Losing Faith
He sat in his car, just staring up at the building. He still didn't believe he had been too late. Part of him had wanted to believe she was up to her old tricks, trying to lure him in. But he'd been wrong…at least partially. But why had Josef played into her sick fantasy/? He was smarter than that. Then again, Mick had believed Josef was his friend. He caught sight of himself in the review mirror and shook his head.
"How could you be so stupid?" he growled at his reflection. He let his hand slam down on the steering wheel in anger. He looked up to see a curtain part briefly. He caught Coraline's face looking down at him. He finally shoved the keys in the ignition and pulled away from the house.
The curtain slid back into place and Coraline turned back around. She couldn't keep from feeling a little sad. She had loved Mick when they'd gotten married. She'd wanted to spend eternity with him but things just hadn't worked out that way. She went and sat back down on the couch next to Beth.
"Who was that man?' she asked.
"No one baby."
"He's just somebody we used to know," she added. Josef stood at a distance, watching the car disappear. He knew what this would mean for his and Mick's relationship. Mick had trusted him, looked up to him and now that trust was gone. He finally looked back to Beth and let out a sigh.
"It's late. She should go back to bed," he said, offering her his hand.
"Stay tonight," Coraline blurted. Josef's head spun around sharply to look at her.
"I told you, this has nothing to do with us," he said.
"It's her first night. She doesn't want her Daddy to leave." Josef looked at Beth and her hand gripped his tightly.
"Don't go," she whimpered. He could see the fear in her eyes. Despite the dread rising in his gut he knew he couldn't stay here. He couldn't give in to her fantasy. He hoped she wouldn't think of hurting Beth any more than she already had. He bent down to Beth's eye level again.
"I will only be gone for a little while. I promise, I'll be here when you wake up," he whispered. She gave a sniffle and wrapped her arms around him. He gently picked her up and held her close as he followed Coraline upstairs to her room.
"I got her," Coraline said softly, taking Beth from Josef's arms. He looked at the tiny bundle being laid in the freezer. Beth gave a small shiver but seemed to adjust to the temperature quickly. Coraline turned back to Josef and they moved a way from the freezer.
"You knew he would come," Josef said.
"No…I didn't," she whispered.
"You still like messing with his head and now you've gone and messed up more," he accused.
"I don't know what you mean, Josef."
"You dragged me into this and now I've lost a friend." He turned and stormed out of the room. Coraline watched him leave and turned back to Beth. She couldn't hide a smile as it formed on her lips. She shed her clothing and climbed into the freezer, pulling the top shut. As she slowly drifted off to unconsciousness, she wrapped an arm around Beth.
The next morning, Mick woke up and dressed in silence. He hated morning, but he needed to get the news to Mrs. Turner as soon as he could. Even though he had nothing in his stomach, he felt like he was going to be sick as he drove through the LA streets. He had forgotten how annoying rush hour traffic could be. He finally reached the apartment building and found a parking space. He took his time getting out of the car and walking up to the third floor. He stopped short at the door. He closed his eyes and inhaled. Beth's mother was inside. He knocked and waited. The door was pulled open almost immediately.
"Mr. St John. Please, come in," she said. Mick crossed the threshold and shut the door behind him.
"Have you found something?" Mrs. Turner asked expectantly. Mick didn't speak right away. He looked around. The last time he'd been here he hadn't paid much attention to the rest of the apartment, just Beth's room.
"I found someone," he answered slowly. Her eyes lit up.
"You should sit down," he said. She immediately clutched at the table as she sunk into a chair.
"Please Mr. St John, what did you find?"
"I worked some sources that I have and they led me to an address in Hollywood. When I got there…" he trailed off. How was he supposed to tell this woman her child was dead when in all actuality she would long outlive her mother?
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Turner….I was too late," he murmured. She shook her head, trying to breath. All she succeeded in doing was hyperventilating. She through herself at him much like she had done before.
"No…my baby...she can't be," she sobbed. He tried to rub soothing circles along her back to calm her down but she just kept crying.
"Did…did she suffer?' she finally managed to get out. Mick shivered at her question. He didn't remember much about his turning but it had hurt.
"I don't think so."
"What about her body…I want to see my little girl."
"You don't need to see that Mrs. Turner. Believe me, no one needs to see that."
"But…what about burying her…" she hiccupped.
"I…I don't know. I'm so sorry," he repeated. He finally let go of her and back away.
"I should go. I'm sorry for your loss," he mumbled and began to walk out of the apartment.
"Thank you," she called out.
"Excuse me?"
"Thank you…thank you for trying to find her and save her." Mick just nodded. A lump had formed in his throat and he couldn't speak. He ducked out as fast as he could and raced back to his car, trying to avoid the sun as much as he could. He didn't know what he was going to do now. This felt like he had no purpose. He couldn't seven save an innocent child from one of his own kind.