Kill Me Quick

Prologue

"Today's movie night, Daddy!" I remind dad for the tenth time. I'm so excited. Movie nights are always the best.

Dad lets out a warm laugh as he stirs the almost ready pasta. It smells so nice that I can't wait any longer. "Have you decided what we'll be watching tonight, honey?" He turns to me and kisses my forehead, making my smile get even bigger.

"Avatar." I say and he raises his eyebrows in shock. I've heard my friends at school talk about it... well, mostly the boys. One of them is Luka. Luka is so cool and him talking about Avatar made me want to watch it.

"I thought you wanted to watch Tangled..." Dad says, almost unsurely. I laugh at him.

"I've heard about Avatar. I want to try it out. And we've watched Tangled and other princesses like twenty times. Aren't you tired, Daddy?" I try to reason with him. He nods with every statement I make.

"Fine." He drags the 'i' as he turns and switches off the cooker. "But if you don't like it, we'll change to Tangled."

"Deal." I almost shout before getting off the counter and rush to the seats. My stomach is already rumbling at the sight of dad serving the food on the plates. He places my favorite plate in front of me as he sits in his usual chair next to mine. 

The next twenty to thirty minutes is spent on us eating as I tell him all about school. After placing the dishes in the washer, I rush to the closet as dad sets up the series. I bring out four pillows then go back to bring two blankets. by the time I'm done, dad has already brought the snacks and is waiting for me. I smile at him as sit down next to him and start watching. 

Three or four episodes in, I start feeling sleepy and I start dozing off. This is interrupted when I hear a loud bang on the front door. My dad suddenly goes still next to me. Three loud knocks are heard again, and I hear dad say the f-word under his breath.  

"Lindsey, honey." Dad whispers. "Remember the secret spot we talked about and practiced?" I nod, afraid of saying a word. This has been happening for the past month. "Don't come out until I come for you, okay?"  I nod as I stand. "I love you so much, baby."

"I love you, daddy." I whisper back. he gives me a kiss on my nose, and I hurry to my room then open my tiny closet and open the secret door in there. I click on the button my dad had shown me before and a small bulb, lights up. I notice he's added some of our pictures together on the wall. I remember some from my ninth birthday a week ago. I see a few of my mum's and one for my dead brother, Carl. He's supposed to be twelve right now, but he died four years ago. 

I set up the two large pillows against the door as dad had instructed me and move to the opposite corner. Here, I find a story book I've never read before and so I start reading it immediately. I finally sleep, two paragraphs in. Guess I was too sleepy. 

I never knew that was the last time I'd have a peaceful sleep.