From across the hallway

Part 16

The weeks slipped by, and soon, the holidays were over.

Christmas and New Year for Missy and Emily had been a quiet one. Just the two of them, alone in the apartment with just the TV for company.

Missy had tried to make their time off as nice as possible, they had gone for short walks and watched movies and painted together. But every now and again, Emily would look over at Missy with wide eyes, and ask "wher' Waydee?"

To which Missy could give no answer.

Neither of them had seen nor heard from Wade since Christmas morning.

Not that Missy could blame him from keeping a distance from them. The way Missy had thrown him out.....to say she regretted it, would be an understatement....she knew just how she felt about him...but asking him to leave....well, it had to have been the right thing to do. How could she trust anyone else? Eventually Wade would leave, just like the rest of them...They always did...

But that didn't stop it hurting.

It was cold January evening, and despite it only being 4pm, the sky was already dark, and a bitter chill cut through the air.

Emily and Missy were walking home from work and day-care, wrapped up in coats, scarves and mittens, hand-in-hand.

Missy wanted to get Emily in as soon as possible, for it was far too cold out here, for both of them, in fact.

But there had been a store robbery on the street that they normally walked home, meaning that the police had cordoned off the entire area. So, the pair of them were forced to take a detour down a small side alley instead. Missy wasn't really very familiar with this part of town, but knew that they were headed in kind of the right direction for home.

It was quiet here.

The alleyway was gloomy and full of shadows and Missy clutched Emily's hand tightly as they walked.

They could barely see anything, but their own cold breath in front of them.

Emily only had tiny legs, so walking fast wasn't really an option. But Missy wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. This place gave her the creeps...

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a trashcan tipped in front of them, causing them both to jump backwards in fright.

A black cat streaked out ahead of them, giving a loud meow.

Emily let out a terrified wail, clutching her tiny paws to Missy's coat, trembling with fear.

"I-It's ok, baby....i-it was just a cat," uttered Missy, stroking the top of Emily's head with her gloved hand.

But Missy was, herself, thoroughly freaked out.

They hurriedly side-stepped the spilt garbage that now littered the asphalt, Emily still crying.

But they had barely gone a few paces when there was a sudden sound of movement behind them...

...Footsteps...

Missy's face paled, but she could do nothing but give a gulp and tug her trembling daughter quickly down the alley.

Nearby, they could hear a bassy music coming from what she presumed was some sort of bar. This definitely wasn't where they wanted to be. Not out in the dark and the gloom like this.

"Mommy," murmured Emily giving a small sob. "I scawed..."

Missy reached down to comfort the weeping toddler, but didn't say anything. Not wanting to admit it to her two-year old daughter that she was scared too.