Natalie Crain was adopted into the when she was a baby. She's a few months older than the twins and very close to them but after Nellie dies her life changes very much. She's always believed in ghosts. Well at least ever since Hill House. Natalie wa...
I ran through the hallway being careful not to trip. Then I stopped. There was a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see who it was and it was her. I screamed and fell backwards. I wanted her to go away. "Go away," I said.
"Nat?" I turned to see who it was. "Nellie?" I asked. "What happened?" She asked. "She was right there Nell! She touched me! I'm scared." She walked over to me and grabbed my hand. "It's ok," She said, "I'm scared too. We can be scared together." I nodded and she helped me up.
"What happened?" The voice made both of us jump. It was Theo. "Natalie saw her again" Nellie said, " and I saw the bent neck lady too." She nodded and said, "You two want to sleep with me?" We nodded. I was surprised I didn't wake anyone else up. Also I don't know how but Nellie always feels like my big sister. Even though I'm a few months older than her.
"Mommy can you tell me story?" I heard my daughter Ari say from behind me. "Maybe later sweetie," I replied. "Okay," She said and skipped away. I sighed. I'm tired of everything right now but I feel so lucky that Ari doesn't ask questions all the time. Well not like she used to. I then heard my phone ring. I looked at it. It was Shirley. I didn't want to answer it but I did anyway. "Hello?" I said.
"Hey how are you doing?" Shirley said. "I'm good." I tried to ignore the noise of the city. It didn't work. It never does. "You sound tired," She said. I am but I'd never tell her that. I don't want her to worry about me. "Hey would you like to come to stay with me for a week or something? I figured you might need a break," She said. I desperately need a break but I couldn't have one.
The thing is when I first went to college I was planning on getting my degree and getting out of there. It didn't happen. I fell in love with this guy and I gave up on college to marry him. We were married for quite a bit but then he decided he wanted a divorce. He left me to raise a child so I decided to go back to college. "I can't," I said, "I'm too busy." I heard her sigh before she said, "No you need a break. You can't just work all the time. It's not healthy." "Fine I'll come," I mumbled before hanging up. I didn't even say goodbye.
I got two plane tickets for tomorrow and told Ari to pack. As much as I didn't want to go I was so happy to see Ari happy about going. "We almost never leave the apartment anymore and now we're going on a vacation!" She squealed. "Not exactly," I muttered so quietly she couldn't hear me.
"Don't forget a cup for Mia," I said pointing at the doll. I watched Nellie as she carefully poured some water into my dolls cup. "What are you two doing?" Theo asked from the doorway. "Having a tea party. Wanna join?" I asked. She shook her head and walked away. "You know what we should do?" Nellie asked me. "What?" I replied curiously. "Ask mommy if we can have a family tea party." I smiled and clapped my hands. "Let's go do it now!" I exclaimed. Nellie nodded and grabbed my hand. I grabbed Mia with my other hand and we went to talk to mommy. "Mommy," I said.
"What is it girls?" "We want to have a family tea party before dinner," Nellie said. "Mia has to join us!" I exclaimed "We can have a tea party but Mia can't have anything to drink or eat" she said. "Why not?" I asked. "Sweetie she's not real ok?" Mom explained. "She is too!" I yelled as I ran out of the house still holding Mia.A
Thankfully none of my siblings were outside so they didn't see me. After a few minutes I could hear my family calling my name. I was not going back in there. I went farther into the woods before I saw Elijah. I ran over to him and hugged him. "Hi Elijah," I said.
"Hi Nat!" He answered happily. Then he saw the look on my face. "What happened?" He asked. "My Mommy said Mia wasn't real." I explained as I ran my fingers through her hair.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
(I guess this is kinda what I imagine Mia to look like.)
"She's not," he said, "She's just a doll." I was so angry I wanted to slap him. "Well maybe you're not real either!" I yelled. I ran away from him. I continued to run until I couldn't run anymore. Now was when I realized how scary the woods are. I was lost and scared. I had no idea what to do. Then there was light and noises. I sat down on the ground and hugged Mia as I started crying. "What if they never find me?" I thought. "Natalie?" I heard Nellie say. "Nellie!" I yelled and ran up to her. She hugged me and I just started sobbing.
When we got back to the house my face was still red from crying. "Mommy I'm sorry," I said as I ran to give her a hug. "It's alright," She said, "let's go have some dinner now okay?" I nodded. We still had that tea party but it was after dinner.
"Ari!" I yelled, "come here!" I hear running as I patiently waited for her. "Yes mommy?" She said. "I have a gift for you," I said, grabbing Mia of the shelf, "She was mine when I was little." She squealed as she took the doll from my hands. "Oh thank you mommy! I love her! She beautiful," Ari exclaimed. I smiled at her. She makes me feel so blessed. "Can I bring her on the trip?" She asked. "Of course," I replied, nodding, "but now it is bedtime." To be continued.....
