Red's Family Diner

Chapter 6

June 3rd, 1958

Wilbur Beloved —

Tonight was odd, it felt more rushed than anything. Was I simply dreaming of this drive back home on the isolated road, or was it because of the fact I could be just severely tired? The Diner had been open for already 2 months, and it's been rather hell. Especially the long late nights. It made me thrive for the times my day didn't consist of sitting inside an office and hearing the bustling of people, waiters/waitresses, and cooks crying out orders. Red has been distant ever since, noticeably more sober but began smoking. I never understood his ache for the shift of desire to stay in control–but it was better than how Glam has been. I've heard enough of the nice activities they've been doing. I'd kill to have the same energy they had after work, but here I am. Slugging my feet across the driveway to make it to the front door. My eyes dragged themselves downwards as the soft humming of a radio played. Maddie had her stomach grown quite a bit, but she's been taking it easy ever since her first horrible baby kicks. He's been pretty determined to remind Maddie she can't move around that fast, or be emotionally/hormonally sound. I yawned as the front door opened, to spot Maddie asleep at the kitchen counter. She was waiting for me... I felt guilty, making my poor pregnant wife stay up to just try to see me. Every step I take, the more the dream of everything feels. My body grew heavier as I grabbed a blanket and pillow from the couch to hand off to Maddie. To make her little sleep last longer than mine. But when I approached back, my eyes buzzed as a figure of a little girl stood in the frame of my bedroom door. She looked oddly similar to a suppressed memory. Weakly, I felt my mouth open. "Edith?" I cried out softly, glancing around before instinctively following behind. Giggles rang through the house as I felt my body shiver in fear. The anticipation. When I entered the bedroom, I didn't see anybody but only myself alone in the bedroom. "Edith?" I called out again as I looked around. I chuckled slightly, rubbing my head. "I'm too tired. She cannot be here. She's still in those sewers." I said, in an exhausted manner. But even when I was this delusional earlier in the year, it had never gotten this vivid. I trailed towards the phone as I dialed up Red. Maybe it was something he gave me.

"Hello?" Red answered. "Was there anything in...the water you gave me?" I asked. "No, why are you calling me? Aren't you asleep?" He asked as my heart dropped. "What–What do you mean? Are you saying I'm dreaming of this conversation? No! Red–I mean it. Did you spike my water?" I said, chuckling a bit as Red went silent. "No. I didn't. I don't know what you're doing." The dial went up as the loud humming rang. What? I turned my head to spot yet again–the same Edith figure. Smiling and laughing. Suddenly the phone rang again, as I frantically picked it up. "Hello!?" I cried, before hearing loud audible screams. Wailing, screaming, crying. My mouth slightly launched open as I turned around to spot something staring at me. I still held the phone to my ear as I kept a glance at this figure. It looked like a person, but it was almost acting like a puppetmaster. Tinkering with its gentle marionette. "Who–Who are you and what are you doing in my house?" I asked, before suddenly feeling shaken awake.

I woke up as I gasped to spot Maddie looking frantic at me. "You're screaming in your sleep, Wilbur!" She cried exhausted. I lifted myself up as I glanced at the same corner where I saw the thing. I breathed heavily, looking at the phone. It was off, not even connected to the wall. "You kept crying for...Edith. Wilbur please don't tell me you're still hooked up, I thought we moved on!" She whispered as I nodded. "I–We did...I just–When did I get home?" I asked, unaware of the time. "4 hours ago. Now please—let's go to sleep." She pleaded as I nodded, apologizing as she returned to sleep. Was I screaming or not gaining the ability to breathe? I stared at the ceiling before feeling my nose drain, to only see it dripping blood down to the sheets. Great. But what were those screams? And why was...I shook my head as I got up to the bathroom. Treating my bloody nose and hyperrealistic dream. I could've sworn I just had gotten home. Unless...this is what happens when you take extremely long hours.