Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
HILL HOUSE, THEN
A comforting hand ran through her hair, soft lips pressed against her forehead. The night was as dark as ever and Camille's nightmares were the same. The young girl refused to go to sleep, she didn't even want to close her eyes. Olivia laid in bed next to her as she tried to coax her into a well-deserved sleep.
"It's alright, Millie, they're not—"
"But they are real," Camille protested quietly, as to not wake the twins that slept in the room. "I know they're real... And I know you can see them too."
Olivia's brows furrowed but the hand sifting through the girl's locks never faltered. "What do you mean?"
"I heard you and Mrs. Dudley talk about it before. You said you saw Luke and Nellie and that they were dead. I've seen it too."
The mother swallowed thickly. Her heart began to race. Olivia couldn't quite fathom the situation: how were they having the same vision? What did it mean?
She didn't know how to respond. Should she say she saw it too, and that they could only hope whatever they saw wasn't real, or does she brush it all off as to save the girl a terrifying life? Reluctantly, Olivia decided on the latter — she figured she'd tell Millie about it when she was older.
"It was just a dream. That's all it is," the mother cooed, trying to convince Camille as well as herself. "Just an awful dream, it's not real."
Camille lifted her eyes to look up at Olivia. No words were said because none needed to be. Millie, despite being so young, wasn't stupid and Olivia knew that. There was something happening and neither of them could figure out what.
"Would you wake me, if I had a really bad dream?"
"Of course," Olivia told her softly, but sternly. "You're safe with me, always. I won't let anything bad happen to you."
-x-
The six Crain's — Hugh, Steve, Shirley, Theo, Luke, and Nellie — and Camille, all stood in a line by the front door. Olivia stood in front of them. She shared a small smile with each of the kids and her husband, too. But there was something hidden behind her grin, something sadder, almost malevolent.
She kissed her oldest son's head. "You guys be good. And take care of your poor, handsome dad for me, okay?"
Olivia hugged the three older ones before making her way down the line to Camille. She kissed her forehead and hug her just like the other's.
"You still haven't said how long you'll be gone."
"Not long," she replied after sharing a brief look at Hugh. "Aunt Janet just needs my help for a little bit."
