Voices (Whisper Trilogy Book 3) by Michael Bray Page A

your son have been forced to endure. At the same time, you must see the reasons for our concerns. There is a very real and valid concern that if you were to be given back custody of your son, he would regress to a similar state to when we first became involved. Not to mention the added pressure and stress of caring for him would hinder your own recovery and make your condition worse. I hope you can understand that that this is for the best. The long term goal is to help both you and your son recover from the ordeal you have endured.”
    “You can’t just take him, not without my say so. I have rights. I need to give permission.”
    Melody knew how she must sound. She could hear the shrill tone herself and could imagine how everything she said made the situation worse. Even so, she wasn’t about to go down without a fight.
    “I’m afraid we can, Mrs. Samson. We have the power to do whatever is in the best interests of the child,” Styles said, straightening the folder on the table top.
    “His best interests are to stay with me!”
    “No disrespect, but we need to protect your son from the real world rather than these paranormal delusions.”
    “I knew it,” she said, glaring at Styles. “You don’t believe any of it, do you? The things I told you, the things I told your therapists.”
    “I don’t want to get drawn into this now, Mrs. Samson. The decision has been taken. I’m sorry it wasn’t what you wanted. I hope that once you’ve calmed down, you can find a way to work with us. Our end goal is the same. Would you like a drink? Some time to compose yourself perhaps?”
    “No,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “I don’t see there’s much point, is there? I’m not going to get him back. You said so yourself.”
    “Short term, Mrs. Samson. Keep attending the therapy sessions. Before you know it, things will be back to normal.”
    She stood, feeling alien, distant from herself. She walked to the door, placed a pale hand on the handle, and then turned back toward Styles. “It won’t work like that though, will it, Mr. Styles?”
    “Why’s that?” he replied, eyebrows raised.
    “Because you just told me that the things I know to be absolutely true were lies. And I know they’re not. How can we ever find a way to fix this if you don’t believe what I’m telling you? How can I get my son back if you don’t believe me?”
    “Mrs. Samson—”
    “Forget it. I’ll show you. I’ll prove it to you if that’s what it takes.”
    Although she wanted to unleash her rage, she knew it would do her no good. Instead, she opened the door and left the office. Only when she was safely in her car did she let it out. As she sobbed, holding nothing back, she realized that there was a good chance she would never see her son again.

PART TWO:

    REAWAKENING

CHAPTER 12

     
     
    THREE YEARS LATER
     
    It was his sixth adoptive family. Now ten years old, Isaac Samson had become convinced that nobody wanted or loved him. Some of the families he’d been sent to had been fine with him at first, doing everything they could to make him feel as welcome as possible. However, the persistent night terrors proved to be a universal problem that many of them weren’t prepared to cope with. The other, more serious issue was that of his mother, who tracked him down at every new home demanding to see him. He had been with Grant and Tanya Gaunt for two months, and so far they seemed nice enough, and were even handling his nightmares better than most. Grant was a headmaster at a local school. Slim and blond, he was quiet and serious, with a firm belief in traditional entertainment. Reading, art and music were actively encouraged in the house, and as the days went by, Isaac had started to see a happy, funny man behind the serious exterior. Tanya was the polar opposite of her husband. Happy and outgoing, she loved children, and took Isaac in with unconditional love from the start. Some days, he could almost forget all that had