Work Text:
A beautiful day, in the middle of February. Fluffy snow covering the roofs.
Beautiful, yet lazy and cold
Lynette shivered in her seat. “I hate this..”
“Oh, come on dear sister! Soon enough it will be March and precious flowers will begin to bloom” Lyney laughed while taking the milk from their fridge.
Both of the twins had woken up rather late, missing the shared breakfast. Lyney took it upon himself to prepare their first meal of the day. Lynette didn’t oppose, instead of helping she chatted with her brother idly
“You’re too happy. How long will February even last?”
Lyney dusted his hands of flour looking at the calendar. He hoped to quickly count the days but he found something rather puzzling instead. Today’s date, namely 18th of February, was burned out of the calendar
The hole was in a round shape, too precise to call it an accident. It took Lyney no time to figure out that this must have been done by “Father”, and on purpose
“But why?” Lyney thought out loud, earning him an eye roll from his twin
“I dunno. Ask Freminet?” She monotoned
And that was exactly what he did
Excusing himself from the kitchen, Lyney directed his path to the last known location of his younger brother: the living room
The place was silent except for the quiet sound of metal compartments hitting one another. He sat comfortably on the couch with Pers between his legs and a bunch of screws on the free part of the sofa. Lyney really couldn’t comprehend how would someone willingly stay in the same position for an abnormal amount of time, only to take apart and put back together something they had already tinkered with many times before.
Lyney makes his presence known by knocking loudly on the door frame. Younger boy immediately turned his head, greeting Lyney with a soft smile and a wave.
“Hey Freminet! Could I ask you a little, tiny question~?” Lyney pleaded
“It’s… fine, I guess?” Freminet scratched the back of his head “What is it about?”
The magician clasped his hands together “So you see, I was checking today’s date in the calendar and I noticed that “Father” had burned it out of the calendar. You wouldn’t know what it means, would you?”
Freminet seemed to think for a second “I-... What date is it today..?”
“18th of February”
…
Oh
Freminet pushed down anything that his body was trying to throw up
“The 18th of February.. It was-… It was Crucabena’s birthday”
“O-oh” Lyney’s face suddenly lost all the colors. He never met the old Director of the Hearth, but from the very little stories he had heard he concluded she was not a good person. To put it lightly.
Freminet returned back to his work, slowly untwisting another screw. Keeping his hands steady was becoming more problematic with each passing second with the dark memories flooding his mind. Right now, he really hoped Lyney would just leave and let him have some air
Unfortunately, his wish was not granted
“Well, okay, that does explain it one bit. But why would it be crossed out? It’s not like you celebrate dead people's birthdays..”
“It wasn’t a normal birthday, Lyney. It was a whole celebration”
Loud ringing of a bell, an alarm. Children shooting out of their beds, bare feet freezing at the touch with the floor. Clothes passed to their owners. A rush leave. Kids taking their places in the main hall. Everyone wide-awake
“Mother” walks in
A round of greeting; new voices shaking, veterans staying solid. “Mother’s” words rung through the room, sweet like honey:
“As you know, my dear children, the best gift I can ever receive from you is doing what Mama tells you and being good. I am really thankful for each and one of you”
Her voice turns bitter
“But as you know, mother’s job is not only to praise, but to punish when necessary”
“The reason why it is crossed out is to remind…”
A girl. She was older than him, with long navy hair she took pride in having. In “Mother’s” words, lately she had been falling behind with her trainings and duties
The girl said nothing, as she was not allowed to speak until asked to
“Mother” walked behind the girl, pulling her hair hastily in a high ponytail. Then she retrieved a pocket knife she always carried with herself and with brutal force cut of the hair so close to the scalp that Freminet was sure she sliced a bit of the skin too
Girl’s pupils dilated - a chemical reaction she had no control over. Yet no tears fell from her eyes, nor did she make a sound, which pleased “Mother” greatly
“My sweetheart, you’re such a good mommy’s girl.” Woman said as she caressed the younger’s cheek, planting soft, loving kisses on her face. “Remember to always listen to “Mother” - you know it hurts me to punish my beloved children like so”
“... the children of the Old Hearth…”
A young boy. He was new to the Hearth, not yet used to its strict rules. He started crying
“Mother” was furious
She pulled the boy's wrist, making the kid whimper in pain. She locked her eyes with him. The boy shivered, trying to muffle his cries
“If you manage to endure my punishment “Mother” will forgive you” she exclaimed
She threw the boy into the lit fireplace
Gut-wrenching and excruciating screams of a child filled the room. “Mother” resumed her talk as if she couldn’t hear him
Freminet still can
“...that this day…”
A group of kids. Maybe 6 or more. They had been spreading “misinformation” amongst the children, hoping to start a riot
“Mother” was greatly disappointed
“I thought I raised my children better than that” She cried “After all I’ve done.. After I gave you a warm and loving home.. Is this what you repay me with?”
She chased the group out the door, locking them as the children realized their mistake, the sharp wind and ever-present snow rendering their bodies unfunctional
When going to sleep Freminet could still hear their cries and pleas, already soft knocks on the front door
“Mother” did not open
The next day only one of them returned, just to die from hypothermia few hours later
“...does not exist…”
A boy. Rigid, unreformable. Frequently disobeying “Mother’s” orders
She gives him a choice. “You’re a smart boy, pick well”
On the left - poison. Kills his insides, unstoppable once used
On the right - blade. Glistening silver, ready to dig through his chest if chosen
He chose poison. He grabbed the bottle quickly drinking it whole
“This is my glory - I choose my death, not you, never you” he spitted those words at her
The boy turned to the other children, hoping to give one last speech
He should have never turned
“Mother” snapped his head before any sound escaped his lips. Only a faint crack of bones and a thud of a fallen body
“...anymore.”
The day ended, the night fell. Each of the children said goodnight to “Mother”, “Mother” did the same.
With the same hands she had killed not innocent kids she ruffled their hair, wishing them nice dreams
“Remember: ”Mother” loves you” she says sweetly, finally dismissing them. They returned to their rooms, in practiced order. Some let their tears fall, others try to keep them hushed
Freminet quickly hides himself in his bed, wrapped in the covers. He doesn’t weep as he knows; “Mother” quietly walks outside their rooms, making each “bad child” disappear when the blackest of night falls
And he wondered, what will happen next year? Will it be his turn to die? With that he falls asleep, hoping the next year will never come
Lyney nodded along slowly, still leaning on the door frame. After Freminet made it obvious he finished explaining, the magician finally propped himself up. It looked like he was about to say something (which Freminet hoped really wasn’t another question) when he came to a halt, eyes wide. And before the diver could ask him, Lyney decided to fill him in with a hushed tone
“I left Lynette in the kitchen. With no breakfast”
With a quick “I gotta go” and “Thanks, Fremi, you’re the best” Lyney rushed back to where he came from, hoping that the kitchen was in a still usable state. You never know with Lynette
When the magician’s footsteps finally disappeared, with a relieved sigh Freminet dropped his screwdriver, letting the rapid shaking take over his hands. Leaning his head back on the couch he closed his eyes
It doesn’t exist anymore, you’re safe. She doesn’t exist anymore, you’re safe
Because Father burned down this day together with the person it belonged to