12
- Dani -"Miles, can you give us a minute?" Hannah asked.
They were all in the kitchen, just finished with dinner. But what the kids didn't know was that the adults had an interrogation planned for dessert.
"Why?"
"We just need to talk to Flora a minute."
They had told Owen and Hannah about Flora's strange behavior after the picnic incident, and it was safe to say the four of them had worked themselves up into a slight panic. Does it have to do with her parents' death? Is she going crazy? Is she not eating enough vegetables or something?
An array of possible causes were thrown into the ring but none could really be proven until they had a strategic conversation with the girl alone.
Miles grinned, "Is she in trouble?"
Flora's eyebrows raised nervously.
"No, no, she's not in trouble you little rascal, now get to bed," Jamie said, "Off with you!"
He shrugged, leaving the room.
"Flora, we just wanted to have a little chat with you," Dani began gently, taking her hand across the table, "about your imaginary friend."
She pulled away from the touch, "What about her?"
"Well just tell us a little about her. When did you meet?"
"Uhhh," Flora said, thinking, "About when you got here, Miss Clayton. That's when I met her."
Dani frowned. Oh Jesus. Had she managed to mentally screw up a child within two months of knowing her? That had to be a new record.
Owen continued, "And what do you two do together, Flora?"
"Talk, mostly. Well I talk and she listens - she can't really talk anymore."
"Well that makes sense," Dani said, emphasizing her next words to make sure they would get through, "Since she's pretend."
Flora frowned, "No she's not."
"But she's imaginary, Flora, that means pretend."
"No, you said imaginary is what it's called when they don't have a face."
The adults glanced between each other warily.
"And where does she live, Flora?" Hannah said.
"The lake, of course."
"She lives in the lake?"
"Yes."
Another wary glance.
"What does she do while she's in the lake?" Dani asked.
Flora turned, for the first time, to Jamie, staring with unblinking eyes, "She'd rather not say."
The girl didn't break the gaze.
Dani tugged at her girlfriend's wrist, "Jamie, can you give us a minute?"
She looked down, mouth falling, "But I want to -"
"Jamie," She gave her a look, "Just a minute, please."
Reluctant, annoyed defeat.
Dani turned back around, "Ok, Flora, can you tell us now?"
Her milky brown eyes blinked, "She likes to watch."
"Watch what?"
"Us."
A final wary glance; this time with a real pang of fear.
"All of us?"
"No, no, not Owen and Hannah. She likes to watch us - you and me, Miss Clayton, just to keep an eye on us. She loves us very much you know."
Confusion and concern twisted themselves into a headache in Dani's mind.
"That doesn't make any sense, honey."
"Sure it does," Flora frowned, "Why wouldn't she love her husband and daughter?"
Dani closed her eyes, "Flora, go get your pj's on."
"But why-"
"Now."
The girl scurried away.
"Jamie get back in here!"
The gardener returned from her hiding spot behind the door with wide eyes, "Did you all hear that?"
Dani pinched her nose and groaned, "My god she's gone crazy."
"It's probably got something to do with her mum and dad," Hannah sighed sadly, "Trauma, you know, it can do a number on a kid."
"All that, really?" Jamie marveled, slumping into the chair beside Dani, "Creating a whole creepy person in her head? And what's all the stuff about hating me recently?"
They all shook their heads incredulously, at a loss.
Owen spoke up timidly after a moment, "Guys?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't you see it?" His voice came out as a whisper.
"What?"
"Come on," He looked up darkly, "You can't tell me you don't..."
Jamie crossed her arms over her chest, "What are you talking about Owen?"
"The woman without a face? In the lake? Husband and daughter?"
"Holy shit..." Jamie breathed.
"It checks out, doesn't it?"
Hannah shook her head, "You're not saying you actually think...?"
"I don't know what to think, all I know is that Flora thinks her imaginary friend is Viola Lloyd."
"She must have heard the story somewhere." Hannah reasoned.
"So you're saying..." Dani said, staring intently at the floor in thought, "Flora thinks there's actually a lady in the lake, she's her daughter and I'm..."
"The husband?" Owen said, attempting to hold back a smile, "I guess? Since you take care of her all the time."
Jamie chuckled in spite of herself, poking Dani's arm, "Ha!"
"But that doesn't even make any sense," She cried, rubbing her forehead, "She knows who I am, it's not like she's calling me Arthur all the time."
"Crazy shows itself in strange ways." Said Jamie wisely.
"Don't say that." Hanna scolded.
"What?" Jamie said defensively, "It's true, isn't it? She's gone mad! And you know what I just thought of? If she thinks she's the daughter and Dani is the husband, that means she thinks I'm the sister. The one going after the husband. That's probably why she's been so angry around me lately."
"Jesus, this just keeps getting stranger." Owen said incredulously.
Hannah shook her head, "We've got to get her to a doctor - or a therapist, at least!"
"Well first we've got to get them in bed," The au pair sighed, thoroughly exhausted, "G'night everybody, we'll talk about this tomorrow, yeah?"
They all nodded warily.
Dani's feet felt like bricks as she climbed the staircase. This was not what she signed up for when she took this job. God, what had she gotten herself into?
In his bedroom, Miles had already passed out. Flora sat upright in her bed with the lights off, staring out the window.
Their nightly tuck in was silent until Dani couldn't resist the question itching at the walls of her throat any longer.
"And you're sure she's not pretend, Flora?" She whispered.
At this, the girl broke into a laugh that seemed quite out of place in the darkness, "Oh Miss Clayton. You're so silly. I may be little, but I know the difference between real and pretend."
Yes, Dani thought, knitting her brows, that's what I'm afraid of.**Long chapter today, not much Dani and Jamie so sorry about that. There's some angst coming though, so hang tight ;)

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It's us {Dani and Jamie}
FanfictionSimilar story, but I altered the horror plot line so it focuses more on Dani and Jamie. (more scenes together, more romance, happier ending) Hope you enjoy! ;) If you like it, could you tell me? Votes and comments would mean the WORLD, seriously.