In My Sights

Father's Frustration

{Many hours later}

Charlie

My feet were aching from walking through the city. I asked everyone I met if they'd seen KeeKee or Vaggie but no one seemed to know or care about what I was talking about. I let out an exhausted sigh and sat down on the curb. I brushed my bangs out of my eyes and stared at the pavement. Two familiar black and red shoes stepped into my view. I lifted my gaze to see Alastor bowing down and offering me his hand, his face held a smile like always. I looked up at him feeling hopeless and defeated.

"Where's your beautiful smile my dear?" Alastor asked calmly. I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet.

"Cheer up little lady, we'll find her." Dad said, wrapping his arm around me and squishing himself against me as he gave me a squeeze. My stomach was burning and I felt like I could fall over from hunger and fatigue. I felt myself sway in his grasp. "Charlie..."

"I'm f-ine..." I said, breaking away from his embrace. I looked at the three men that have been helping me all day with a weak smile. I stood up tall, cleared my throat, and spoke with as much confidence as I could muster. "There can't be too many more places to look, let's keep going."

"Listen toots, you ain't lookin so hot..." Angel shrugged, "Maybe it ain't such a bad idea to call it a night?"

I shot a hurt look at Angel. "No! We can't give up! C'mon let's go!" I turned away from them and started to make my way down the street. After a few steps I felt my knees buckle, my body felt hot, and my head was spinning. I felt confused and disoriented. I heard worried shouting from behind me but it sounded distant and muffled as my whole world faded into inky darkness.

{Later, at the hotel}

My eyes fluttered open in the dimly lit room. I looked around to find myself in my bed, everything was picked up from when I'd been frantically searching for KeeKee. Who cleaned my room? That's so nice of them. I thought for a moment and then I heard a quiet shuffle in the corner of the room. I looked over to see Dad sleeping in an armchair. He looked exhausted, his hair was messy and hung down in his face, his hat and his cane were on a small table beside him, and he could be heard softly snoring in the darkness. He must've been with me all night.

I uncovered myself and went to get out of the bed when I noticed I wasn't wearing the same clothing I'd had on the day before. Instead I was wearing a pair of short black shorts and a rainbow tie-dye shirt that hung loosely, exposing one of my shoulders. I had some bandages on my knees and they stung as I bent my legs over the edge of the bed. I went to stand up and my head was pounding. I looked in the mirror to see my bangs pulled out of my face and a bandage on my forehead as well. There was blood in my hair and dark streaks of makeup on my face from crying.

I covered Dad with a throw blanket and kissed his cheek before slipping on my black and red slippers and slowly shuffling down stairs. When I stepped into the lobby, bright light shown through the windows making my eyes and head, ache more. I blocked the light with one hand and gripped tightly to the guardrail with the other. I felt a hand grasp my arm and another grab my waist to steady me as I made my way down the stairs.

"I've got you my dear." Alastor's staticky voice hummed softly beside me. His touch was gentle yet firm. "Can't have you taking another tumble now can we?"

We stepped out onto the main floor and he helped me over to the sofa in the corner. I settled into the soft velvety cushions and lounged with my legs across the seat. I looked up to thank Alastor only to find his eyes fixed on my bloody, scraped up legs. I cleared my throat, "Ummm Al... Up here?"

His face turned bright red and he cast his gaze away from me. He brushed his hair back and smiled awkwardly. "My apologies, darling."

I too looked down at my bandaged knees, blood was already soaking through the dressings from moving around. I sighed and looked around the lobby to find only a couple roaches skittering about in the shadows to keep us company. I looked back up to Alastor with weary confusion. "Al, where is everyone?"