To Ophelia's surprise K seemed to pretty cool. She didn't keep Ophelia from doing anything she wouldn't normally do. But something about her babysitter seemed off. She was secretive and bitter underneath all of the "coolness" was something different. Something, not quite right.

Ophelia didn't believe that Kaige would do anything to harm her, but the mysterious stranger didn't give Ophelia any reason not to be skeptical.

It was Saturday and her father was supposed to return soon. K seemed tense.

"Are you alright?" Ophelia asked.

"Sure, I'm fine, kid. Don't worry about it."

But this didn't seem very convincing. She wanted to ask more, but decided against it.

K tapped her long, claw like nails on the counter and stared off into space. Her eyes suddenly widened and she whispered something under her breath. "Your father's back," she said quickly. She glanced around as if searching for something.
Ophelia crinkled her tiny forehead in confusion. She didn't hear anything to alert her of the return of her father. But sure enough, the jingling of keys could be heard and the twisting of a doorknob.

For a short moment, Ophelia forgot all about her fear of human contact and ran to the door, jumping into her father's arms. "Daddy!"

"Hi honey, I missed you," he said, kissing her forehead. He set her back down on her feet and straightened his posture.

"Hello Kaige," he grit.

"Light, good to see you again."

Ophelia could feel the tension between the two, but didn't understand why.

They both stood, starring at each other for a while, before Light continued on.

"I suppose my good friend couldn't make it to watch her?" he asked, glancing down at his daughter.

"No, he got held up at work. Asked me to take over. Funny how these things work out."

"Funny," Light replied. "Ophelia, go play in your room okay?"

Ophelia frowned, and padded off to her room. She kept the door cracked open and listened to the adults as they talked.

"Downtown really changed you, Kaige."

"It helped me really. I believe the phrase, it takes one to know one, applies here."

"So you wouldn't be working against me?" Light asked, sitting on the couch.

Kaige shook her head, "No, Light. If anything I've come to admire you. And we both know how hard that is for me to say…"

Light smirked, "Finally joining me? What about your little Whammy boys?"

"They can be taken down from the inside out."

"Stanley?"

"Still where I left him."

"Excellent," Light grinned.

Kaige sighed, "You don't think they'll go looking for him?"

"Even if they do, they won't find him. Kaige," he said, standing up. He walked over to her and rubbed her arms gently. "We can finally make this work."

He leaned in extremely close, and pressed his lips to her ear, "I can't trust you," he whispered softly.

Kaige smirked, "that's ok. You're not the one that has to."

Ophelia ran away from the door. What did they mean? Who were the Whammy boys? Who was Stanley? How do they know each other?
Ophelia felt threatened by this, taking refuge under her blankets.

"Flower?" Kaige called from the doorway.

"No!" Ophelia said, although it sounded muffled.

"What's wrong?" Light asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Ophelia shook her head, although they couldn't see it.

"Why do you keep her locked up inside? She needs some fresh air, living organisms, wildlife. There is plenty to see!" Kaige said.

The room grew quiet and she peeked out from her blankets to see her father glaring at Kaige.

"She doesn't like the outdoors," he said with his jaw clenched.

"How do you know if you never let her out?"

Light closed his eyes and sighed. Grabbing the blankets, he tossed them on the floor and picked up his daughter and took her—kicking and screaming—to the backyard.

Setting her down on her feet, Ophelia was terrified to move. She didn't want to hurt anything else.

"Look!" Kaige said, picking something from the grass. "A flower for Flower."

She extended the plant with its bright pink petals towards a cowering Ophelia. "Take it!" Kaige said.

Ophelia shook her head. "K, I don't want it."

"Why not?"

She looked between Kaige and the flower before gently taking it between her thumb and finger.

"See? Nothing wrong. It's just a flower. Kids, I swear."

She joined Light inside and left Ophelia alone in the backyard.

For a moment, Ophelia was happy, because she did not betray the precious flower. But soon enough, the pink petals shriveled up into a dry, brown and lifeless heap.

Ophelia felt her heart quicken and she threw the dead flower onto the ground, running inside.

She was angry at monster she'd become.

What she didn't see, was a curious Kaige, watching her from the window.


Tell me what ya'll think about my story! Te amo!