Four Beating Hearts

2 - what nightmares are made of

*not so nice stuff*

Penelope POV

We pull up to a long driveway that's tucked away from the world. I already feel like I shouldn't be here but it's too late now. I tried to slip into a headspace, but it just wasn't working.

Michael pulled me out of the car seat and set me on his hip while Karen grabbed some things out of the trunk. We made our way into the house where they immediately took me into a bedroom, except this looked more like a nursery.

I whined when Michael started walking us towards the crib because I noticed it had a lid. "Please don't put me in there!" I shouted and started thrashing against Michael who held me tighter glaring at me.

"Michael give me the baby." Karen said and he rolled his eyes before handing me to her. I cradled myself against her and tucked my head under her chin. I wasn't too sure about her, but I knew I didn't like him.

"Michael, you know what to do." Karen told him with a raised brow as she rocked me back and forth.

I whined and turned my head when he started taking off his belt. "You hush. This is because you don't know how to behave." Karen spoke harshly to me before setting me over a now sitting Michael's lap.

Karen pulled my pants down quickly and Michael started swatting me with his belt. Each snap of his belt against my sensitive skin caused me to cry. I was sobbing as he continuously beat me with his belt.

Karen walked around to my face before popping me in the mouth each time I let out a cry. I tried to muffle my cries as much as possible and luckily she eventually stopped since I was trying to hold in my sobs.

What felt like forever, Michael finally stopped and Karen pushed me to stand up. I went to hug her needing her comfort, but she pushed me away from her and began stripping me. "Mummy!" I cried to her wanting something and she just raised an eyebrow at me.

I was stripped stark naked before being placed into the crib and locked in. I curled up in a corner as they turned to leave. Michael turned around as Karen walked out the door, "I don't want to hear a peep from you." He said almost with a growl. I shrunk back as far as I could as he turned the light off and left the room.

I cried quietly while wishing I would have never left my sister.

Analiese POV

"Mari, it's been three days and she hasn't called me. I'm worried." I told my best friend while at her house again. Penny was supposed to call me as soon as she landed, but I haven't heard anything. I'm extremely worried not only for her, but I haven't been at my best for the last few days and worried that time is coming to a close.

"Where did she say she was going?" Mariana asked me and I paused.

"I...I don't know. All I remember is she said Europe, but I don't remember." I told her while trying to rack my brain to remember where my sister was going. I started feeling like I was going to faint, so I sat down.

"I think you should call the school. There should be a secretary there or something. Maybe they can tell you." Mari told me and I nodded while dialing the school's number.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up, "Jefferson High School, how can I help you?" A woman's voice from the other side asked.

I hesitated before speaking, "Uh this is Analiese Winston, my little sister is Penelope Winston, she's going to be a senior this year. She is on the school trip to Europe, but she hasn't called me yet and it's been three days since she left." I told the secretary worriedly.

I heard the confusion in her voice as she spoke, "I'm sorry, but there wasn't a school trip, especially not to Europe." The woman told me causing a crease in my forehead to form.

"Yes there is. I signed the permission slip and she showed me all the money she had raised." I told the woman on the other line.

"I'm sorry Ms. Winston, but there is not a trip. I don't know why Penelope would tell you that, but it is not true. Where is she? Is she okay?" The woman asked, but I quickly thanked her before hanging up and looking to my best friend.

"Penny lied. There wasn't a school trip. That means she's out there doing god knows what and with who. She's been gone for three days Mari!" I cried out the last one before collapsing onto the floor.

"Ana, Ana? What's wrong Ana?" Mariana asked me as one of her wives walked through the door.

"Mariana? What's wrong?" I heard Bella's voice before closing my eyes and felt myself drift away as Mari is shouting for me to wake up.

Mariana POV

"What's wrong with Analiese Ana?" I hear my wife ask as she's trying to help me.

I move my head back and forth struggling to look at my best friend, "She has cancer," I finally tell her and she nods her head before calling for an ambulance. I hold Ana's head in my hands, a few tears slip out as I know she's dying.

Bella comes and wraps her arms around me in a hug before getting up to answer the door. Paramedics take Ana from my arms as I sit there. Just as I go to get up, Bella holds me back causing me to stare at her confused.

Bella shakes her head, "Ana baby, she's gone." I tilt my head, I would have known if she died.

I quickly shake my head, "No she's not. She's fine, she's just going to the hospital," I tried to explain to Bella, but she shook her head.

"No babe, she slipped away once the paramedics got here, I'm so sorry." My wife pulled me into another hug.

"She told me she had a few weeks, not a few days." I mumbled into my wife's chest before the sobs started. She walked us over to the couch where she held me and I cried.

Beth eventually came home and looked startled at us. "Babes, what's wrong?" she asked as she made her way over to my other side and wrapped her arms tightly around me.

"Analiese passed away. She was over at the house when it happened, apparently she had cancer and just told Ana a few days ago." Bella explained for me and I nodded my head.

"Ana left Penny in my care too, but we don't know where she is." I hiccuped out.

Both women pulled away from me, "What do you mean Ana left Penny in your care?" Bella asked first as I leaned my head against Beth's shoulder.

"Ana told me that she had cancer and knew she wouldn't make it, so she wanted Penny to be in the care of someone she knew. Penny's 17, but she still didn't want her to go to strangers." I explained as my sobs turned to sniffles.

I felt Beth nod her head, "Babe, what did you mean when you said you didn't know where she was?"

I cuddled into my wife more and she kissed my forehead, "Penny apparently told Ana there was a school trip over the summer to Europe. She left three days ago and we hadn't heard from her so Ana called the school and they told her there wasn't a trip." I told both Beth and Bella.

"Maybe she's just with friends and her phone is dead?" Bella suggested and I shook my head.

"Penny knew to call Ana as soon as she could because she's a," I hesitated.

"Ana...She's a what?" Beth asked and I sighed.

"Penny's a little, only her sister knew, but when Ana told me she was leaving Penny in my care she told me." I told them and they both let out quiet gasps.

"We need to find her." Beth said quickly and Bella nodded her head in agreement.

They let me cuddle with them a little longer before we got up to go to the police station.