The Book of Abbadon

LIFE

" READY OR NOT!! HERE I COME!! "

You hear Rosie shout as you hide inside the kitchen pantry. You recognize this memory as you begin to relive it. This was Rosie's 10th birthday, and you're back in Ariel's cottage.

Through the louvers in the pantry door, you can see her running all around the cottage looking for you. Then suddenly she stops, rubs her eyes, then looks all around her like she's seeing the cottage that she's lived in her whole life for the first time again. After looking around for a moment, she locks her gaze onto you as if she can see through the door. Then she carefully walks towards the pantry door and opens it with a bright smile as she talks to you.

" I FOUND YOU PAPA!! "

" Oh darn! You found me again! "

You say to Rosie in a playful manner as you pick her up and start to tickle her. Rosie laughs uncontrollably as you spin around tickling her. Rosie pleads to her mother the best she can through her laughter.

" MAMA!! HAHAHA THE TICKLE MONSTER GOT ME!! HAHAHAHA HELP ME MAMA!! "

Rosie says through her bright smile.

Ariel then walks into the room with a laundry basket in her hands. You can see that she's aged, as Ariel now looks about 35. She sits down on the couch in the living room and smiles gently as she starts folding clothes and responds.

" Mama's getting a little too old to be playing the games that you and Papa play when he visits. "

Upon hearing that, you stop tickling Rosie and quickly snap your gaze onto Ariel with a mischievous look. Ariel sees the way you're looking at her and she smiles nervously because she knows what's about to happen next. Now Ariel is pleading with you through her smile as you set Rosie down and start walking towards her quickly.

" NO! PLEASE! DONNY! I'm trying to fold laund- "

Then you pick Ariel up off of the couch and shower her with kisses as you hold her in your arms. Rosie and Ariel both laugh hysterically while Ariel squirms and pleads with you as you kiss her all over. Then you set Ariel back down on the couch and sit down next to her. Ariel fixes her hair while looking at you with loving eyes, then goes back to folding clothes. As you help her fold the clothes, Ariel talks to Rosie.

" Your father is a real brat, huh Rosie? He thinks he can just kiss and tickle us whenever he wants. "

Rosie looks at her mother with a smug smile as she responds.

" Don't lie, Mama. I know you love Papa's kisses and tickles! "

You turn to Ariel playfully and chime in, taking Rosie's side.

" Yeah, Mama. Rosie knows better. "

Ariel responds playfully and with a smile seeing that you and Rosie have teamed up on her.

" Well... I never said that I didn't. "

Suddenly you hear a knocking on the front door and Rosie jumps up and shouts loudly before running out of the room.

" I'LL GET IT!! "

As Rosie leaves the room, Ariel turns to you and puts her hand gently on your leg. You can see the love in her eyes as she speaks to you.

" Thank you for making it here for her birthday... "

" Do you really think I'd miss my little girl's 10th birthday? "

You say playfully before Ariel gives you a kiss. After Ariel kisses you, she looks you up and down intimately and in silence for a moment. You notice that she's deep in thought, so you ask her about it.