#reimagination

Original painting:

Other versions:

Molly Caswell woke up on Christmas morning on the floor of the children's room with a pounding headache.

In fact, it wasn't just her head- every inch of her body was sore and aching, like something terrible had just happened, but nothing had. There everyone was, all grouped up in the children's bedroom for some reason, some people seeming to be rubbing at odd marks and scabs on their bodies. Even Sister Beverley, who seemed uncharacteristically frazzled and quiet, was there. So Molly disregarded the headache and soreness and stretched herself out.

"What happened?" She mumbled to Isaac.

"Did something happen?" He responded. "Where's Esther?"

"I don't know. We should find her before breakfast so she doesn't get in trouble."

"A-ah, right." Sister Beverley shook her head. "Breakfast needs to be prepared. Children, you'll have a little extra time before breakfast this morning. We'll call you all when it's ready. There will be no missing grace today."

"Alright, then." Molly frowned, turning to her housemates. "Has anyone seen Esther?"

"I'm right here."

Molly wouldn't have recognized the voice had she said anything else. It didn't quite sound like Esther, but there she was, holding some stuffed rabbit like it was the most precious thing on the planet. Her eyes looked... dull, in a way that Molly couldn't explain. But she smiled, and so Molly and Isaac smiled back.

"Merry Christmas, you two," she said, her tone not quite flat, but not quite happy. "Why don't we play a game before breakfast?"

"We could play hide and seek again!" Isaac suggested.

Right. Their last game of hide-and-seek hadn't been too great for Esther. In fact, as she remembered, nothing had been too great for Esther the last few days. She remembered nightmares, she remembered hearing her cry, and now, she looked exhausted.

"I'll count this time," she offered, because it was the least she could do.

"Sure thing." Esther grinned. "Mr. Hopp and I will go hide in the library!"

She held out her free hand, and Molly took note of a necklace that she'd never seen on Esther's neck.