Umbrella

23|Knife

Michael looked at the tiny figure in front of him, pinching himself to make sure he was actually awake and not dreaming. 

"Michael!" Lauren yelled happily, running into his arms. 

Michael was motionless, his brain not allowing him to move or even to think. He just stared at the moving figures on the television unable to comprehend what was going on. 

"Michael?" Lauren questioned, finally breaking him out of his trance. 
"W-what are you doing here?" Michael asked still in complete confusion. 
"I- Claire told me to stay with her for a little while, she said she'll give me candy and buy me teddy bears" Lauren said before frowning. "But I don't like it here."

Michael locked his jaw staring down at the little girl he and Marissa created. His gaze made Lauren tremble and take a small step back. 

"Are you mad at me" Lauren asked with teary eyes. 
"No, no sweets. I was just worried about you, that's all." 

Michael took Lauren's hand and examined her entire body for any sign of child abuse. 

"Did she hurt you in any way?" Michael asked. 

Lauren shook her head. "She just made me stay in the room all the time so I can play"

Michael did not find any sign of any physical harm to Lauren which allowed for him to finally breathe. He looked down at his daughter and gave her a tight hug making her giggle. 

"I love you princess" 

--

Michael arrived at Marissa's apartment and almost teared down the door to get in, unaware that Marissa was trying her hardest to make it to the door. 

"Coming" she screamed. 

A while later, she was finally able to open the door and immediately went to sit down. 

"What took so long?" He asked. 

Marissa just shook her head looking down. Behind Michael, Lauren peeped her head and quickly ran to hug her mother. 

"Mama" She cried hugging her as tight as she would hug her teddy bear during the night. 

Marissa hugged her back just as tight releasing a few tears of her own. 

"How did you find her?" Marissa asked teary eyed. 
"My mom had her" Michael said looking around the kitchen. 

"What?" Marissa asked confused.
"It was my mom" He said placing an object behind him, inside his pants. 

Marissa tried to stand up, but failed. 

"what are you doing?" she asked. 

Michael raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you okay?"

Marissa nodded. "I'm fine"

Lauren stared down at her mom who slowly relaxed back onto the couch. Meanwhile, Michael took a much closer look at Marissa who now appeared to have bruises on her face, which she tried to disguise with foundation. 

"He hurt you didn't he?" Michael asked. 

Marissa smiled down at Lauren completely ignoring his question. "I missed you princess, where were you?" 
"Claire wanted me to spend a few days with her" She replied. 

"Fucking answer me goddammit!" Michael screamed. 

Marissa twitched expecting some form of physical harm that usually came after that sentence. 

When nothing happened, she looked up at Michael. 

"He thought I knew and told you. He's a part of this Michael." 

With that, Michael set off towards the front door. 

"Where are you going?" She asked. 
"There's something I've been wanting to do." 

--

Author's Note

Hey guys, I just wanted you guys to know that this book is ending very shortly. However, there will be a continuation, I have a looott in store lol. 

And yes, I was the one in the pink/purplish dress :)