"Honey," Rick's voice held a slight tone of exasperation, "We're gonna be late." He shrugged on the black coat that Evelyn handed to him and fastened it with the ease of one grown accustomed to buttoning tuxedo jackets. He turned to face his wife, and sighed heavily as he watched her hands fly to his bowtie to straighten it, an automated response to anxiety. When she was satisfied, stepped back, smoothed her gown, and gave him a small smile as he took her hand and pulled her to the door.
From somewhere down the hall, Alex screamed. Evelyn frowned as Rick flew to the edge of the stairway and peered down into the room below. Moments later, Alex screamed again, this time louder, more urgent, and in less than ten seconds, Rick was down the stairs and running to find his son.
The kitchen door slammed shut and the sound of small feet were heard tapping over the tiled floor. Evelyn ran down the stairs and skidded to a halt just before colliding with Rick, who stood frozen in a fighting position. She peered over his shoulder hesitantly; the room was empty.
"Rick..." Her voice was soft as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Evelyn," Rick turned to face his wife with a sardonic look on his face.
"Dad!" Rick turned and caught Alex by the arms just before being bowled over by his ten-year-old
son. "Dad, mum---" The look in the boy's eyes was frantic as he scrambled to stand behind his parents, "Hide me!" Rick arched an eyebrow at Alex and turned back around to step aside as another ten-year-old barreled past, straight into a cowering Alex.
"Agh! No!" Alex struggled to get away from his assailant, a small, nimble girl with long, sleek black hair and skin the color of a light, dull bronze, dressed in a long, white cotton dress in which she was able to move remarkably well.
"Hey!" Rick yelled sternly. The two children froze and turned to face Rick, "You two: behave. You:" he turned to Evelyn and grabbed her hand, "We're gonna be late."
As they burst through the front door, Evelyn pulled her wrist from Rick's grasp, quite sure she could keep up with him on her own. "You did tell the babysitter she'd have an extra child to watch, didn't you?" Evelyn inquired hastily.
"She'll figure it out." Muttered Rick as they jumped into the car and tore down the gravel path.