Maura pushed a few branches out of the way impatiently. In the greenery before her sat an old fence. It was painted white, the light coat chipping away to reveal a dull brown. Between the edge of the fence and the trees was a small gap, where a person turned sideways could slip easily through.

Brooke and Maura went through the opening, climbed down the few feet of steep earth, and stood at the edge of a wide expanse of land. The property was bordered on three sides by trees, but the side directly across from the entrance was open. The sky was a deep azure and everything around them seemed to hum in the heat. Sunlight fell upon the ground through that unguarded edge and illuminated the small graveyard.

"This is it." Maura informed Brooke. Her eyes wandered about the nostalgic scene. It had been nearly two years since her last visit to this secret place.

She began walking and Brooke followed close behind. "I used to come here all the time."

"Creepy..." Brooke said.

Maura wandered off between the graves looking for the teddy bear-shaped headstone she remembered all too well.

"Here it is." Maura announced. She read aloud, "Caroline James, 1958-1959."

"She was only a baby." Brooke commented in shock. Her face was twisted in sympathy.

Maura nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I used to bring wildflowers for her."

After a moment, Maura continued with her wandering.

"Hey." Brooke spoke hesitantly.

"Yeah?" Maura looked up. Brooke stood facing the last two rows of graves with her back turned torward Maura, unmoving. Maura's eyes widened as she too saw it.

9 new graves. The soil upon them was mounded up, not yet weathered down by years of rainfall. They protruded from the ground in an ugly, jarring way. But what left the girls speechless was something else altogether: none of the graves had headstones.

Maura went to stand beside Brooke, squatting down at the foot of a nameless body's resting place. Her hand ran softly over the soil, examining the earth. The past two years of history in this place were unknown to her, yet she knew one fact for certain: these graves had been here a while.

"This is so strange." Maura murmured, curiosity and apprehension causing her stomach to turn.

"I don't feel right." Brooke told the other girl. The sight of the graves was somehow agitating; it pierced into your eyes and filled you with emotions lacking known description.

"We should go." Maura muttered, rising to her feet.

Just before Brooke escaped back through the same opening from which they came, Maura grabbed her wrist.

Meeting eye-to-eye, Maura spoke. "We have to come back. At least once a week to check on the... the..."

"Sure, okay." Brooke tried to pull her arm back but Maura's grip tightened.

"Promise me." Maura's brown eyes held no trace of insincerity.

"Fine. I promise."

Maura released her hand.