The Other Family.
The boy took Annie's hand and started leading her to the kitchen, "Your not my brother." Annie whimpered. The boy looked down at her and say the miserable expression on her face. He got down on his knees and pulled her into a hug. "Im your other brother sweetheart." He told her. "I… I want Thomas." Annie whispered, "I know kiddo. But I saw him. And he told me he misses you and he loves you." "Your lying." Annie muttered. "Your just trying to make me feel better. That's what everyone does." "Im not lying I can show you." Annie looked up at him, her eyes shinning. "Really?" she asked. "Really." The boy answered. Annie held out her pinkie. "Pinkie promise?" The boy linked pinky's with her." "Pinkie promise." He said. "Now lets get to dinner.O O O
"What should I call you?" Annie asked the boy as he led her to the kitchen. "Not Thomas I presume… unless that is your name." The boy laughed and ran his hand through his hair."For a little girl you sure do use big words."
"Oh Todd dear. I see your little sister is joining us for dinner." The women standing in the door of the kitchen looked a lot like Annie's mother. She was practically her twin only she like the boy had buttons for eyes. Black and shiny like the beetle in her stepfathers bug collection. She smiled at Annie, which rather frightened the little girl.
"Er… hi." Annie muttered.
"Why don't you go tell your father supper is ready Hm? He's in his study." The women's beetle eyes flashed she stared at Annie with hunger. But Annie assumed that was because there was a large roast duck waiting to be devoured.
Todd put his arm around Annie and led her out of the room. Once they were out of earshot Annie asked.
"Why don't you have eyes?" Todd grinned.
"That's a long story Annie. Im sure you'll hear about it." and with that hanging in the air the went to fetch the other father.
"So Annie. Now that dinner is over. Maybe you would like to play a game." Oh great. Todd thought. Here we go agine.
"A… game?" Annie asked hesitantly.
"Yes a game. Monopoly, hide-n-go seek Shoots and ladders? Happy families?" Same thing every time. It was routine. Like lines for a play that happened over and over agine. The witch tapped her remission red finer nails on the table making a clacking sound. Annie rubbed her eyes.
"N-not tonight. I had a long day and im really tired."
"Ill take her to bed." Todd offered. He pushed his chair away from the table. The legs scrapped against the floor making a sound like nails on a chalk bored. Witch nails to be exact. He saw Annie wince.
"Oh well all right dear. Go tuck her in. then you can watch that Dentist what show you like."
"Its Doctor Who." Todd said through gritted teeth. He took Annie's hand and led her up the stairs. When she stumbled on the first step, he picked her up and carried her like a baby up to her room.
Annie's room was that of what you would expect a princess's room to look like, pink and frilly with a four-poster bed and plush pink pillows and froffy everything. Personally to Todd it locked like rainbows, unicorns and cupcakes had to much to drink at the pub and then vomited it all back up in a frilly pink mess. "What do you think kiddo?" Todd asked. Annie furrowed her brow.
"Its to pink. Like Pinkie Pie decided to puke." Todd laughed and plopped her down into bed. Annie giggled. Remembering how Thomas used to do that. But before she could be sad Todd kissed her forehead and tucked her into bed.
"Goodnight Squirt." He said. He stood up straight and went to the door turning off the light.
"Todd?" Annie murmured in the darkness.
"Hm?"
"What is this place?" Todd didn't say anything for a moment, then.
"Hell." He whispered.