by Sweet, Izzy
Watching as the old man slowly begins to blink his eyes, we all wait for that moment of lucidness that will let us know if he’s here with us or not.
The old man’s eyes suddenly widen as he takes in everyone around him. He must realize we sure as shit are not the ones he was expecting.
Lucifer offers him a sly grin. “It’s so good of you to join us, Andrey. We’ve been waiting a long time to speak with you…”
The End
Playlists
Gabriel’s Playlist
Available on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2VAtci5
Brand New Numb - Motionless In White
Through Hell - Palisades
Cry Little Sister - Marilyn Manson
EXXXIT - 3TEETH
The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
Time Again - Combichrist
THE GUILTY PARTY - While She Sleeps
Doomsday - Architects
King of Diamonds - Upon A Burning Body
Soft - Motionless In White
Meghan’s Playlist
Available on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2Hp50uS
Land of Confusion - Epic Trailer Version - Hidden Citizens
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Emily Browning
Luci - ZAND
Survivor - 2WEI
I Take What I Want - Unions
Jungle - X Ambassadors
Personal Jesus (feat. Coleen McMahon) - J2
Slipping - Hidden Citizens
New Religion - Migrant Motel
Dissolved Girl - Massive Attack
Bad Moon Rising (feat. Candace Devine) - Palestra
Dark Nights - Dorothy
Stand By Me (VIP Remix) - Ki:Theory
Roots - In This Moment
Promise
Abigail
Hands lifted in front of her, fingers curled into claws, my best friend Evie stomps toward me and growls, “Come here, my pretty princess, so I can eat you.”
Eyes wide as I take in the snarl on her face, I take a step back.
When she makes a lunge for me, I squeal, “No!” and run away from her.
Letting out her own squeal, Evie chases after me, trying her best to catch me. She won’t. I’m much faster. Whenever I chase her, I have to make myself slow down so I don’t get her too soon.
Evie’s house is much bigger than mine, almost as big as a castle. There’s lots of places to run and hide.
Knowing better than to run past her father’s office, or anywhere there could be a grownup to stop us, I lead her down the back stairs used by the staff.
“Stay away from me, beast!” I cry out, stopping for a moment as I reach the first floor so she can get closer.
“But I’m han-gry!” Evie whines and makes another lunge for me.
Squealing again, I turn and run for the double doors that lead to the back patio.
We’re not supposed to run through the house, Evie’s mommy doesn’t like it. She said it’s too dangerous or something.
And if we get caught doing it again, we’re going to be in big trouble.
I don’t like getting in trouble and try to avoid it as much as possible.
It always makes me sad and feel really bad.
I’m a good girl.
Evie’s a good girl, too, even if she misbehaves sometimes.
We’re a lot alike.
We both have pretty mommies and baby brothers. Our daddies are big and strong and work together.
Everyone calls us princess.
But Evie doesn’t care about breaking the rules as much as I do.
Her daddy lets her get away with everything. Sometimes he even thinks it’s funny.
Her mommy though…
“Evelyn Marie Harper!”
Evie’s mom’s voice rings loudly from upstairs bringing us both to a screeching halt.
“Oh no,” Evie gasps, her face going as white as her dress.
My heart beating fast, I whisper, “What did you do?”
Evie’s mom’s voice rings out again, sounding closer.
“Evelyn Marie Harper, come here right now!”
Casting a worried look above us, Evie says, “I didn’t do anything…”
Before I can question her about it more, she spins on her heel and takes off running.
Oh no.
Whatever Evie did must be bad.
From the landing above, I hear the fast tapping of Evie’s mom’s heels.
I don’t want to get in trouble for something I didn’t do so I run after Evie. I catch up to her quickly as she cuts through the family room and heads for the front stairs.
“Where are we going?” I pant out as we reach the banister.
Evie casts one quick glance back at me before tearing up the stairs. “To Daddy’s office!”
Of course. If we reach her daddy before her mommy gets to us, he’ll protect us!
Running as fast as we can, we reach the top of the stairs and round the corner.
Then we both smack into a man as he comes around the corner from the other direction.
James grunts as Evie crashes into him.
I crash into Evelyn then stumble back and fall on my bottom.
“Woah! Where are you two going so fast?” James asks as he grabs Evie by the shoulders to keep her from falling. “You know you’re not supposed to be running through the house…”
Evie glances back, her brow pinched with worry.
Then she sees me sitting on my butt.
With a cry, she tears away from James to help me up.
Grabbing my hand, she tugs me to my feet.
We both freeze as her mom calls out again. “Evelyn Marie Harper! I know you’re running from me! You better stop running!”
James chuckles.
Still gripping my hand, Evie spins toward him. “Uncle James, you have to help us!”
“Do I?” James grins and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “What did you do this time?”
The fast tapping of heels grows louder, closer.
Evie and I both look at each other, panicked.
We’re going to get caught.
Turning back to our only hope of getting out of this now, Evie cringes as she admits, “I messed with Uncle Simon.”
