It's Play Time!

Chapter 34

"Who's that, mama?" Joseph pointed to a picture of a little girl in his mother's memory book.

"Oh. That's, um, that's your sister, hun." She suppressed her tears. "Sister? I didn't know I had a sister!" He smiled up at her.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she stared at her son. Despite having a different father, he looked so much like her.

He had big blue eyes and silky black curls. Along with adorable dimples and rosy cheeks. He was even missing his two front teeth.

"Please don't cry, mama. Why are you crying?" He asked sadly.

The door suddenly opened and closed.

"Daddy!" He got up, running over to the Mexican man.

"There's my little man! Where's your mother?" He ruffled his messy hair. "In the living room." He murmured.

He walked in to see his wife sobbing softly to herself.

"Joseph, go to your room for now." He requested, rubbing her back. He nodded, running upstairs.

"Let's go to our room. Yeah?" He helped her up and led her to their bedroom. She sat on the bed, holding her head in her hands.

"Whats wrong? What happened?" He asked.

"He saw her, Javier. He saw her." She choked out. "Saw who?" He asked.

"Lorelei. I should've burned that picture." She wiped her eyes. "Hey, no you shouldn't have. You should always keep a piece of her with you. Even if it's just a picture." He tangled his large fingers in her tangled black hair.

"I was a horrible mother to her. And now she's gone. And I can't get her back. She's in that fucking restaurant, Javier. I know she is." Her guilt was replaced with anger.

Her husband pressed his lips together. He couldn't understand how his wife could be so far gone. Too far gone to even realize that her daughter was dead.

"You were a kid. You didn't know what you were doing... Listen, you're therapy session is today. I could go ahead and drive you down there." He offered.

"Can we take Joseph? Please?" She pleaded. "If he wants to go. I'll go get him. Is it okay that I leave you here?" He asked and she nodded.

He got up to retrieve his son.

She could see her in her mind now. Her sweet, welcoming eyes, her cheeky little smile, it was all so clear, bright as day.

"Oh, Lori." She whispered. A tear leaked from her eye and down her cheek to her nose.

"Kelly, I'm going to the car! Come out when you're ready!" Her husband called, holding her son in his arms.

She sighed, getting up and grabbing her purse. She walked out the door and got in the car. She kept her eyes on her son the whole drive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" His birthday was last week? How old is he now?" Her therapist asked.

"Six." She pressed her temples together.

"And you thought he'd be gone by the time he was four. I'd say that's an achievement." She sat up.

"How do I know he won't be taken when he gets older? The oldest victim was ten years old!" She said through gritted teeth.

"Not every child dies before their parents, Kelly."

"She's not dead, Holly! She's there! There in that restaurant! She's trapped in that...thing!" She clenched her fists. She felt her nails digging into her skin, but she could care less.