arthur. The boy was either shy or apprehensive around people older than him. The official manner Arthur carried himself failed to endear himself to the boy and make him relax.
Seeing this, Felicia pulled Arthur softly back and she squatted down to the boy's eye level and she asked in a smile, "Yes, honey. We're here to help find your little sister but we're going to need your help to do that. Will you do that for us, dear?"
The boy looked into Felicia's friendly face and he nodded cautiously. Arthur realized Felicia had her way with kids, there was something about her that made her approachable to people from all age groups. Either that, or it was a simple case of boys having their lips more loosened around girls.
Felicia began the 'interrogation', "So, honey, what can you tell me about your little sister?"
"Millie is annoying." That was definitely not the way they expected the boy to start the story but they did not want to interrupt him so they just allowed him to continue, "She is smallest of the family and so mama always told me to look after her. But Millie likes to wander off on her own and because of that, I always get in trouble with mama because of her.
"Now that Millie is gone, mama doesn't get mad at me anymore..." Here, the boy stopped and pouted before continuing, "But I kinda miss it."
It was such a typical big brother talk that Felicia could not help but chuckle. Then, she prompted the boy with a question, "Dear, is it possible that Millie has wandered off on her own and she would return one of these days?"
The boy shook her head. "Millie told me that night she was off going to find the Red Mother because she said the Red Mother will care for her more than our mama does. I saw her sneak out of the house through the bedroom window so I'm sure she is with the Red Mother now."
Felicia's ears perked up and she shared a look with Arthur. This was incredibly valuable information. Felicia tried not to let that show on her face and she continued to urge the boy to continue the conversation, "Well, dear, have you told that to your mother? I know she might be angry but it is the right thing to do."
"But I promised Millie and the other children not to tell any grown-ups about the Red Mother. It will break the code..." The boy gasped and pushed his palms over his lips, suddenly realizing that he had been talking to adults all this while. He had broken the rule!
Seeing the boy's desire to run away, Felicia consoled him in a comforting voice, "Honey, it's okay, look at him." Felicia pointed at Arthur, "He is not that much older than you. You can talk to us. We won't tell other grown-ups, I promise."
While Arthur did have a babyish feature that contradicted his actual age, he did not like being reminded of it because it had always been something other people used to mock him with. However, for the sake of garnering information from the boy, Arthur decided to play along. He crossed his fingers over his heart and he told the boy, "Yes, I promise. We will never tell this to anyone else."
The boy was slowly being convinced.
"Dear, do you mind telling us more about this Red Mother?" Since there was sort of a pact going on among the children, Felicia believed the boy should know more about this creature than the adults were willing to say and she was right.
"According to the other boys, the Red Mother takes care of children that are not loved at their homes." The boy paused to point at the nearby hill, "She has a manor deep in the forest where her children work and play."
Bingo, now they had the location down as well! They were close to solving this mystery.
"How do the children reach out to the Red Mother? How do they find her?" Arthur wanted to know.
"I'm not sure but," The boy hesitated before telling the truth, "Millie said she will follow the trail at the end of the field. According to rumours, it leads directly to the Red Mother's manor."
"Thank you, dear, you have been a wonderful help. Is there anything else that we can do for you? Or is there anything else that you wish to tell us?"
The boy paused before telling Felicia, "If you see Millie, tell her that I hope she is happy and that I miss her."
"Of course, honey. Of course, we will." Felicia realized that the boy did not specify that Millie should be brought home. He really just wanted her to be happy whatever that may be. Felicia moved forward to give the boy a hug. The boy warmed her heart.
As Felicia and Arthur turned to carry on with the journey, the boy called after them. "Wait, I just remembered one other thing Millie said. If you're lost, just follow the song of the pipe!"
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