when night comes ━━ mike schmidt

𝟬𝟬𝟵 really?

WHEN NIGHT COMES / Chapter Nine

The babysitter was late.

At first, it was a little, then it was a lot. Now, she was worryingly behind time. She wouldn't answer her phone.

Zion sat at the dining table, leg bobbing up and down, finger red raw from her ring's chafing. She was trying to take deep breaths, trying to breathe through the anxiety—but whenever she cast a glance toward Mike and saw him sigh in defeat as he was met with voicemail each time, her anxiety worsened.

"We're going with you!" Abby shrieked victoriously.

"No."

The girl's bright demeanour didn't dampen by Mike's words. Instead, she grabbed Mía's hand and rushed toward her bedroom, exclaiming something about packing for the trip.

Zion watched them leave, the heavy feeling in her chest growing tighter.

"Well, I don't know what else to do," Mike sighed as he shoved his phone in his pocket, officially giving up.

"Well, we can't take them!" Zion exclaimed fiercely, "You told me there was a break-in, Mike, I'm not risking—"

"The break-in was my fault, alright? I told you, I forgot to lock a door because of the sleeping pills."

"No, I checked it all. I'm careful with it because I can't lose this job!" Zion argued. She was growing light-headed.

"Woah, hey," Mike frowned as he sat beside her. He reached out and squeezed her hand, "Breathe. Breathe for me, okay?"

Irritation building, Zion sucked in a deep breath before exhaling it all. It helped, and she squeezed Mike's hand back.

A little calmer, Zion shook her head, voice quiet, "What happens if there's a break-in when the girls are there?"

"We'll deal with it."

"Listen to me." Zion said firmly, "I would die for Mía. And for Abby, alright? But if that happens, who's going to take care of them? If we both die?"

Mike cracked a smile and shook his head at her, "It's not life or death. You're overthinking again."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. The people who broke in most likely wanted to steal, not kill." Mike gave her a firm look, one that showed he was not budging on his decision, "We have no other choice but to take them."

Zion hated that he was right.

"Fine. Fucking fine," She threw up her hands in defeat.

"I'm not gonna let anything happen, alright? To them, to you, nothing's gonna happen." Mike told her truthfully, his grip moving from her hand to her shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance.

Zion relaxed a little. She leaned toward his touch, sighing, "This is gonna be a nightmare."

"Tell me about it," Mike chuckled, already imagining how rowdy the girls would be.

He left the table and returned not long after with the two. Abby had a bag packed with blankets and teddies. Mía, for some reason, was wearing a fairy dress. When asked about it, she blew glitter in Zion's face.

"Thank you," She responded drily, gold specks contrasting her brown hair.

"Alright, this is how it's going to go," Mike said sternly, crouching down to meet the height of the kids, "We will work, you will sleep. Under no circumstances will the two of you leave our office. This is not a vacation. You're not here to have fun. Do you understand?"