Chaos

Samantha awoke shivering and heard the toddlers whispering amongst themselves. "Where are the bells?" Rebecca said.

"What do we do?" Annie asked.

"I'm scared."

"There's no reason to worry," Prudence said. "Reverend Crane wants to give us more time to learn our lesson for defying him. Everyone kneel down and we'll pray like Miss Brigham taught us." Samantha closed her eyes, pretending to sleep as Prudence led the others in prayer. After they finished, Samantha tried to get off the bed. She felt as though someone were stabbing her with a thousand pins all at once and collapsed back onto the pallet.

"What's going on?" she asked through chattering teeth.

"The doors and windows are still boarded shut. We don't have any food and it's time for morning services," she said.

"He's going to let us out, isn't he?" Rebecca asked.

"Of course he is," Samantha said. "He has to at some point or nothing around here will get done." The little girl accepted this explanation and went to sit with the others.

"Are you feeling better?" Prudence asked.

"A little. Can you put that blanket over me?" Prudence draped the blanket over Samantha's back. She felt a sting for an instant, but then a surge of warmth. Prudence put a hand to Samantha's forehead, grimacing when she pulled it back.

"You're burning up. We have to get word to the reverend so he can cure you," she whispered.