Songbird [H.S]

THIRTY-NINE

The sound of a shrill baby cry echoed throughout the house, interrupting the quietness of the night. With a muffled groan, Marley buried her head deeper into her pillow in hopes of blocking out the sound long enough to let Harry get up and see what was wrong so she could slip back into the peaceful land of sleep. Unfortunately, she was wrong. Nobody got up and the crying got louder - to the point where it would start annoying everyone else in the house.

With a big sigh, the blonde girl had no choice but to slip out from under the warmth of her duvet and make her way across the hall to where Josie was staying in the nursery. Upon entering the room, she was met with Harry's back as he bent over the edge of the crib to tend to his crying daughter. His tangled curls tickled the baby's face as he kissed her cheek, making her grab onto them in her tiny fist as her cries faded away.

"Do you think she's hungry?" She asked through a yawn, waiting for an answer so she could get back into bed as soon as she could. Josie was settled on the boy's hip, being bounced slightly to soothe her as she continued to let out a quiet whine.

"She just wanted cuddles with Daddy. Didn't you, love?"

As the boy turned to face the teenager, Marley froze. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat and an uncomfortable nauseous feeling sat deep in the pit of her stomach. The thick brown curls were now a blonde mess as she realised Harry was not the one standing in her daughter's nursery comforting their little girl. It was Matty.

Her heart began to race as she struggled to catch her breath. She felt light-headed at the sight of her daughter resting her head against the boy's chest, sucking her thumb as she let him soothe her tears.

"W-what are you doing here?" Marley's voice trembled in fear as she stared at the boy in front of her. He looked so comfortable in a place he didn't belong and it unnerved her to the point she felt tears roll down her cheeks. She felt sick.

"Looking after my daughter..." Matty frowned as he noticed the state Marley was in. He look at her, his features dripping with concern - almost as if he actually cared about her. He took a step towards her, his eyes searching hers for some kind of explanation.

Instantly, the girl lept back, demanding he didn't come near her. He was far too calm for someone in the wrong house. And why was he still holding Josie?

"Where's Harry? How did you get in here?"

"Mae, I live here. Harry's probably at his house." Matty responded slowly, keeping his voice calm despite the confusion he clearly felt. "Are you feeling okay? You've gone really pale."

"Let go of my baby!" She cried, desperate for him to stop tormenting her. 

Matty's calm confusion instantly flipped, turning into a fiery rage. His eyes darkened and he harshly shoved the girl backwards with his spare hand. His grip tightened on Josie as he made his way over to the nursery door.

"What's your plan, huh? I let you hold her and you take my girl away from me again?" His words were cold as he spat at Marley trembling in her spot across the room. A small sob escaped her lips as more tears streamed down her cheeks. She had no idea what to do, her legs wouldn't move and her words got stuck in her throat every time she tried to fight back. Her daughter was cuddled up to a man she barely recognised and he was just going to take her away. There was nothing she could do frozen to the spot.

"Josephine is my daughter! You feed her lies day and night, painting me as the bad guy! Do you think she won't find out the truth? I always loved her, you were the one that kept her from me. She doesn't belong with a mother like you." He snarled, his eyes glaring at her with what could only be described as pure hatred. Before Marley could do anything, she watched as Matty walked out of the room, taking her daughter with him.