I just want to warn you guys, this is where the dark comes in. I am about to go all kinds of crazy on you. I hope you read the last story leading up to this one because if not, you are going to be lost for a few chapters until everything is explained. Any who, drop a comment and follow the story.

Peace!

She cried for a long time, but eventually, Spinelli managed to get off the couch and take a hot shower. By the time she had gotten out, the sandwiches were stale and the tea was ice cold. She sighed, dumping the contents of the mug into the sink. Maybe if she went on a nice walk, clear her head of the negativity. She nodded to herself and turned out of the kitchen. TJ was sitting on the couch, clicking away at his lap top.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Job hunting," he said monotonously. A ping of guilt hit her chest.

"I'm sorry you have to job hunt because of me,"

"No, sweetie, I was going to job hunt either way." He gave her a warm smile and went back to working on his resume.

"I'm going to take a walk, clear myself up."

"I can go with you, if you want." He was about to close his computer when Spinelli raised her hand.

"I will be okay. I need some alone time. I'll be back in a half hour or so." She grabbed her coat and left the house.

The cold autumn air shocked her more than she expected, but she didn't care. She missed this neighborhood so much, it ached her heart. She started down the street, not knowing exactly where she was walking to, but it didn't matter. In fifteen minutes she would turn around and head home. She thought about the interview and how terrible that was. Maybe the science lab in the city would hire her? She could call them tomorrow. Maybe the university had a position open? She didn't know if she could teach classes without a degree in teaching of some sort. She would look into that when she got back.

Her stomach made a noise and she knew she was hungry.

"I wonder if that burger place is still open," she mumbled to herself, remembering the small shack around the block that sold the best burgers in the eastern United States. She rounded a corner and found herself in an unfamiliar area. "Did I make a wrong turn?" She turned in a circle, looking at her surroundings. It was dark but only six in the evening. Something caught her eye and she turned, facing a run down, two story house that looked like it hadn't been lived in in many years. She stepped closer to the front porch, boards missing out of the steps, and peered through the dusted window. She wondered why no one tore it down to rebuild a new one. It brought a creepy vibe to the neighborhood. She stepped closer, losing herself in thought, when something didn't feel right. Her instincts told her to turn and leave. She pivoted on her heal but lost her balance. A board cracked beneath her and she started to fall. She hit the ground hard and her head harder on wood planks that had fallen under her. She groaned, trying to get up, but couldn't move. She was pinned under a wood beam.

"Son of a-"

"Do you need any help?" A voice called from above the hole she fell through.

"Yes, please. A beam pinned me down. I can't move my legs and I'm five months pregnant." She called back.

A face appeared inside the hole and two hands reached down, grabbing the beam. He was grubby with a thin face and long nose. He was much older than she was, maybe by ten years, but it was hard to tell in the dark. He wiggled the beam just enough for her to move her legs out from underneath. She stood and reached her arms up where he grabbed onto her and lifted her out of the hole. She ran to the concrete sidewalk and brushed off the dirt and bugs that clung to her clothing.

"Thank you so much," She said breathlessly.

"No problem. I needed to replace that porch anyway." He waved her off with a charming smile.

"Wait, is that your house?" She asked, pointing to the wreck.

"Yes. Why were you on my porch in the first place?" His smile faded as he stepped closer to her, eyeing her.

"I was curious. I've lived her almost my entire life and never noticed that house before." She felt small and stepped back.

"Well, I guess no real harm was done. How are you feeling?" He looked down at her stomach, directing the question more there than at her.

"Oh, I think she'll be alright, but I'll schedule an appointment tomorrow to make sure." She smiled, touching her stomach. "Anyway, thanks for pulling me out of there," She reached her hand out to shake his.

"No problem," He extended his hand, taking hers and smiled. "What's your name?"

"Ashley," she smiled and let go of his hand.

His eyes gleamed at her and he smiled back. "I'm Brad. Nice to meet you."

Ashley turned and headed down the block back to her house, reaching into her pocket, pulling out her phone and setting a reminder to schedule a doctors appointment tomorrow.

Brad stood still, staring at the small silhouette grow smaller as she bounced her way back to her house. A smile stayed plastered to his face. She was exactly as he remembered. He had looked for so long, wondered what had happened to her. He knew she stayed in the area, but never realized she was closer than he thought. He put his hands together and walked around to the back of the run down house. He opened up the cellar door and stepped in. Now that he found her, he only needed a few more preparations to make everything perfect and the way it once was. They can be kids again and everything would be perfect. He smiled again at himself and pulled the light string, revealing a room full of stuffed animals, pink dresses and dolls. There was a wall with many picture of a small girl with dirt caked onto her face. In some of the pictures, she's smiling. But in most of them, she's either crying or frowning; trying to look away. She was his doll and he will get her back.