Emily hesitated, weighing her words carefully. "I... I wanted to know more about the Haven's history. About its connection to Victor Mallory."
At the mention of Victor's name, Penny's expression changed. A mix of emotions flashed across her face – surprise, wariness, and something else Emily couldn't quite identify.
"Victor Mallory," Penny repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mr Mallory…"
Emily leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "You know him? Mrs. Fairfax seemed reluctant to discuss anything about the Haven's past."
Penny was quiet for a long moment, her eyes distant as if lost in memory. When she finally spoke, her voice was heavy with an emotion Emily couldn't quite place.
"Victor Mallory was... is... a complicated man," Penny said slowly. "He played a significant role in the Haven's early days, but it's not a simple story. And it's not really mine to tell."
Emily felt a surge of frustration. She was so close to uncovering the truth, yet it remained tantalizingly out of reach. "Please, Penny," she urged. "I need to understand. Victor has been acting strangely lately, and I think it has something to do with the Haven. If you know anything that could help..."
Penny sighed, running a hand through her short hair. "Look, Emily, I can see that you care. Your actions today prove that. But the Haven's history... it's not just about Victor. It's about all of us who grew up here, who found safety and hope within these walls. It's about the secrets that keep this place running, that keep the children here safe."
She turned to face Emily fully, her expression serious. "If you really want to understand, you need to speak with Lisa. She knows more about the Haven's early days than anyone, except maybe Mrs. Fairfax."
"Lisa?" Emily repeated, the name unfamiliar.
Penny nodded. "She's one of the original children the Haven took in, like me. But unlike me, she never left. She's blind, but she sees more than most of us ever could."
Emily felt a glimmer of hope. Finally, a lead that might provide the answers she sought. "Where can I find her?"
"She usually spends her afternoons in the common room, listening to the children read or tell stories," Penny said. "But Emily, promise me something."
"What?"
Penny's eyes were intense as they met Emily's. "Promise me that whatever you learn, you'll use that knowledge to protect the Haven, not to harm it. This place... it's saved so many lives. It's more than just a shelter or a charity. It's a home, a family. We can't lose that."
Emily nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of Penny's words. "I promise, Penny. I don't fully understand what's going on here, but I know that the Haven is special. I won't do anything to jeopardize that."
As they made their way back inside, Emily's mind was racing. She was on the verge of uncovering the truth about Victor's connection to the Haven, about the secrets that seemed to permeate every brick of this place. But she was also acutely aware of the responsibility that came with that knowledge.
The Haven had shown her a world she never knew existed, and had awakened feelings and instincts she didn't know she possessed. Whatever she discovered, she knew her life would never be the same again.
With a deep breath, Emily steeled herself for what lay ahead. She would find Lisa, uncover the truth about the Haven's past, and hopefully, in doing so, find a way to help protect this remarkable place and the people who called it home.
As she stepped back into the common room, her eyes scanning for Lisa, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she was standing on the precipice of something monumental. The truth was within her grasp but would uncovering it bring the answers she sought, or would it unleash consequences beyond her imagining?
Emily's eyes scanned the common room, searching for the woman Penny had described. The space was alive with activity - children playing, volunteers bustling about, the steady hum of conversation filling the air. For a moment, she felt overwhelmed, unsure how to proceed.
Then, in a quiet corner, she spotted her. A young woman sat in a comfortable armchair, her unseeing eyes focused on a point in the distance. Her hands moved gracefully over the pages of a book in her lap, fingers tracing the raised bumps of Braille text. There was an aura of calm about her, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the room.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Emily approached. "Excuse me," she said softly, not wanting to startle the woman. "Are you Lisa?"
The woman's head tilted slightly, a gentle smile gracing her features. "I am," she replied, her voice warm and melodious. "And you must be Emily Whitmore. Your voice gives you away - it carries the weight of questions unasked."
Emily blinked in surprise, taken aback by Lisa's perceptiveness. "How did you know my name?"
Lisa's smile widened. "News travels fast in the Haven, especially when it concerns a lovely lady. Please, sit down. I have a feeling we have much to discuss."
Emily lowered herself into the chair opposite Lisa, her heart pounding with anticipation. Here, finally, was someone who might have the answers she sought. But as she opened her mouth to speak, Lisa held up a hand, silencing her.
"Before you ask your questions, Emily, I want you to listen," Lisa said, her tone gentle but firm. "The Haven's story - our story - is not a simple one. It's filled with pain and hope, darkness and light. Are you prepared for that?"
Emily nodded, then remembered Lisa couldn't see her. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to understand."
Lisa's unseeing eyes seemed to look right through Emily as if peering into her very soul. "Very well," she said softly. "Let me tell you about the Haven, about the man who saved us, and about the price of redemption."
As Lisa began to speak, her voice took on a rhythmic quality, as if reciting a long-remembered tale. Emily found herself leaning forward, hanging on every word.
I was one of the first children this place took in when this place was just starting out with Penny, William, Marcus, Mary, Jake, Tom, Tim and Andrew. Back then, it wasn't the Haven of Hope. It was just a rundown building, a place of both refuge and fear."
Emily's breath caught in her throat. This was it - the origin story she had been seeking. She remained silent, afraid that any interruption might break the spell of Lisa's words.
"Before Mrs Fairfax found us, we were under the care – if you can call it that – of a man named Danzo," Lisa continued, a shadow passing over her face at the name. "He wasn't interested in our well-being. To him, we were just a means to make money."
Emily felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lisa took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Danzo made us beg on the streets. We had quotas to meet each day, and if we didn't... well, the consequences were severe. He didn't care about our health or safety. In fact, he..." Lisa's voice broke off, her unseeing eyes filling with tears.
Emily reached out, gently placing her hand over Lisa's. "It's okay," she said softly. "You don't have to continue if it's too painful."
Lisa shook her head, a look of determination settling on her features. "No, it's been a long time. I can talk about it. People need to know, to understand what we overcame."
She took a steadying breath before continuing. "Danzo believed that a child with a disability could earn more money begging. So he... he deliberately caused injuries to some of us. My blindness... it wasn't something I was born with."
Emily felt a wave of horror wash over her. The idea that someone could deliberately harm children for profit was beyond her comprehension. "Lisa, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't even imagine..."
"It's in the past now," Lisa said, her voice steadying. "Mrs. Fairfax saved us with the help of Mr. Mallory. She took us away from that life and gave us a real home. She made sure we got medical care, education, love – everything we had been denied before."
At the mention of Victor's name, Emily's attention sharpened. "Mr. Mallory? You mean Victor Mallory?"
Lisa nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, Victor Mallory. He was... instrumental in our rescue and in establishing the Haven. But his involvement is a complicated story."