Bad company

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On re-entering the household, female hands cupped Ayana's tear-stained face.

"Did he hurt you, hun? What did he say to you, did he threaten you at all?!"

Ayana's grey eyes widened, staring in confusion and child-like fear at the stranger who's soft palms fussed about her hair. Quick as a blink, tears sprang to the child's eyes.

"Stop mom! You're scaring her..."

A girl appeared besides the woman, her kind smile eased the small girl's already gushing tears. The woman, who towered over Ayana, pursed her lips, re-evaluating her approach. Lowering herself from a concerned crouch to a friendly, open crossed leg position. A calm, gentle smile graced the woman's attractive features.

"I... I'm sorry if I scared you, Ayana. My name is Vivien, and this is my daughter Violet."

After a couple seconds of hesitation, the young girl smiled. One hand gave a small hand, before tangling itself in her freshly cut hair.

"Are you Tate's friends? Tate said not to be scared of most of the ghosts here, because most of them are his friends."

Vivien fought against the scowl that tugged at her brow; calmly, Violet walked from the room, her shoulder's quivering in repressed anger.

"S-sure , honey. Something like that."

Without hesitation, Ayana giggled and wrapped her short arms around the woman. After a short second of shock, returned the warm embrace.

A cold voice broke the thick silence,

"What happened to your hair?"

Vivien stiffened at the boy's dangerous tone. Hesitantly, Vivien rose to standing, an oblivious Ayana ran to embrace Tate's bony knees.

"Tate! The nice boy next door did it, he said long hair is easier to grab! He showed me how to stab and to be fast and not to leave myself open-"

Vivien watched with clenched fists as Tate knelt down infront of the girl, where he placed a single finger over the child's flapping lips, silencing her.

"Ayana, listen to me. Michael, the boy next door? He is not nice. He may do or say nice things but that doesn't change the fact he is not a nice boy, okay? You cannot trust him."

Ayana stared into the elder boy's eyes, before she gave an enthusiastic nod of her head. Smiling warmly, Tate scooped the small giggling child up into his arms, cooing her as he carried her further into the house. Vivien frowned as she watched the pair, Violet stepped besides her. Quietly, Vivien whispers,

"...Do you think she's safe with him?"

Violet sighed, her brows furrowed with doubt.

" No, not really. But it seems, for now, she's safe... Keep an eye on her, mom."

The two vanished from the kitchen.

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