❧𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡❧ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐂𝐔

₀₈ | 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨.

The TV murmured in the background as Aria sat on the couch next to the twins as anxiety-riddled her small frame. She knew what she had to do, but it didn't mean that she wanted to.

She had to lead the boys down to the basement and trap them. That was the only way that Agatha was going to be able to get Wanda alone, and the only way that Aria could get her mom back.

So no matter how much she protested against it, she had no choice. This might be the only time that she could have the chance to help her mom, and she wasn't going to pass it up for some random kids that she met a day ago.

"Okay, who's thirsty? Some bevs." Agatha sighed with a smile as she sat down in between the trio, placing three cups on the coffee table in front of them.

However, Tommy just looked at her with a confused look while the rabbit took Billy's interest on his lap and Aria refused to look at the older woman as she conjured up the easiest plan to lure her new-found friends down to the basement.

She hated that she had to do this, and she hated that when she finally made new friends, she had to just betray their trust as if it meant nothing to her—like she didn't care. But she did. God, did she care. She knew that no matter how much she hated it, her mother always came first. Her mother always kept Aria safe, so why shouldn't Aria do the same for her?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Agatha asked as she leaned in Billy's direction. If she were to ask Aria, Aria would say that the young boy seemed pretty content.

Billy turned his head up to look at Agatha with a smile. "I like it here,"

No, why'd he have to say that? Aria thought, her body filling with even more guilt than before he said that.

"Oh, good," Agatha spoke with a surprised tone and a smile. "Is it because Señor Scratchy is such a good listener?" Agatha's tone softened as she scratched the rabbit's head.

"No, It's because it's quiet," Billy responded simply before he peered his head up to look at the older woman next to him. "You're quiet, Agnes. On the inside," Billy continued seriously, making Agatha's eyebrows furrow in confusion.

Aria looked up at him with the same confused look as the older woman, her plan on pause as she attempted to process what the 10-year-old said.

"Do you think our mom is okay?" Tommy spoke up, snapping both Agatha and Aria out of their confused thoughts.

Agatha stopped for a second and looked from Tommy to BIlly, to Aria, and then back to Tommy, trying to think of an answer for the worried 10-year-old.

"Oh, for sure!" Agatha finally said, before she looked between the trio again and wrapped her arms around them. "Oh, you don't have to worry about your mom. Your mom can do anything! She's super mom," Agatha chuckled nervously.

Yeah, like create an entire fake world and trap everyone in it. That's definitely super. Aria thought to herself as she rolled her eyes.

❦❦❦

Agatha had left to set everything up downstairs, meaning that Aria only had a certain amount of time to lure the boys to the basement and betray their trust. God, did she hate this.

She watched as the twins sat, watching TV and eating their sandwiches happily. Completely unaware of what's about to go down. The 9-year-old next to them couldn't help but feel guilty—like she was the worst person to ever exist.

She wished that she had met the twins under different circumstances. Maybe then, she'd be able to save the budding friendship between herself and the twins. But alas, that wasn't how the world worked.