XO Cassandra

*3*

Cassandra sat against the wall, her hair falling in her face as she slowly rocked back and forth, clutching her knees to her chest. Her parents were downstairs fighting, the sounds of glass breaking and people being pushed and shoved and probably punched were echoing in her mind, gluing her to the floor. She wanted to cry, she really did, but she couldn't pull herself out of her trance. She saw the Mad Hatter, dancing around her room, a bunny with a clock chasing after him; this brought a smile to her face, and she couldn't help but giggle. She slowly stood from her spot, walking towards the dancing madman, throwing her head back in laughter while watching his crazy movements. She grabs ahold of his hand and begins to twirl around the room, humming quietly to herself as the dance continued. Slowly the room slipped to grassy fields with a dark forest surrounding the outskirts, the bunny was hopping more furiously towards the woods and it was just the Mad Hatter and herself left.

The dances began to slow to a stop and soon they were both sitting on the grassy floor, sipping cups of warm tea. "Tell me, dear, have you ever heard of Wonderland?" The question surprises her, was that not where they were? "Yes, of course I have. Why do you ask such a silly question?" She giggles, taking another sip of her tea. "Wouldn't it be lovely if you joined me in Wonderland?" She wanted to say yes, she wanted to nod her head, she wanted to agree, but something at the back of her mind was telling her to say no. "I would love to, but not today, I must tend to my parents." She whispers, standing up slowly, the Mad Hatter's smile grows into something evil, but she doesn't notice. "If you will excuse me, I believe there is something that I have to do." She tells him, setting down her teacup.

Suddenly she's back in reality, walking silently into the kitchen. She searches the room for whatever object popped into her mind first: a butcher knife. She grabs it from it's spot on the knife stand, why did they own so many knifes? She slowly walks into the living room, watching as her parents continue to yell and harm each other. "Mother." She says, her voice dull and blunt. "Father." They both turn to face their only child, eyes widening with fear. "Cassandra, darling." Her mother's voice shakes a little as the teenage girl approaches the previously-fighting couple. "Cassandra, put down the knife." Her father's voice is strong and stern, but the fear shown in his eyes like a spotlight. She shakes her head, holding the knife above her head, positioning it to attack. "I believe you had this coming." She tells them, walking towards them with no emotion showing.

They glance at each other before dashing up the staircase, running into their bedroom. "Lilly, get the phone." Her father tells the now trembling woman. She only nods her head and pulls the phone out of her bedside drawer. She hands it to him, tears spilling over her eyes as she leans against the wall beside the door, trying to keep her breathing quiet. "Derek, go to the bathroom to call." She whispers, he only nods his head in understanding and walks silently into their bathroom. He quickly dials 911, talking quietly and quickly. After he hangs up he tosses the phone onto his bed and walks over to his wife, preparing himself to black the door if the girl were to get it open. He holds his trembling finger to his lips, telling her to stay as quiet as possible.

Maniacal laughter echoes through the door, warning them that their daughter is getting close. "I talked to the Mad Hatter today, he told me that I need to get rid of you." She laughs again, dragging the knife against the wall. "Don't you love me anymore? Come out and see how much I love you!" She shouts, a scream even more terrifying than the laughter. "Come out, come out, come and play!" Her voice is almost playful, and it terrifies them even more.
Sirens come rushing down the street, and suddenly the taunting voice and madman laughter stops, a screech of pure pain erupts in their ears. "Piggy, piggy, piggy, piggy!" She laughs, and the sound of her footsteps pick up, as if she were running around the upstairs hallways. "Piggy, piggy, piggy, piggy. You called the piggies!" She laughed at her own joke, and the sound of things breaking takes over their ears. Suddenly the sound of the door breaking and falling to the ground comes up through the floor, gunshots, shouts, screams of pain, and then nothing.

A knock sounds at their door moments later. Too terrified to answer, they only pressed further against the wall. "It's okay, Mr. and Mrs. Stone, you're daughter is in the back of the police car, I need you to come to the Police Station so that we can discuss how we're going to handle this." They sigh in relief and open the door.

A loud scream echoes through the house and a crash follows.