No Regrets

Chapter 6

     Mother held the phone normally at first, but as she read further, her muscles loosened up and began failing her. The phone was being balanced by just the palm; her fingers were nowhere near the phone. Her whole body fell limp and she stood watching the phone for a few minutes. Moments later, mother read the text again and finally processed everything. The man that she had just seen on film was a dangerous criminal and it meant that she and I were not safe. But especially me, the one who the man had taken a liking to. 

    The motherly instinct fueled her mind and body, she looked at the unknown number and marked it down to call it: (714) 127-8702. As the phone rang, her anxiety peaked until the other person picked up.

     "Langston Facility, how may I help you?" Said a woman on the other end.

     Mother's voice shook as she responded, "H- hello, my name is R- Rossetta Stone. You sent me a message stating that me and my daughter were in danger?" 

     "I'm glad you responded so quickly!" She said, her voice higher. Mother heard her tap on her keyboard and continued, "Rossetta Stone and Margaret Nelson, we found the police files where you reported a man breaking into your home, but the police did not find anything to suggest he was able to break inside your home." 

     "Yes, yes. That's it," mother said now pacing around the kitchen in circles until she got dizzy and expanded her circle into the living room. 

     By now, I had woken up and was brushing my teeth with no knowledge of this phone call. 

     Mother asked quickly, interrupting the woman on the other end, "You said we were in danger because the man is a criminal? How do you know this and why hasn't he been caught?" Mother began questioning, overlooking the fact that this facility had private records of a crime. 

     "Here at Langston Facility, we are dedicated to finding these things and putting a stop to their crimes. The police has not been able to catch a single one but we have found multiple over the many years." 

     Mother nodded her head and asked, "What crimes are we talking about?" 

    I finished my business and went to get dressed. Picking out a blue skirt and white tank top. I looked over at my pillow and grabbed my charm father had given me. It would be a reminder that father was with me always when I carried the three-headed dog. I put in inside my skirt pocket and walked into the kitchen.

     The woman stopped for a split second, pondering if she should answer, but after hearing mother's anxiety driven noises, answered, "They murder countless people every day. And the police have not been able to find evidence of the ones who committed the murders. With no evidence or leads, the crimes become cold and are never solved."

     Mother gasped, "Oh my God." She went silent, 'Is my Maggie one of these many victims?' "And you believe my daughter is one of their victims?" 

     The lady responded quickly, "Not quite. These things don't murder children. Only people sixteen and above. We believe that they are using her to get close to you." 

     'Me? But why? Are they cold-hearted killers trying to make a six-year-old an orphan?' Mother stayed silent as she saw me walk into the kitchen. She told me quickly, "Breakfast won't be ready until later. Go play in your room." 

     I looked at her suspiciously, wondering who she was talking on the phone. And that suspicion left when I walked back into my room to play with my Baby Alive. 

     "Rossetta, you have now fallen victim to these murderers, and we are afraid of how much time you have left. Please, help us catch this man to protect yourself and your daughter."