Mao stared out the window as trees and houses covered in powdery white snow, zoomed past the car window. Clutching his stuffed animal to his chest, his chocolate brown eyes sparkled as he looked at the winter wonderland. He turned to his father, a curious look in his eyes. "Papa?" He called out. His father hummed in acknowledgment, keeping his eyes on the road. "Why can't I come with you on your trip?"
He asked. His father smiled as he stopped at a stoplight. He turned to him, his smile still on his face. "You know I would love to bring you, but I couldn't leave Juniper alone. Plus, you two— mainly Juniper— need to learn to get along."
He said. Mao hummed and turned to face the window. He could barely see the cars starting to move. "Papa the cars are moving." He informed. His father turned to the front window and started driving again. Mao hummed a little song to himself as he swung his little legs.
He looked out the window, seeing a familiar house. Mao tilted his head to the side as he turned to his father. "Papa where are we?" He asked. "You'll see." Then the front door opened and Mao gasped. "It's Auntie and Uncle!"
He exclaimed, pressing his small hands up against the window. "We're staying with them while you're away?" He nodded. Mao giggled as Hannah opened the door. Mao unbuckled his seatbelt and then held his arms out wide for his auntie to pick him up. She giggled and picked him up. "Are you excited?"
She asked as she grabbed his stuffed animal and closed the door, walking back to the house. "Mhm! I drew some more pictures, you wanna see?" He eagerly asked. She laughed. "Of course! But let's get in the house first.
You want some hot chocolate?" Mao nodded. Robert walked up to Alexander, who had a book bag in one arm. "Hey," He greeted. Alexander gave him a nod. "Do you think Mao knows Juniper doesn't like him?"
Alexander asked, lowering his voice so Juniper wouldn't hear him. Robert rubbed the back of his neck sighing softly. "Mao is a smart kid, he catches onto things pretty quickly." He said. "I doubt he hasn't caught on yet. He might just be putting on a façade. It's hard to tell his fake smile from his real one."
Alexander hums. "Make sure he takes his medicine, he's still recovering from some.. things he saw before I— we took him in. And he has insomnia. Make sure he sleeps." Robert nodded. "I'm gonna go say bye," Alexander said as he walked into the house.
He spotted Mao playing on his tablet, sitting on Hannah's lap as she brushed his hair. Alexander crouched down in front of Mao and sat his bag down. "Be good for me okay? Make sure Juniper stays out of trouble." Mao nodded and sat his tablet on his lap grabbing Alexander's face with his little hands. He pecked his forehead and grinned. "Love you, papa.
Bye! Be safe on your trip!" He said as Alexander got up and left. Mao continued to play games on his tablet, unaware of Juniper coming into the house and plopping onto the couch. She glanced at the small boy playing on his tablet. She huffed and pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Oh Juniper.
I didn't hear you come in! Do you want some hot cocoa?" Hannah asked. Juniper glanced up at her aunt. "Nah, I'll pass." Hannah nodded. She tapped Mao's shoulder. He looked up from his game and at his aunt. "Yeah, Auntie?"
He called out. "You want a snack? I got all your favorites!" Mao gasped. "Mhm! Do you think Juni will want some?" Hannah laughed and sat him on the couch, standing up and dusting her skirt off.
"No, I don't think Juni's hungry. I'll go get you a snack okay?" Mao nodded. "Kay." He looked at his uncle who was watching tv. Then he looked at Juniper. He sat his tablet on the couch and slipped off of the couch.
He walked up to his uncle. "Uncle Robert?" He called out. Robert turned to him. "Yeah?" Mao looked at the stairs. "Where's the bathroom?"
"It's upstairs all the way at the end of the hall." Mao nodded. He grabbed his stuffed animal and hesitantly approached the stairs. He looked up the stairs staring into the eerie darkness. He hesitantly put one foot on the first stair, it creaking softly under his weight. He couldn't help but stare into the darkness. Waiting.
Waiting for something to jump out at him. He let out a shaky breath as he slowly stepped on the first step. Then he made his way onto the second one. The darkness just waited. Beckoning him to walk into its sharp jaws. Waiting for its prey to walk into its trap. His breathing started to become unsteady as he made his way onto the third step.
Hannah was hesitant to approach the boy. She looked to her lover for an answer. He gave a shrug. She slowly walked to the stairs. "Mao?" She softly called out. Mao continued to stare into the darkness.
Hannah's brows furrowed. "Mao sweetie," She called out. He snapped out of his trance and turned to his aunt who had a worried expression on her face. "Auntie?" He asked. She walked up the stairs behind him. "Do you wanna hold my hand?"
She asked. He nodded. She smiled and grabbed his little hand. Together, they walked up the stairs, into the eerie darkness. Mao whimpered softly closing his eyes and gripping onto Hannah's dress. "It's alright, nothing can hurt you alright?" Mao wasn't sure whether to agree with her or not. He's seen some pretty terrifying things.
He nodded slowly. Then the hallway light turned on. He looked up at his aunt to see her hand on the light switch. "See? It's only scary when the light isn't on." Mao nodded. "Okay."
