Sleepers Part 1

Sleepers Episode III

Chapter 3

                By the afternoon, the Talbot family found themselves standing at the reception desk for the GenLife in house psychologist’s office.  Mrs. Talbot had been to the office many times in the past and had seen a different doctor then the one that would be talking with Amy.  Even though Mrs. Talbot was not the one being seen she still fidgeted nervously.  She had never felt comfortable coming there.

                Mr. Talbot stood beside his wife having cleared his schedule for the day so he could attend.  With one hand resting on the shoulder of his little girl who stood in front of him he reached out his other to squeeze his wife’s arm in comfort.  She offered him a shaky smile relieved that he was with her.  Mrs. Talbot glanced about the waiting room noticing only one other occupant besides the three of them and the receptionist.  It was a young boy who sat by himself.  She had seen him before on some of her more recent visits.  He was always alone, always silent, and any time he was spoken to, he would look right through the other person instead of at them.  Mrs. Talbot would guess his age a couple of years older than Amy.  Just like Amy he gave her a bad feeling.

                Her attention was drawn away from the boy when an office door opened.  An older woman, probably in her seventies, emerged from within.  The woman seemed genial as a smile creased her face upon seeing the family.

                “You must be the Talbots.  I’ve been expecting you.”  She said cheerfully as she shook hands with them.  Mr. Talbot was shocked to say the least.  As far as first impressions went he felt like he was meeting someone’s jolly grandmother rather than a doctor.  While she was dressed professionally enough he still couldn’t shake the image of her giving out cookies and hugs with a smile.

                “Dr. Green?”  He asked unsure of the person before him.  Covering her mouth with a weathered hand she tittered in glee.

                “Oh my!  Just call me Agnes.”  While Mr. Talbot seemed to relax as he warmed up to the woman, her whole demeanor just set Mrs. Talbot more on edge.  The corners of her mouth pulled downward as she took a closer look at the psychiatrist.  A move that didn’t go unnoticed by Dr. Green.

                “I find that children respond better to someone they see as harmless.”  She offered the couple in a last-ditch effort to put them at ease.  Mrs. Talbot couldn’t help noticing the doctor’s choice of words.  “You must be Amy.  Why don’t you go say hello to Levi while I have a chat with your parents dear?”  The elder woman gave her little choice in the matter as she drew her away from Mr. Talbot.  Pressing tenderly against Amy’s shoulder Dr. Green delicately guided her in the lone boy’s direction.

                As Amy walked away Dr. Green took the Talbots into her office and closed the door.  Amy took the seat beside Levi at the children’s play table.  She watched him curiously as he played mindlessly with a spent matchstick.  While he pointedly ignored her, she looked him over.  He was dressed like every other little boy she had sever seen.  He wore a plain colored long-sleeved t-shirt with a faded pair of jeans that were grass stained on the knees.  His once white sneakers were scuffed and dirty.  He had messy shaggy brown hair that needed a cutting as it hung down almost covering his rich brown eyes.  What caught Amy’s attention though were the slightly scorched edges of his sleeves.  He wasn’t entertaining enough to hold her interest for long.  Amy moved on from observing Levi to studying the room.

                “This must be your first time.”

                “Why do you say that?”  Instead of answering her Levi merely watched Amy from the corner of his eye.  Amy continued to ignore the boy deciding he had gone back to playing with his match.  Her eyes landed on the receptionist who had been eyeing the interaction between the pair.  A look of disdain twisted the woman’s features as she made no move to glance away.

                “There was another woman who looked at me like that before.”  Amy stated while brazenly holding the woman’s stare.

                “What did you do?”  Levi asked giving up all pretenses of his earlier play.

                “I took her face from her so she couldn’t do it again.”  The receptionist let out a horrified gasp glancing away in fear.  Levi giggled at them transforming his average face into one of a mischievous cherub.

                “Where are your parents?”  Amy blatantly asked him, having turned her attention to the boy who was openly gazing at her.

                “They’re not really your parents you know.  We’re only made to look like them.”  Instead of becoming upset Amy watched him with fascination.  Pride settled over his form as her response appeared to impress him.  Levi leaned in as if to conspire with her.  Excitement shone in his eyes.

                “Do you like fire Amy?”  Amy’s eyes zeroed in on the match in Levi’s small hand while speaking as if she were in a trance.

                “It makes the loveliest screams.”  Levi beamed a radiant smile at her knowing they would be the best of friends.

                The two of them were interrupted by Mr. Talbot who cleared his throat awkwardly when he saw the intense atmosphere surrounding the children.  Mrs. Talbot had been relegated to go with Dr. Green to set up standing appointments for Amy to have one on one sessions in the future.

                “Amy, it’s time to go home honey.”  Mr. Talbot called out to her beckoning her over to him.  The smile fell from her face as she turned a blank gaze on him.  Getting up she walked somberly over to him taking her place at his side without saying a word.  Dr. Green smiled warmly at the little girl as Levi turned his attention back to his matchstick.  Mrs. Talbot rejoined the group tucking away the appointment card into the depths of her purse.

                As the couple left with their daughter the psychologist pulled out her cell phone.  Walking over near Levi she waited to be patched through to her handler.

                “426 has awakened.”  Was all she said into the silence before disconnecting.  Levi gazed up at the doctor as she spoke smiling down at him.  Tucking her phone away she reached out to ruffle his mop of hair.

                “It shouldn’t be long now.”  Levi grinned at her reassurance before she turned and headed back into her office.  She needed to send out alerts to begin preparing everything.