“Oh?” James asks as he straightens with interest. “What did you do?”
The tapping of heels slows but grows louder.
Her mom is coming up the stairs!
Panicked, Evie’s voice comes out in a rush. “I may have slapped a sign on his back that said he’s a big mean poopy head…”
Not impressed, James looks over our heads. “Oh? Is that all?”
“I may have also used chocolate syrup to draw the big poopy head so he’d think it was poop when he pulled it off!”
“Oh yeah?” James asks, a smirk on his lips as his attention comes back to us.
“Yes!” Evie cries.
“Okay, since you messed with Simon, I guess I can help you out.”
Motioning for us to follow, James turns around and leads us down the hallway.
At first, he walks so slow, I fear he’s purposely trying to slow us down so Evie’s mom catches up to us.
Looking over at Evie, I see she has the same worry on her face.
She mouths, “Let’s run past him,” to me.
I nod my head and she squeezes my hand tighter.
We’re about to rush past James when he turns around another corner I’ve never noticed before and stops to pull open a door. “Get in here.”
“Evelyn Marie Harper, I swear! If you don’t come here right this second…”
With no other choice but to do as he says, we run through the door together.
The door shuts a second later behind us.
There’s no light, only darkness.
The door creaks and then James starts to whistle a song I don’t recognize.
“Where are we?” I whisper as I twist around, trying to get a feel for the room.
“I don’t know,” Evie whispers back. “I
think it’s a closet.”
My heart is beating so fast the only thing I can hear over it is James whistling.
Until Evie’s mom calls out her name again, sounding closer this time.
I sense Evie squirming beside me. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and then my nose starts to tickle.
There must be a lot of dust in here…
I try to hold my breath but I can’t stop the sneeze that pops out of me.
James’s whistling grows louder.
“Evelyn Marie—Oh, James... Have you seen Evie?” I hear Evie’s mom ask on the other side of the door.
James’s whistling stops and I hold my breath again. Praying I don’t sneeze again.
“Oh, hi Lily,” he says. “No… I don’t think I’ve seen them. Did you try the nursery?”
Sounding suspicious, Evie’s mom asks, “Them? You haven’t seen them?”
“I mean…’ James starts to stumble.
“What’s behind that door, James?”
“Just some brooms and stuff…”
“And you’re leaning against it because?”
“I was thinking about starting a new business on the side. You know, sexy male housekeeper...”
“Move out of the way, James.”
Sighing, James says, “Sorry, kiddo, I tried.”
Evelyn stomps her foot angrily as the door opens. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him!”
“Evelyn Marie!” Evie’s mom gasps and points her finger at her before jabbing it down at the floor. “You get out of there right now and come here!”
With tears in her eyes, Evie lets go of my hand and lifts her chin in defiance as she walks out of the closet.
Placing her hand on her hip, Evie’s mom takes a deep, calming breath then glares down at her. Pinning her with her sharp green eyes. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done, young lady? How much trouble you’ve caused?”
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Evie’s bottom lip trembles but she shakes her head.
“Uncle Simon nearly died of a stroke when he found your sign… and the mess it made it everywhere… I swear, I almost had to call an ambulance…”
James starts to chuckle, and Evie’s mom shoots him a sharp glare.
Pressing his lips together, James straightens and tries not to laugh.
Rolling her eyes, Evie’s mom turns her attention back to her. “Uncle Simon is mad. Madder than I’ve ever seen him. He’s threatening to burn the house down…”
“He’s always threatening that,” James snickers.
Evie’s mom shoots James another glare, stabbing him with her eyes.
James throws his hands up in the air and slowly starts to back away. “Sorry, Lily, but it’s the truth.”
Lily makes a sound of disgust and shakes her head. “Stay right there, James.”
James immediately stops trying to back away.
Hand lifting, finger pointing again at Evie, her mommy asks, “You, young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Evie drops her chin and eyes.
I squirm in the closet, wishing there was some way I could help her out of this. But I didn’t know what she did in the first place…
“Well?” Evie’s mom asks impatiently.
“I’m sorry?” Evie asks and glances up hopefully.
Evie’s mom nods her head slowly then she reaches out and grabs Evie’s arm. “Yes, that’s exactly what you say, and exactly what you’re going to say to Uncle Simon’s face.”
“No!” Evie cries out in horror.
My heart cries out with her.
“Oh yes,” Evie’s mom says with a touch of relish. “You’re going to tell him you’re sorry, and you’re going to clean up the mess. Please escort Abigail to the nursery, James.”
Evie tries to dig in the heels of her white slippers as her mom starts to tug her down the hall. “Mommy, please! Please don’t make me do this. He really is mean!”
“You should have thought of that before you pulled your little prank, young lady!” Evie’s mom snaps with no sympathy.
Evie starts to sob, and I can’t help but sob with her.
Looking between us, uncomfortable and worried, James calls out, “I’ll put a call in to your Aunt Meredith, Evie.”
With tears streaming down her face, Evie glances over her shoulder and sniffles. “Thank you, Uncle James!”
