escape.

Chapter 15.

Halfway through the movie there’s a weird noise from down the hallway, it sounded like the backdoor but Panda is in her room and everyone else is in here…

No one else seems to have heard it, quietly getting up my head starts to spin a little. I was right the back door is wide open, obviously it didn’t get locked fuck. When I walk outside Panda is trying to open the gate to the pool but she’s too small.

“What are you doing out here missy?” I crouch down to Panda’s height. “I want to go pool” she says, looks like she’s no longer grumpy pants. “Not when there’s no one out here baby, I’ll tell you what. I’ll run you a bath and you can swim in there?” I stand and hold my hand out for her to grab, Panda nods and grabs my hand.

I start running the warm water in the tub, I don’t know where Panda disappeared to but I can hear the movie playing from the lounge room I hope that she hasn’t gone in there because she won’t be able to sleep for weeks if she sees the movie.

“Panda where are all your bath toys?” I ask as she walks in, I look in the cupboards under the sink but they aren’t there. Panda has no clothes on now, all ready for the bath. “Here” She runs out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, I walk slowly behind her watching how everyone is reacting to the movie. Julie is now sitting on Chords lap, Liam has moved onto the couch with Charly and Rachel is leaning on Harry’s shoulder.

‘That could be you’ my subconscious throws in and I shake the thought from my head as I find Panda searching the cupboards in the kitchen. “Why would they be in here Panda?”

“Aunty Char put dem here” She says sitting on the floor looking up at me to help. “Char come here” I yell sitting on the floor with Panda, searching through the cupboard. “What’s up?” Charly appears at the door wrapped in a blanket. “Where are Panda’s bath toys?”

“I put them in the laundry cupboard. Are you coming back to watch the movie?” She says sitting on the counter as Panda runs into the laundry.

“Yeah, just having a bath with Panda then I will. Prank time is coming up yes?” I smirk lowering my voice. “Yep, in ah” Charly looks towards the TV “10 minutes I reckon” she whispers sliding off the counter and going back to watch the movie. “Mummy here” Panda points to the box of bath toys. “When did you get so many!?” I say picking up the box.

Panda shrugs her shoulders and runs off back to the bathroom, she’s sitting on the floor playing with a duck when I reach the bathroom. “It’s warm enough now baby, you can get in.” I help Panda into the bath and stand by the door so I can still watch the movie at the same time.

It’s in the exorcism part of the movie, the perfect time to stir shit up. Charly smiles and gives me a nod, I close the bathroom door to make it look like I’m in the bathroom with Panda. Creeping across the hall I go into the laundry and quietly sneak out the door, it’s 7 now so it’s dark. “Perfect” I whisper and rub my hands together.

I grab some small rocks to throw at the kitchen window, throwing them hard enough to make a decent sound but not hard enough to break the glass.

“What was that?” I hear Charly say from inside, I cover my mouth with my hand to stop myself from laughing. “Where’s Katy?” Liam asks getting up off the couch.

“In the bathroom with Panda” Charly follows Liam, Julie moves closer into Chord, Harry stands from the couch with Rachel holding onto a blanket scared for life.

I duck down and run towards the backyard before they see me out the window, I sneak back to the kitchen window. Everyone is sitting back watching the movie again, I pull out my phone and dial the house number.