Birthday Surprise

Carrie was in cold sweat once she got out of her sleep. She dreamed of her mother was in a dark place bound to a filthy mattress. Usually when Carrie had dreams of her mother it was often about suicide but, this was different. Her mother was in pain in great pain. Carrie for some unknown reason felt afraid for her mother. Her fears were put aside when Christine's hand was on her shoulder. "What's wrong Carrie?" The demon girl stared at Christine, remembering her mother's pain. Angelique was always peaceful in her dreams dying as if finally released from a great burden. When the thought came to her Carrie saw that she was the great burden she was almost to tears.

"It's OK Carrie. Beside you should cheer up a little because it's midnight and do you know what that means?" Carrie shook her head, smiling.

"It means that I'm late for the ball and I get turned into a pumpkin!" Carrie and Christine laughed at the joke. "No silly, it's your birthday!" Carrie was surprised. Already she was turning six? Oh here did the time go? Thought Carrie. The girls started to laugh and giggle at the idea of a Birthday Party. Carrie never had a birthday celebration before, at least not with a family. The first birthday she could remember was in the Labyrinth with the maids and a few other Cenobites but, not her mother and most defiantly her father. In fact when Carrie was dropped off to live with her father and his 'family' they didn't even bother to throw her a party but they did for their son. Danny was born on the same day as she was only a year younger.

This time it would be different. It would be her first birthday party with an actual family. They weren't her biological parents but that didn't matter to Carrie. They were her family now. A knock was heard upon the door. The girls stopped with their laughing but that didn't whip the smile from their faces. "Hey, girls. Do you know what time it is!" said Steve angrily. The tone in his voice was enough to make the girls scarred. Carrie had a strange feeling that this wasn't Steve. Steve was usually nice and never raised his voice but Carrie put that feeling aside as Christine told her of Steve's actions when her was jobless. He's just being stern that's all, thought Carrie.

"It's midnight, Daddy! It's Carrie's Birthday!" squealed Christine. Steve opened the door slowly. Stephen Barker was in a red robe with black pajama pants. He almost looked like a young version of Heffner. Carrie looked into the man's eyes for a moment and felt that strange feeling again. His eyes looked blood shot red, the skin of his face looked shaggy as if it was bound to fall off. Steve grinned, it was an evil grin, the kind of grin the devil would have. Carrie was afraid for that moment until she blinked she saw the friendly version of Steve. She let out a breath it was all in her head.

Steve walked over to the girls. His hand rested on Carrie's shoulder. He smiled, it was a friendly smile this time. "Well, Well, Carrie you're already turning into a big girl already. Let me guess? You're about to become 21, aren't you?" "No silly Daddy! I'm going to be six!" squealed Carrie, holding her hands up showing how old she was now. She was already calling Steve 'daddy'. Steve laughed with her. "Ok then sweeties, you need to go back to bed because I have a surprise for you Carrie and I think you would like it." Carrie beamed up at her new daddy. Steve gave them both a kiss on the forehead and tucking them into bed. Once Steve left the room Carrie went back to sleep with a smile on her face.

It was six in the morning when Carrie heard a voice that sounded familiar. "Carrie, wake up Carrie." The voice sounded feminine and sweet. The door opened by itself making a low creaking sound. "Carrie" the women said again. "I'm coming" she whispered. Carrie slowly got out of bed not wanting to wake up Christine. She went to the door then she was out in the long hallway. Looking both ways she wondered where that voice was coming from. Then she saw the door across the hallway open. "Carrie come here" said the voice. Carrie went into the room across the hall. The room was similar to the room she was sleeping in.

"Who are you?" Carrie got the feeling it was one of the ghosts that lived in this room. She never got the chance to see them but she knew they were their, she could feel them. "Come to the bathroom and see." She did as the voice said. The closer she walked to the bathroom the more afraid she became. Something wasn't right here. There was something here that wasn't friendly. Once Carrie was at the door, she opened it. In the bathroom came to as a surprise, it was her mother standing by the mirror looking tired but actually happy to see her.

Carrie never saw her mother happy, at least not around her. It must be a trick! It has to be like when I saw Steve wasn't really Steve thought Carrie. Angelique walked over to her daughter. "Carrie….oh Carrie" Carrie was shocked to see that her mother had tears in her eyes. Tears for her. Angelique knelt down to Carrie's level, stroking her daughters cheek. Carrie was beginning to cry herself. Her mother was never like this, never so affectionate always so distant. It was when Angelique was hugging Carrie was when they both began to cry. "I'm sorry, Carrie. I'm so sorry I wasn't more loving toward you."

Carrie pulled away from her. "Mommy, why are you here? Did you die here?" Maybe that was the reason my mother is here, she left me to go killed herself, thought Carrie. "No, honey, I'm not dead but, I'm barely holding on baby." A look of concern come over Angelique's face. Her daughter shouldn't be here. It was dangerous to be here. When the Princess looked into her daughter's mind she discovered why Carrie was here. "Carrie, you need to go home. Right now!" Carrie was startled by her mother's urgency to leave.

"But why, mommy?"

"Listen to me, baby. This place is evil. It will take everything that you have and will throw you away afterwards. I don't know why I'm not dead yet but whatever it is the Hotel is planning it's you" A whish of the shower curtain was heard behind them. Carrie remembered that the curtain was opened for her to see the tub but now it was draw back. They heard the water running in the tub. Carrie was suddenly afraid again. "Carrie, I want you to listen to me. I want you to leave this room at once and I want you to leave this place at once."

"But what about the Barkers, Mommy? They've been treating me like a daughter!" The Princess was surprised to hear this and was filled with dread. There were more people here that came to die. "Carrie, I want you to tell then to get out as soon as possible. Now Go!" Carrie did as her mother said. Once she was at the door, Carrie looked over her shoulder to see her mother one last time. Her mother was gone but, what she saw coming out of the tub was enough to make her run to her bed quickly and hide under the covers. What she saw was the tub overflowing with blood and she swore she heard a woman laugh. Carrie was pretty sure it wasn't her mother.