Mad Rabbit
“You’re where?” Jenn’s shrill voice came through the receiver end of the phone.
“I’m babysitting,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“You do know that it’s Halloween, right? Remember, that day where everybody goes and takes candy and dresses up. The one where you’re supposed to be going to the costume party with me!”
“I know, but I need the money and my parents said I made a commitment.”
“Who even leaves their kid at home alone on Halloween?”
“I guess these people don’t celebrate Halloween, it’s not that uncommon.”
A cry from upstairs interrupted me.
“I have to go, the little girl I’m babysitting is upset. Talk to you later.”
I hung up the phone before Jenn could fit another word in and sighed. I’d already tucked the little girl, Ella, back into bed twice. Each time I did, she didn’t say anything, but only looked into a lightless corner of her room. I’d asked her what was wrong, but she just looked away and plopped back into her bed.
The crying magnified as I climbed the stairs. It almost sounded like laughing, but all little kids sounded the same with both emotions.
“Ella?” I said, as I pushed open her door.
She was in the same position she had been the first two times; standing in the middle of her bed, facing the corner with no visible tears on her face. I had guessed she had wiped them away.
“Ella, are you alright, sweetie?”
She didn’t turn to face me, but the sound of her crying slowed. I walked towards her and sat down on the side of her bed.
“Ella, mommy and daddy won’t be very happy if they come home and find you awake. Let’s get tucked in and go to sleep, okay?”
Slowly, she sat down and lay back onto her bed. Her eyes never shifted from the corner of her room. I tucked the blankets around her.
“I’ll leave the door open a crack so that it won’t be so dark.”
I left her room, allowing the door to be open only a sliver. As I walked away a whisper came from the room. I quieted my footsteps to listen.
“Shh, she’ll hear us,” Ella’s voice murmured.
I smiled. She probably was only talking to one of her dolls. It was really cute how she had stacked them in the corner. One large rabbit doll sat at the bottom, then there were the smaller stuffed animals, and then some girly dolls with painted faces.
I crept downstairs and sat back on the leather couch. The TV was on, but the sound was faint so I wouldn’t wake Elle, though she didn’t need much help. The news was on and the banner at the bottom was orange and black for Halloween.
“Happy Halloween, everybody! For a truly spooky story stay tuned,” the news woman said enthusiastically.
I fiddled with the remote and then flipped back to the news channel.
“A mental patient from St. Mary’s Psychiatric Hospital has escaped. He escaped today and has not yet been found. He has dark, curly hair and dark eyes. He is short and skinny. His name is Alistair Radley. If seen, contact the police immediately. This man is dangerous, do not try to talk to him and do not communicate with him in any way,” a male news reporter warned.
