Introduction

Darcy's life is in tatters. Just when things were starting to look up for him, his life takes a backward step. For the first 16 years of his life during his incarceration at the orphanage, his name was Edward Willow.

His Past and Encounters

He tells a story of how he and his friends were treated while living under the Mother Superior's rules. While there, he was befriended by an entity who manifested itself as a ghost. Her name was Tilly, she played with him, and treated him like a brother. At first, he thought she was one of the orphans. He grew up learning she was more than a ghost; she had the power to tell him the truth about the history of the building and one of its past inhabitants' sinister secrets through his dreams.

Escape Attempts and Discoveries

He tried to escape when he chased the priest's car, but the gates closed shut in his face and almost broke his nose. Later, he started suffering dizzy spells and recurring head pain that may have been the result of the incident. He vowed that one day he would find a way out of Willow Hall if it killed him. In the meantime, he made friends with the gardeners. To occupy himself, he decided to explore the attic with his best friend. Together, they began to unravel the secret of the mansion before it was an orphanage. They thought they stumbled on some treasure until they discovered a large wooden sign that said Ledderman Manor.

Missing Friends and Suspense

It was when two other friends he was introduced to went missing. Darcy began his search for them, but it was futile. He asked the senior bullies about their whereabouts; however, Darcy was made fun of and told to mind his own business. He didn't want to let go because he and his friend had vowed their circle of trust and feared they might have been killed. When he was in the middle of waxing the balustrades and bannister of the grand staircase, his best friend told him the boys had turned up. Later, Darcy noticed strap marks on the torso of one of the victims but didn't quiz him yet. Eventually, the boy confided in him, revealing what happened and warning Darcy and his friends to be wary of the Mother Superior, who had caught them during their discovery after hearing noises above their dormitory during the night. Darcy also heard these noises and began a deeper investigation of the mansion, discovering how the nuns lived a luxurious life in their quarters while the orphans ate measly meals. They suffered malnutrition, sicknesses, and other diseases. Sister Bernadette was the only nun who truly cared for them, but when she had enough, she left Willow Hall to live out her days in a convent.

Discipline and Confrontation

Darcy had already been reprimanded and severely punished by the Mother Superior, and Father Delaney had a stern talk with him. Darcy, however, told him a few home truths about the Mother Superior. Father Delaney arranged for the new girl to be removed from the orphanage after locating her next of kin, as her parents had died. Darcy thought he took her away because they were getting too close for his liking.

Fate of the Twins and Further Mysteries

Darcy's other two friends, the youngest twins, were taken from the dormitory after being seen by a passing stranger claiming to be their father. He tried to reclaim his boys, but the Mother Superior insisted they were better off staying with her, where they were protected from their mother. The gardener recognized who the Mother Superior really was, but he and her secretary, Sister Lucia, couldn't do anything about it. Later, he uncovered the mystery of the passing stranger and became frightened that something bad was going to happen. He asked the Mother Superior, but she denied any wrongdoing.

Escape Plan

She devised a plan to have the children removed from the premises and driven to the church rectory where Father Delaney lived. A bus was delivered and hidden among the shrubs so that Sister Lucia could quietly usher the children onto it and away to safety.