Uneasy ~ The Conjuring Trilogy

-Chapter Five-

The Conjuring
Part One—Chapter Five

Ed, Lorraine, and Dalton were on their way home when the ladder had a strange feeling of uneasiness as he sat in the backseat. He fiddled with the watch on his wrist as he watched the raindrops cascade down the windows and listened to the thunder boom in the night sky.

A voice seemingly echoed over and over in his head, calling out his name. And when he realized it was Judy, he practically lunged forward in his seat. "Something's wrong."

"What?" Ed asked, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.

"Something's wrong, Ed! Speed up!" Dalton yelled and the car accelerated. They made it home moments later and Dalton raced into the house before the car even came to a stop.

Dalton whisked through the hallway and found Georgiana trying to open the office door. He heard Judy screaming for him and her parents on the other side. "Judy, get back! Get away from the door!" Dalton yelled as he slammed into the door, it busted open and Dalton saw the rocking chair headed straight for Judy. He pulled her out of the way before it could hit her, but suffered the consequences as part of the chair smashed against his back.

"Oh, god! Are you okay?" Lorraine asked Judy as she took her into her arms and moved her hair out of her face.

"Are you alright?" Ed asked as he crouched down and put a hand on Dalton's shoulder. Dalton groaned and leaned against the wall for support.

"There was someone rocking in the chair with Annabelle." Judy cried out before hugging her mom. Dalton and Ed traded a fearful look and Ed went to check on Annabelle. He came back a moment later and said she was still in her case.

Dalton sighed heavily, leaning his head against the wall. Judy rushed into his embrace and he held her close, whispering comforting words in her ear as he looked at the demolished rocking chair, "We're here. It's okay."

<><><><>

Dalton sat on the side of Judy's bed, helping her get tucked in and playing around a bit. "Alright. Snug as a bug." Dalton smiled at her, handing her the stuffed animal he bought her when she was born. She slept with it every night, it gave her a sense of safety.

"I'm scared." Judy said quietly before looking down embarrassed.

"Hey, it's okay to be scared, bug. Being scared means you're about to do something really, really brave. And you know what?" Dalton asked and Judy hummed with a curious look, "You're the bravest girl I know."

Judy giggled when Dalton tapped her nose. She took in every single word he spoke like it was oxygen. She looked up to him like an older brother and he was proud of it.

"I get scared sometimes too, you know?" Dalton said and Judy looked at skeptically. "It's true. I do get scared. But when I do...I think of you, and your mom and dad. That tells me everything is going to be okay, because I know I have you three at the end of the day." Dalton explained and she smiled widely. "So whenever you get scared, you can just think of me and your mom and dad."

"Thank you." Judy whispered before pulling Dalton into a big hug. She let go and he walked to the door, flipping the lights off but turning to her before he left.

"I'll always protect you. I'll always be here, okay?" Dalton asked and received a nod in response.

"Goodnight, Dalton." Judy yawned and rolled over in bed, clutching her stuffed animal to her chest.

"Goodnight, bug." Dalton smiled softly, closing her bedroom door when he left. As he walked down the hallway he heard the phone ring. And when he entered the living room Ed hung up the phone as Lorraine looked on worriedly. "What's wrong?" He asked.