“Incorrigible, all of you men! I swear!” Evie’s mom mutters as she tugs Evie around the corner.
Sighing, James rakes his fingers through his hair then looks down at me. “Don’t cry, Abigail. I’ll take care of this.”
I nod my head and wipe at my eyes.
James holds out his hand. “Lets get you to the nursery so I can make the call.”
I place my hand in his and feel a little better when his big fingers wrap around mine.
James is a lot like Evie’s daddy. He often finds Evie’s pranks funny. I have hope he’ll be able to help Evie.
Simon really is a big mean poopy head.
Walking faster than when he led us to the closet, I almost have to run to keep up with James’s long legs as he guides me to the nursery.
And once we reach the door, he simply yanks it open and motions for me to go in.
Releasing my hand, he pulls his phone out of his pocket.
Biting my lip, I glance over at him, but he’s already walking away.
A little nervous about getting in trouble with Mary for sneaking away, I peek my head around the door to look in first.
Mary is sitting in a rocking chair, gently rocking back and forth as her hands work a pair of knitting needles connected to a ball of pink yarn.
Off to the side, near the cabinet that houses all the building blocks, Adam kneels on the floor beside baby David. It looks like Adam is trying to help David build something.
Oh no, I didn’t know Adam would be here…
My stomach feels a little sick.
Adam usually doesn’t play with us in the nursery. He’s usually too busy with other things. He’s only a couple of years older than Evie and me, but all the grownups treat him as if he’s one of them. He even gets to wear suits and has his own office.
I start to back away from the door. I really don’t want to go in there if Adam is there. I’ll have to find somewhere else to hide until my mommy comes to get me…
“Abigail?” Mary calls out, her attention lifting from her knitting needles.
Darn it. I’m busted.
There’s no hope of running now.
Taking a deep breath, I step over the threshold and say shyly, “Hi, Mary.”
Hoping she won’t immediately lay into me for being naughty.
Adam’s head pops up in surprise from the blocks he’s stacking on top of each other and he glances at me.
Normally, I’d smile at him.
But lately, like Simon, he’s been a big mean poopy head.
Adam hasn’t always been mean to me. He used to be very nice and sweet. So sweet I used to pretend I was his Cinderella and he was my Prince Charming.
The way he treated me made me feel like a real princess.
He would always hold doors open for me and pull out my chairs. Once he learned I really like strawberry lollipops, he started carrying them in his pockets for me. Sneaking them to me whenever mommy and daddy weren’t looking. He would even protect me from other, meaner boys.
He once pushed a boy down the stairs for picking on me.
And he liked to hold hands.
I really liked to hold hands with him.
But now that I’m friends with Charlie, he’s changed. Charlie is just as nice as Adam… or as nice as Adam was.
Sometimes he’s even nicer.
Charlie’s really good at making things and always making things for Evie and me. Whenever we’re together, he always lets us pick what we play. He’ll even dress up for us and have tea parties.
Adam doesn’t like Charlie.
I don’t know why.
A
nd Adam doesn’t like it when I’m nice to Charlie. He’s even told me I’m not allowed to play with him.
I don’t like that.
I don’t like Adam telling me what to do, like he’s a real grownup.
I also don’t like the way Adam breaks the things Charlie makes for me. Like the flower Charlie made me for Christmas.
That’s just being mean to me.
What I don’t like the most though is being upset with Adam. I wish he would be nicer and we could be friends again.
Setting her knitting needles down in her lap, Mary’s crinkled eyes narrow at me. “Where have you been?”
I’m the worst at fibbing. Not because it’s wrong and feels wrong, but because I tell terrible stories. Evie says in order to be good at fibbing, you need to be able to tell a good, convincing story that people will believe. People will usually believe it if you believe it yourself.
The thing is, I know the truth, so it’s hard to believe what I make up.
Mary is also very, very good at sniffing out a lie. She says she has a nose for it. That she can smell it a mile away.
I don’t believe she can really do that but lying to her rarely ever works out so she must have some secret way of detecting them.
Unable to meet Mary’s eyes, I look down at the floor. “I was playing with Evie.”
“Were you two running through the house again?” Mary asks, sounding a bit angry and a bit disappointed.
I don’t want to get in trouble.
The truth will get me in trouble…
But I can’t think of something else that we could have been doing that she’ll believe.
“Father gave them permission to play in the backyard today,” Adam says.
I look up in surprise to see him staring hard at me.
Gulping, I look back down at the floor.
He just fibbed for me…
Why would he do that?
“Oh, he did?” Mary asks, her voice a little higher like she’s genuinely surprised.
“Yes, he did,” Adam says firmly, as if he himself believes it.
“I see…” Mary says thoughtfully.
I peek up again to see her looking at Adam with a frown on her thin lips.
For a moment, I’m afraid he’s going to get in trouble. That she can smell the lie.
But then she smiles at him like she’s pleased with him. “I didn’t know that. Thank you for informing me, Adam.”