Unfortunately, I don't own any of those characters.
Also, English is not my first language.

Enjoy. (or not x)

I jump awake to the sound of breaking plates and glasses. And then the screaming. Mommy and daddy are fighting again. They are so, so loud. I hold my stuffed dog closer and try to go back to sleep, but daddy is getting louder and louder. I hate that. Every time, it gets me so scared. And then in the morning, mommy will be hurt. And angry. And daddy won't be here anymore. I hate being alone with mommy, but… I don't like when daddy is here either.

Suddenly, there's a loud crash, and I hear more voices from the kitchen. But not mommy's anymore. There is so much noise and shouting, I don't know what to do. Who are those voices? What do they want? I need to hide, to be safe, so I take my Frannie and my blanket and I hide under the bed. I often go there, it's safe because mommy and daddy are too big to reach out underneath.

As soon as I'm hidden under the bed, the door bursts open and light pours into my room. I can see a pair of boots, but it's not daddy's. The boots go to the closet, then circle back to the bed.

Then, I can see a knee. And a hand. And finally, a face, peeking under.

"Hey. Hi there, sweetie"

I wouldn't fall for a "sweetie". I recoil against the wall, hugging my stuffed dog tighter against my chest.

"Okay, okay". The face says, smiling. "My name is Olivia, and I'm here to help. I promise you."

The woman then slowly reaches into her pocket, and shows me something . A big golden star, like in the movies mommy and daddy like so much.

"Oh, you're a sheriff !"

"Yes. See? I'm really here to help."

The woman extends a hand, and after some consideration, I crawl and reach for it. Soon, I'm standing in front of Olivia, who is still on her knees, dusting me off before releasing the bunnies back under the bed.

"I'm not in trouble?"
"No, you're not honey. You did nothing wrong."

That tall woman seems nice and all, but I'm still a bit unsure: adults are liars after all.

"What's your name?"

Under the scrutiny of the sheriff, I feel shy all of a sudden, now that I'm not under my bed anymore. I hug Frannie even tighter and hide behind her.

"Amanda", I say, rocking myself slowly left and right.

"Amanda. It's a nice name. And how old are you?"

"I'm nearly five." Wait, if I'm nearly five, something is missing. Something is not right. But Olivia continues.

"And who's this?", she asks, scratching the fluffy belly of my dog.

"It's Frannie. She's my best friend."

"Oh, I see. How about I take you and Frannie to get some hot chocolate?"

The offer is tempting.

"I like chocolate... But… But what about mommy and daddy?"

"Well… Mommy and daddy are… They can't take care of you right now. But I won't leave you alone, okay? So, about that hot chocolate, are you in?"

Once again, she extends a hand, and this time I take it immediately. It's soft and warm, and I feel safer already. I try to follow her, still clutching at her hand, but her legs are so long, I have to run to keep up. Once outside, she boosts me on the saddle of a beautiful mustang, then mounts right behind me. She reaches around to take the reins, and I'm so small between her arms. I snuggle back against her front while we ride through the city. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, and I know I shouldn't be here, but I don't really care. I'm 4 and I'm riding a black horse. I giggle and flail my arms as we pick up the pace, and Olivia chuckles with me.

I don't exactly remember how we got there, but we're now in a living room, and a blonde woman is walking towards us. I shyly hide behind the sheriff's legs, hugging Frannie once more.

"Don't be afraid honey. This is my wife, Alex. Alex, this is Amanda. We had to arrest her daddy and I promised her hot chocolate."

Alex bends over to greet me. Her eyes are so blue, she looks like an angel.

"Olivia makes the best hot chocolate, you'll see."

She smiles at me, then pulls me up and tickles me on our way to the kitchen. I laugh and try to escape while Olivia prepares the chocolate. Alex finally stops and we can drink, at last.

I sip carefully from the huge mug they gave me, and it's so good, I sigh in delight.

"I want to stay here forever", I suddenly declare. "This is the bestest chocolate. I want to drink it every day!"

As I begin to doze off on Olivia's lap, safely cradled against her chest, the door explodes, and a big man just strolls in. I clutch at the sheriff. I don't like that man, with his red beard and ugly hair and weird accent.

"Ah! Here she is. The little cheater. But no one can escape Murphy."

He tries to grab me, and Alex intervenes.

"Declan, you can't have her. She's just a child!"

But he pushes her and grabs me anyway. I try to hold on to Olivia, but she vanishes, as does the living room, and I'm alone with Red Beard, in the middle of nowhere.

Wait, it's not nowhere. It's a parking lot. I know that parking lot.

And I can't be here. Not yet. Not so soon. It can't be time already.

"You need to pay what you owe, little girl", he says before driving away.

I hug myself and look at the huge MOTEL sign above. I can't be here. I can't stay here. I try to walk away but I can already hear him. Patton, announced by his scornful laugh.

"Ah. What do we have here? Another good girl?"

Daddy is here too. How? I thought Olivia had taken care of him. She lied. They always lie. I try to run away this time, but my legs are so small, they're closing on me so fast, I know I won't be able to escape.

I'm nearly at a door when my legs just stop moving. I'm rooted there, and they're coming, grinning.

I close my eyes and wait for the inevitable. I don't even have Frannie with me anymore! But then, they stop laughing, and I can hear a voice. It's the sheriff! It's Olivia! She's here!

I open my eyes to find Alex running to me. She immediately lifts me up and holds me close against her. I throw my little arms around her neck and just sob.

"You're okay now. You're safe. We're here. No one is going to hurt you."

She rocks me slowly and I stop crying. Over her shoulder, I can see Olivia walking towards us, but no Patton. And no daddy.

She drapes an arm around Alex's shoulders and kisses my forehead.

"Let's go home, ladies."

I feel so safe again. Soon, we're home, and I doze off one more time, nestled between Olivia and Alex. They smell like warmth and security, and I finally fall asleep surrounded by chocolate and vanilla and cinnamon.