He hesitantly let go of her dress and went to the bathroom. After doing his business, he went over to the sink to wash his hands. He turned the water on and squirted some soap on his hands. After he washed his hands he was going to turn the water off but he heard some rustling behind the shower curtain. He gasped softly. He squeezed his eyes shut and looked down.
"It's not real. It's not real." He repeated in a whisper. But he couldn't resist it. He needed to know for himself. He opened his eyes and slowly looked over at the shower curtain. He felt his heart stop.
A tall slim figure was standing behind the curtain. His breath quickened unsteadily. He closed his eyes and it was gone. He sighed with relief. "Hey, wanna play a game?" A deep, menacing, husky voice asked.
Mao screamed swung the bathroom door open and ran over to his aunt, burying his face in her dress panting heavily. "Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong?" She asked. "I saw him. I saw him.
He's real!" He exclaimed. "Mao, look at me. Who's real?" She asked. Mao looked up at her with a panicked expression. "The— The man—"
He stammered. "Who? What man?" She asked. "Mr. Dark. He wants to hurt me. I saw him in the bathroom!
He was gonna hurt me, auntie." He whimpered with teary eyes. Hannah didn't say anything else and sighed. "Come on sweetie, let's get you downstairs."
Hannah sighed softly as she ran her hands through her hair. She looked at Mao worriedly. Robert came up behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" He asked. She turned to her lover and sighed once more. "I'm worried about him.
He's been talking about some man wanting to hurt him." Robert sighed and rubbed her shoulder gently. "He'll be fine. I'm sure it's just his imagination." This didn't ease her worries. "But why would he imagine something that would scare him so much? He just came running out of the bathroom scared out of his mind!"
She exclaimed. "I just— I just don't know what to do." She said. "It's alright, we'll figure it out soon." Hannah hummed, looking at Mao who was clutching his stuffed animal to his chest as he ate his snack.
"Come on darlings, it's time for bed." Juniper groaned. "But it's winter break!" She whined. "So? You still have to go to bed at a reasonable time." Juniper whined.
"Fine." Hannah picked up Mao who was already dozing off. He groaned softly. "Auntie?" He called out softly. She hummed in acknowledgment.
"Yes?" She asked. "Can I share a room with Juni?" Mao asked as he rubbed his eyes. "You already are," She said as she walked up the stairs and walked past a room, and opened a door.
She turned the light on and set him on a bed. She tucked him under the blankets. "Good night. Try to get some sleep okay." Mao frowned. "But what about Mr. Dark?" She sighed softly and kissed his forehead. "I'll turn the tv on, how about that?"
Mao nodded. Hannah grabbed the remote and turned the tv on, she'd put it on Disney since Mao was too young to watch what Juniper would suggest. "Good night you two," She said as she went over to the door and blew the siblings a kiss. She left the room and silently closed the door. Mao's eyelids felt heavy as he attempted to fight the sleep in his system.
Mao awoke to find himself in his bed. He sat up and looked at Juniper who was sleeping peacefully. The tv was still playing. Good. "Hey, hey kid." Mao gasped and tensed up. He closed his eyes tight.
"Wanna play a game with me?" Mao shook his head. "Why not? If you win, you'll get a prize." Mao didn't respond. "Come on, just one round. What do you say?"
No answer. "Kid I'm losing my patience." No response. "Fine then. I'll just have to force you to play. And I don't like to force my playmates." Mao opened his eyes to see a bruise forming around Juniper's neck. He tried to yell but he couldn't.
Why couldn't he help her? "Mao.." Juniper called out in a ragged voice." Mao shook his head and covered his ears, shutting his eyes tight. It's not real. It's not real.
It's not real. It's just a dream. He can't hurt you or Juniper. Mao thought. "Hey, kid. Wanna play a game?"
Mao gasped and opened his eyes.
"No!" Mao yelled as he sat up, breathing heavily. His eyes darted around the room. He quickly looked at Juniper's bed. She was gone. Why was she gone? Did he take her? So many unanswered questions ran through his head.
The bedroom door opened. Mao quickly looked at the door to see Robert in the doorway. "Are you alright? I heard yelling." Robert asked. Mao looked at Juniper's bed. Then he looked at Robert. She's safe.
He told himself. "I-I'm okay." He said. Robert nodded. "Good. Hannah made breakfast, come eat—" Robert paused.
"Where'd you get that bruise?" He asked. Mao tilted his head to the side. "What bruise?" Mao asked. Robert came closer and crouched down in front of him. He felt Robert place a finger on his neck.
Mao winced. When did he get a bruise on his neck? "We should get that checked out." He said as he stood up. "But anyway, come down and eat. Hannah made pancakes." Mao's face lit up at the word 'pancakes.'
Robert chuckled as Mao got off the bed and ran out of the room. Robert's expression was serious. He frowned. Did he always have that bruise on his neck? I don't remember it. He asked himself as he left the bedroom.
I hope you all enjoyed this! I really enjoyed writing it 3