Darkened Heart

Chapter Thirteen

Charlotte yawned as she awoke from sleep. Her eyes remained closed for a few moments, still yearning for the drowsy feeling to engulf her so she could fall back into the land of dreams. Although she wanted to fall asleep again, the memories from yesterday flooded her mind. That's when her eyes opened. Not in a panicked way, but in a way that seemed surprised. The events of yesterday came seeping back into her head like a running river. She looked at the ceiling of her other bedroom and began to think about everything. Her missing dad, the ghost children's pleas, and especially what had happened between her and the other father. The silky covers over her felt nice as she concluded she must've fallen asleep during their very long game of Monopoly. Charlotte turned over to her right only to find herself against a familiar chest. "Sleep well, darling?" His mellow voice whispered. She noticed that one of his arms was around her. Even if she was still a little hazy, she couldn't stop herself from going pink. His chest vibrated with a soft chuckle, "You fell asleep sometime after lunch... Although, you must've been tired since you slept before dinner as well as all through the night." He sighed. Charlotte paused, but then finally found her voice again. "H-How long have you been here?" She whispered back. "Oh, not long. I tucked you in, but this morning I simply couldn't help myself. You looked so precious I just had to join you." He cooed before pressing his lips to her cheek, giving her a short yet meaningful kiss. Charlotte felt flustered on the inside, but his kiss seemed to relax her for now. "Oh..." She managed to say. It should've been awkward to be this close once again. However, Charlotte admitted to herself that it felt rather nice...

"I thought that perhaps I could teach you how to sew after breakfast if you'd like." He breathed, "Although you really have no say in the matter, I think you might enjoy it." His words reminded her of her situation. Charlotte decided to ignore that last sentence and instead smiled, figuring the best way to get through to him was through his heart. "Ok." She whispered back. Upon trying to sit up, his arm stopped her. When she looked at him as if to question why, he smirked. "Not so fast. I believe you owe me the pleasure..." Since he was so tall, even lying on his side, he gently angled her head upwards to look straight into his button eyes. It took a moment for her to realize what he meant, but she didn't mind it at all. Lightly, she placed a small kiss on his jawline. Although he wished for more, he happily accepted it. The two got out of bed. She heard him as he slipped on his trench coat as well as a pair of dark red shoes that were sitting on the carpeted floor. "Your closet is full of clothes. I do hope you enjoy them, darling. Oh, and let me know if you need anything at all." He smiled warmly before letting himself out. Once she was left alone, she let out the large breath she was holding in. The sound of his footsteps faded from outside the door as he continued downstairs. Charlotte sighed, feeling as if her plan to reach his heart was failing. Perhaps she needed to try harder? She made her way to the closet to find that he was true to his word. Several hand-made clothes were inside of many different colors and material. She examined each dress, daring to choose one that would make the most impression. Her fingers brushed through all the smooth fabrics. A white dress with red roses caught her eye as she felt its soft and silky pattern. She looked at the floor of the closet to see a matching pair of red sandals amongst the other shoes.

Charlotte pulled it off of the hanger and changed. Slipping the beautiful material onto her body felt relieving, almost. The dress hugged her as she brushed her hair in front of the mirror. As she examined herself, the feeling of being watched began to creep back into her mind. Her eyes stared into the mirror for a moment. At first, she speculated that the other father could be there... in the mirror. After all, he had already visited her in the real world that way, who's to say he wouldn't spy on her from here? A little paranoid, she picked up an extra blanket from the closet and draped it over the looking glass. That's when she jumped as a small voice entered the room. "What are you doing?" Jacque asked. Charlotte nearly had a mini heart attack, but soon exhaled once she turned and saw the small Scottish terrier right outside her bedroom window. Jacque's paws were against the glass as she faced him. His beady brown eyes shined brightly in the night. Wagging his tail, he spoke again, "Well? Don't just stand there, let me in!" He said from the other side of the glass. Charlotte smiled slightly, allowing herself to pull up the window's exterior and let her little companion inside. Jacque happily plopped himself into the room, jumping off the windowsill and onto a nearby chair. From there, he finally made his way onto the floor. "What are you doing here? You realize that if the other father finds you, he'll-" Charlotte was cut off. "Yes, I know. That's why I came through the window and not the door!" Jacque ruffed quietly, jumping onto the bed. "I came to check up on you. After you left, I got worried once I thought of all the things that monster could do once you came back. Have you found a way to save your father yet?" He asked.