Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Guilt

Franklin's POV

I arrived at Lana and Markie's dorm to pick up Marcy, just like I had so many times before. Usually, when I knocked, it didn't take long for the door to swing open, with either Lana greeting me warmly or Markie bounding up to say hello. But this time, I waited longer than usual. The seconds stretched on, and I frowned, knocking again.

Maybe they were in the middle of something. Still, it wasn't like Lana not to answer quickly, especially when she knew I was coming. My hand hovered over the door for a third knock when I finally heard the faint sound of shuffling from the other side.

The door creaked open, and Markie peeked out, his small frame almost hidden behind it. His usual wide grin was missing, and in its place was a nervous look that immediately set me on edge. Something was off. His eyes darted to me, then behind him, and he opened the door wider but didn't step aside fully.

"Markie," I said, keeping my tone steady but firm, "where's Lana? Where's Marcy?"

Before he could respond, I heard Lana's voice call from down the hallway, near the kitchen. "Franklin, we're back here!"

The urgency in her voice tightened the knot forming in my chest. Without hesitation, I stepped past Markie and made my way toward the sound of her voice. Something was definitely wrong.

When I rounded the corner, my heart sank. There, on the floor near the kitchen, was Marcy. She was curled in on herself, her knees drawn to her chest, her face pale, and her small frame trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. Lana was crouched nearby but keeping a careful distance, her hands raised slightly as if to show she meant no harm. Her face was tight with concern, and I could see how carefully she was balancing her own emotions, trying not to make things worse.

"Franklin," Lana said softly, her eyes meeting mine. "She's having a panic attack. I didn't want to touch her without you here."

Her words barely registered. All I could see was Marcy, terrified and lost in a storm I didn't yet understand. My instincts kicked in, and I moved to her side immediately.

"Marcy," I said gently, stepping closer and kneeling beside her. "It's Daddy. I'm here now, sweetheart."

She didn't respond. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, her entire body rigid with fear. I kept my movements slow and deliberate, lowering myself fully to the floor so I could be at eye level with her. "Marcy, look at me," I said, deepening my tone slightly. "You're safe now. Just focus on my voice. I'm here."

Her gaze flicked toward me briefly before darting away again. "I didn't want to," she whispered, the words tumbling out in a shaky, panicked breath. "I didn't want to, Daddy. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."

Hearing her call me Daddy in that terrified voice shattered me. "I'm not mad," I assured her, keeping my voice calm and steady. "You're not in trouble. I promise. Just take a deep breath for me, okay?"

But she couldn't. Her breathing only grew more erratic, her words spilling out faster. "It was Markie's idea. I said no, I said no, but I—I didn't stop him. I helped him, and now... now..." Her voice broke into a sob. "I didn't mean to!"

I exchanged a quick look with Lana, who nodded subtly before stepping back to give us space. "Marcy," I said again, this time letting a bit more authority creep into my tone. "Stop and listen to me, sweetheart. You are safe. I've got you. But you need to take a breath with me. Right now."

The firmer edge to my voice seemed to cut through her panic. Her wild eyes locked onto mine, and I exaggerated a deep inhale, holding her gaze as I slowly exhaled. "In through your nose, out through your mouth," I coached. "Let's do it together."