Dwellings On The Past ~ (Lorraine's daughter)

Babysitter

"You dad and I will go to the basement without you, okay?" my mother requests urgently. She threw a thin coat over her nightgown and put on slippers, same as I. She looks very stressed out, which I've never really seen on her, when I think about it. Except when she had that vision and locked herself in her and dad's bedroom for eight days. My dad made sure Judy and I didn't notice too much of it, but I was so worried.

"Stay with the family in the living room." my dad demands before the two quickly wake up George. Julie and Carola really aren't here. My dad explains the situation as quickly as possible and George follows my parents in the hallway.

Great, I'm alone again. Not entirely, but I feel so helpless just standing here. All I want to do is help and I can't even do the tiniest thing.

"What's going on?" JJ's soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts as she grabs my nightgown. "Where is everyone?" Maybe there's a tiny thing I can do to help.

"Your parents and your sister are downstairs with mine, dealing with the spirit haunting your house." I explain to her. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep you safe." I reassure her, but she doesn't seem satisfied.

"Where's Davie, then?" JJ asks in an awfully quiet tone while rubbing her eyes. "Well, he's right there." I mean to say, but when I turn to David's mattress I see he's gone. The light in the room is switched on so it's awfully obvious he's not here. "He was right there. Presumingly."

"What?" Jennifer calls and I can practically see the fear in her eyes and I feel it myself. No sign of insecurity in front of little girls, got it. Well, I need to find a solution now. And by the sign of tears in JJ's eyes, I have to do it quickly. Like, right now.

She wraps her arms around my abdomen and pushes her face to my stomach. There's nothing left from the confident girl I know she is, now she's all clingy and scared. "You're such a tough girl, JJ." I say while kneeling in front of her. She took a step back. "And I know you can be strong now. We can look for your brother together, alright? Let's find him." I suggest. To my luck, she accepts the idea.

"Does he normally... hide?" I ask after we entered the kitchen, dining room and then the library. We're back in the living room again. "No, silly." she giggles. I'm relieved she has her smile back, but confused as to why the idea of David hiding is so funny. "What?" I ask, pretending to be shocked. I'm only surprised. "Why not?"

"He's the one who runs to hide us when mama and papa fight." she says, her tone almost neutral or maybe sad. I'm not sure, JJ's hard to read. "He always tries to fix things with them. He would never hide."

Is there something going on between Carol and George I don't know? Something bad? What if it involves the children? "Linda?" JJ asks. Right, I have a person to take care of and another one to find. I force myself to think of something, anything that could help them.

"I'm gonna ask you a question and you really need to think about it, got that?" I place my hands on JJ's shoulders and some of my brown hair falls into my face. It's still not entirely dry and I'm really cold because of it. Jennifer nods hastily while remaining a concentrated expression.

"When your mom and dad fight, where does your brother hide you and your sister?" I ask. She smiles again. "I don't have to really think about it. He brings me to the library and I go in the half empty bookcase."

"And your sister?" I inquire.

She hums while tilting her head. "He always hides me first. But one time I could hear him and Jullie walk up the stairs, so probably there." she tells me. "Upstairs it is then." I announce. We already went to the library, so I sincerely hope David is up there. On the other hand, the demon was there and I really wanna do everything but run into her. "It's alright." I mutter to myself quietly, because the demon is busy in the basement with the rest of this family and my parents. We'll be fine.

"We should split." JJ suggests when we reach the top of the stairs. There's really absolutely nothing left of that afraid version of her, she's all confident again. I raise my eyebrows at her, but only after I turn on the light in the hallway. "Absolutely. Not. Ms. Atwell." I say. For her safety and comfort and my own.

We start at the right side when you're coming from the stairs and plan to slowly search our way to the other side. The first room is Carol and George's bedroom. On the left wall are three closets, in the same old wood you find everywhere in the house. This is great, I think before going to open the first one. JJ is right behind me.

I close my eyes, open the closet door and then open my eyes again. I jump at the clown mask hanging over some clothes. "Why do your parents have a clown mask?" I ask, glancing at the little girl behind me. She shrugs.

Opening the closets one by one is torture and I can hear my heartbeat drumming in my ears. It's so fast I seriously consider passing out. If I think about it I kind of feel drowsy. "What are you waiting for?" JJ's voice sounds from the door. I sigh, trying to focus. It's not easy because while I'm afraid for myself, I worry about my parents and the little Julie as well.

"Nothing. Coming." I announce, following the little girl in the next room which is her own. Wooden letters spelling out "Jennifer Jane" are taped to the door and when JJ turns on the light I see so many colors in the room, like a rainbow exploded in here. Or maybe a unicorn vomited. Probably something in between.

JJ rushes over to her bed and grabs a stuffed animal which is laying on the floor. It's a bunny or a rabbit, not quite sure. It looks a bit creepy. "Nora!" she exclaims happily as she hugs the thing to her body. The girl notices my confused gaze. "She was with me last night, but she was gone this night. I searched everywhere.. everywhere downstairs."

"Right." I say, dragging out the word. Creepy stuffed animals disappearing in the night a demon possesses a little child. Isn't that fun?

Jennifer and I check the next to rooms, finding nothing but an old knife in David's room. On the one hand it creeps me out, but then it's David Atwell we're talking about. He's a very weird and scary individual.

"I want mom." JJ complains when we come to a halt in front of Jullie's shut room door. What do I tell her? Probably not that I want my mom as well. But I do, because Jullie's room is the one the demon was in and the last time I was here, the door was open. "I know, hon. But as soon as we find David, we can go downstairs again." I say, knowing it doesn't make sense at all. Maybe I'm not that good of a babysitter.

I step forward and place my shaking hand on the cold door handle. My heart slams against my chest and I can feel the thin layer of sweat on my forehead. This is fine. After opening the door slowly, I scream.