100 Writing Prompts Challenge

2. Treat

"Mommy! I want that!" The little toddler shoved her chubby finger towards the candy store window.

"No, honey. No more candy." The mother dragged the child past the window as she started to fuss. "You've had enough for today. Now, come on. It's daddy's birthday tomorrow and we need to get him a gift."

The little girl gasped. "Treat! Daddy wants a treat!" Her mother sighed. "No, sweetie. Daddy told me he wants a book. Let's go find the one he picked out." the toddler crossed her arms and pouted.

"Treat." the little girl whined. Her mother sighed and picked her up, moving to where their car was parked.

Four years later

The young girl, now nine, had saved up five dollars and told her mom she wanted a treat. "Im busy, sweet. Another day, ok?" The girl said ok sadly and told her mom she wanted to go play in the backyard. Her mother allowed her to as long as she came inside before dark. The girl went into her room to put on her shoes and shove her money in her jacket pocket. Then she slipped out the back door, then the back gate.

She walked for four blocks until she got to the candy shop she had been staring at each time she passed since she was five. She walked in, handed the cashier her money, and said, "Treat, please, ma'am!" The cashier laughed. "Which kind, hun?"

"Hmm... Chocolate!" The cashier reached up and grabbed a chocolate covered apple and a chocolate box, holding out to the girl who tapped her chin with her pointer finger. The girl pointed to the chocolate covered apple, and as she grabbed it from the cashier, she licked her lips and took a big bite.

She crunched on the apple for a few moments, her eyes closed. Just as she opened her eyes, they became heavy, and she slowly saw nothing but black. Then, everything was gone.

Four years later

"Little Shannon White still missing four years later, police say they still haven't gotten a good lead yet. More info to come after this word from out sponsors."

Mrs. White sighed and set down her coffee cup, wiping her lipstick off of her mouth. She had given up hope on finding her precious Shannon last year when the polices' fifth lead had failed. She turned off the TV and walked out of the door. She rounded the corner of the candy store, the one Shannon had always wanted to go to.

As she peered in the window, she saw a little girl that looked almost like Shannon when she disappeared. As she looked closer, she realized that the girl was her niece, Rosie. She walked as the little girl grabbed a caramel apple. The cashier tried to grab it back, but Rosie was taking a bite. The cashier looked up and Mrs White, and ran to the kitchen door.

"Wha-" Mrs. White started to say, just before Rosie started to fall to the ground. "Rosie!" Mrs. White leaned down and tried to feel for a pulse. She was still alive. She dialed the police as quick as she could.

As the ambulance pulled away from the candy store, Mrs. White let her sister cry into her shoulder. Officer Perry, who had been trying to find Shannon from the beginning, approached them.

Before the officer could say anything, Mrs. White started speed-talking. "What if this is what happened to Shannon? That cashier, she ran into the kitchen, what if Shannon's back there?!" Officer Perry calmed her down. "Relax. We're searching the kitchen and store. We'll let you know when something happens." Mrs. White nodded somberly and cried with her sister.