Unravelled Plaits

~ The outside World ~

Max's -

"My boy. My boy. Has anybody seen him? Anywhere! Daniel! Daniel, baby, I want my baby boy back-"
"Charlotte, wake up."
The woman sits up straight on the sofa. Fear fills her eyes, the eyes with dark circles that have been there since six years ago.
"Daniel." she whispers, her voice shaking.
"Honey, they gave up the search for Dan years ago. I'm sorry. You know that. He's gone. But you have me now, me and Issy. I'm here, okay?" The man has a hurt look in his eyes, and his forehead creases up. The child on the floor looks up, wide eyed, and questions,
"Da-yel?"

The woman weeps softly and hurries to her room where she locks herself in.

The pills on the side.

They look her dead in the eyes, and her hand...

Balls into a fist.

Not today.

"He could come home." She whispers, with no real conviction in her voice.

Krissy's -

"Sir, what was her surname?"
Police sirens shriek their shrill song and caution tape lines the fence of the house.
"Willow... Willow... Listen, mate, don't make a big deal. Missin' persons report, little search, nothin' big, a'ight?" The man raises his eyebrows. "Is just, she always causing her mum hassle, an she don't need that no more. She don't deserve it. An we gots Millie now, we can build a new life!"
The officer looks horrified, yet at the same time, unsurprised.
"Sir, you just gave us reason to suspect you for the murder or kidnap of your daughter in law."
"You what, mate? Screw that. Just a lil' missin' persons report, a'ight?"
"Sir, a missing persons report isn't big unless it's made big. Your daughter in law has a 40% chance of being found, but we will try our very best. I'll need a statement from you and to see you and your wife at the station tomorrow."
"That's exactly-!"
"Gordon! Gordo-on..." A woman ran up to her husband and rested her head on his shoulder; he wrapped his arms around her and wiped the tear stains off her face.
"It's alright, sweetheart. Kacey, listen. She's gonna be foun', okay? S'all good. Its only been one day, she'll be foun' yet. She's okay, love."
The woman nods her head slowly before being asked questions by the same police officer.

When she turns to re-enter her house, the shadow of a smile snakes into her face.

She doesn't have to deal with the child anymore.

She's free.

And now she just has to get rid of the man.