She Needn't Live Here But Within Your Heart

Part 1

Chapter 1; Checklist — Noah

"She's turning 6 this year. Shoulder length blonde hair. She was around 3'2 as for her height. Have you seen her around?" I asked a nearby officer flashing a picture of my precious Mya in his face. I needed her back. I took a drag from my blunt and exhaled as the officer studied the picture.

"Was she alone?" He asked me. I shrugged.

"She's hella friendly, she probably made friends by now." I answered running a bruised hand through my blonde locks. My darling Mya...Don't worry daddy is coming for you. Just the thought of having Mya back made me shiver and smile. My name is Noah. Noah Reller. My daughter Mya, oh my sweet Mya passed away 3 months ago. Now I've made it my sole duty to go find the lovely child she reincarnated into!

"Mr...Uh what was it again?" The officer asked me snapping my back into reality.

"Jackson." I said. Everyone knows Mr. Reller's daughter passed away months ago, I can't have him knowing it's me. I blinked and took another drag looking at the officer in the eyes. He was a young one. 25 at most. His eyes looked so much like Mya's. Blue like the endless sea.

"Ah so you're a doctor—"

"Surgeon." I corrected.

"Ah...Surgeon. Mr. Reller, 4 houses over is one as well..." He drifted off and I knew exactly what I had to do. "Do...You know him by any chance?" He asked. I could tell he was being wary of the words he used, his hand was wandering around the gun strapped around his waist.

"Why yes, me and Mr. Reller are quite close..." I said circling around the officer.

"Well Mr. Jackson why don't you come down to the station with me and we can file a missing repor— ugh..." The officer kneeled over, hands clutching his abdomen. He looked down to see what us surgeons call his "vital fluid" gushing out. He looked up at me, eyes filled with horror. Oh those beautiful blue eyes...Oh my beautiful Mya...I leaned down running my blade along his eye socket, caressing his cheek, looking him dead in the eyes.

"What a waste of such beautiful eyes..." I whispered. The officer closed his eyes and wimpered. "DON'T YOU DARE CLOSE THEM!" I roared and he jolted them back open. "Good boy..." I added, tracing my knife tip along his waterline. "Now...Just stay like that," I smiled and did what I do best. Surgery.

Chapter 2; Daughter — Hannah

"Jingle balls, jingle balls, jingle all the way. Oh what fun is to...Scoop eyeballs out of eyesocktets it is today, hey!" Is what I heard my husband sing as he entered the house. I looked up from my knitting and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"What? Stop staring at me you old hag. Couldn't even protect the one daughter you gave me," He roared at me and I just stared.

Smash.

"STOP STARING OR ELSE I'LL SEND YOU TO GO SEE MYA!" He screamed laughing hysterically. "Oh wait...You can't see her! SHE'S IN HEAVEN AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELL BITCH!" He added throwing another vase in my direction.

"Dinner is ready on the table," I said and went back to my knitting.

"Whatever," he grumbled and went downstairs to his "lab".

Chapter 3; Collection — Noah

"Stupid woman..." I mumbled to myself on my way down. Typed the passcode in to my lab; "M-Y-A"

"Welcome home Daddy," Mya's voice welcomed me and I smiled.

"Thank you darling," I replied to the machinery. I shrugged my coat off and set up a fluid jar for my beauties.

"Welcome home—Welcome—Welcome Daddy—Home home home home—"

I sighed and walked over to my speakers resting my forehead against it, "I heard you the first time my sweet..." I whispered to the speaker. If only I recorded more of her phases...I thought to myself feeling my eyes well up.

"Daddy home—home—" The machine sputtered, I turned it off, cleared my throat and placed the eyes into the set jar, placing I beside several scalps of hair that resembled my daughters.

"I'm leaving again my love, Daddy will be back later," I whispered to the room. I waited for a reply only to actually get one.

"Okay daddy, stay safe," I heard her say.

I blinked and sighed laughing at myself. "I must be going crazy" I mumbled turning around, locking the door behind me and going back out in search of my daughter.

Chapter 4; Mya 2.0 — Noah

I wandered the beach and came upon this blonde young girl, she was kicking at the sand. I walked up to her and squat down beside her, "Hey darling, is something troubling you?" I asked her sweetly.

"My mommy won't let me have ice cream for lunch," She grumbled playing with her fingers. Her fingers, her hands were so tiny and pale, so cute just like Mya's.

"Tell you what, if you stay with me I'll give you ice cream for lunch everyday, what do you say?" I said with a smile and tousled her hair, he eyes lute up and she looked up at me.

"Okay! My name is Sarah by the way—" She added.

"No no, when living with me your name is Mya," I interrupted. She looked at me with a puzzled expression and then smiled.

"Mya is a cute name! I never liked Sarah," She said happily and took my hand.

My vision blurred.

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"Hey Daddy...Why did you and mommy name me "Mya"? Mya would ask me.

"Because "Mya" is a cute name, a cute name for a cute daughter. Stop asking silly questions sweetie," I would reply and playfully pinch her nose.

"Owwww— don't steal my nose daddy! I like my name too! It's super cute!" She would giggle and try to swat my hand away.

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We walked home hand in hand humming the old nursery rhythms. I opened the door for her and she walked in with a smile. I looked around to see Hannah sleeping on her chair, I rolled my eyes and carried my new Mya into the kitchen and set he down on the counter.

"Sit tight, I'll go get the ice cream," I said with a big smile and went to the freezer taking out Mya's favourite strawberry swirl ice cream and giving it to my new Mya.

"I don't like strawberry," She stated and pushed the bowl back to me.

"No no, you are MYA, so you need to like strawberry," I pressed.

"No thank you," She said and hopped off the countertop. "I'm going home," She added and headed towards the door.

"Oh no you don't..." I whispered and grabbed her by her hair and dragged her into my lab. "You are my daughter, I won't let you leave me again Mya," I snarled and threw her into my locker.

Mya started screaming and tired to get out of grip "Let me out Mister!!!!" She cried.

"Hey hey, that's daddy not mister," I pinched her face and stared at her. "You've been bad so you're gonna stay in here until you say sorry," I threw her into the locker and locked the door. She banged at the door, crying. "And shut up or else I'll shut you up myself!" I added and went back upstairs.