2 years later.
"Sweet dreams baby…"
Lori said as she looked down at the crib where Parker laid fast asleep. The nursery was on the second floor of the loft condo she was renting from one of the many factories which were remodeled in the city. The nursery was small, but still a warm and comforting place Lori had made for her daughter. Parker slept in her crib and the mobile hanging over her, slowly twirling there hung tiny reflective stars that faintly played a nursery jingle. Starring down, Lori felt as if her very own heart would burst. Whenever she looked at her baby, she was reminded over the last three years, and how hard she had worked to make a life for them. She had struggled, trying to process of had happened. For months, she was down right terrified, unable to sleep being haunted by vivid nightmares of the monsters of Midian. Over and over again, flashes of the creatures, Dr. Decker, Boone, Ashberry, and of course of Peloquin appeared before her. She still remembered his glowing blue eyes, his snarl, and his fangs bitting into her as he raped her. She hadn't ever believed in monsters, magic, or even so much as evil. But within those few days, she was shown a darker side of the world, one that had changed her forever. She knew it was impossible, but somehow she had given birth to a child, which had been conceived just hours before. She had feared whatever had been forced inside of her would come out as a demon, instead she was stunned to find a beautiful a perfect baby girl. She had tried her hardest to forget that the father of her child had raped her, and had been a monster from Hell. Instead she tried to pretend that nothing had happened. That Parker's father had been Boone. That he had been framed by Dr. Decker who had been the killer all along. Boone had been accidentally shot and killed. Decker killed afterwards himself. She tried to convince herself that she had never been to Midian, and that her baby had been conceived in love, rather than hate.
Knowing this would be impossible to return home with her child, she knew right off the bat if she indeed wanted to hold onto her child, she would have to cut off all ties. Checking into a motel, she made arrangements, quitting her job at the club, and cashing in all her bank accounts. Her boss, and friends all wanted to know what was up? They all had known Boone and couldn't believe such a nice guy like him could have been a killer. As far as they knew, he had been gunned down in a town up state. Nothing of the police massacre, nor Midian made the news and she figured it was because the town's people from the area covered the entire thing up. The underground city had been distorted, and all that was left was a pile of bodies. The monsters…all gone. She had never in her life prepared herself for this, and knew if she very much intended to keep the baby she would have to leave her life behind and do whatever it took to protect her. After moving, she relocated to a new city, and began at once burning any evidence of her life before. None of her friends knew what she was doing. She wrote hurried letters, explaining she was moving, and wanted to start over after what happened with Boone. She wasn't close with anyone, so it was easy to make herself disappear. She checked in and out of motels, doing whatever she could before finally applying for state help, claiming she was a victim of rape, and the child was a result of the attack. It took a total of seven times, endless hours of waiting downtown before finally she was approved. She was offered therapy to try and get over whatever had happened to her, but Lori refused. Instead she depended on these monthly checks to give Parker what she needed.
It wasn't much, but enough to help her and Parker. She was also given help with Parker's doctor appointments, which Lori knew she would never allow to go without. It was at a local clinic downtown and every time she brought her there she watched closely, nervously chewing on her nails as she doctor listened to her wiggling baby's heartbeat on the table. Constantly she was terrified that something would be found, something that showed that she wasn't natural. Instead as the months passed, all of the doctors claimed she was perfectly healthy. It seemed like endless months of staying up until all hours, rocking Parker to sleep as she heard through the thin walls of whatever dirt bag motel she was staying at as people screwed or argued. She was exhausted, and wouldn't let the baby out of her sight. She had enough money to hold them off for a while, but she refused to sleep with the lights off. Night after night whenever she drifted off, with Parker in her arms she would snap awake with her heart hammering in her chest thinking she could see his blue flashing eyes. Finally she was able to land a few part time jobs as a cocktail waitress. She rented a small three story walk up apartment, where the roof leaked, and rats hurried across the floor. As hard as it was, she never let Parker get cold or be hungry. She met a kind elderly woman who lived downstairs who was more than happy to watch Parker whenever Lori had a shift. The two banded a strong relationship, and as Lori worked endless hours, barley talking or sleeping to anyone. She found a side job in a used record shop, and while waiting on tables, she saved as much as she could, always exhausted and relieved whenever she got home to the baby.
She now lived far enough away, and time was passing that she knew she could start over. She had no family, no ties, nothing. Night after night she sat in a used rocking chair she bought second hand at a flea market, that she carried up the stairs herself, nursing Parker, in complete amazement over how beautiful and perfect her little girl was. Whenever she had time off, she spent it with Parker. She had slowly turned their little crummy apartment into a small inviting place. Sure the roof leaked, and there were still rats, but she cleaned it up the best she could, and even made a homemade mobile that hung over the baby's crib made out of feathers and parts and sparking plastic. Night after night she would stare down at the baby, all of the furniture brought second hand, and refinished and painted by her. She adored her daughter and felt such a strong protecting sense of love it seemed dangerous. As much as she tried to pretend she was Arron's, she knew better. She knew that this beautiful creature was hers, and hers only. Finally there came a time, after nearly a year of working non-stop that the boss of the club where she was waiting tables held open auditions for lounge singers. The pay was much better, as was the hours. Terrified, she decided to try her best and arrived one morning before the club opened and performed an old rock song she used to do back at her old gig. Impressed, the owner Nick took her aside afterwards and offered her a deal. She would perform every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. After looking over things, she agreed and that very week she stood up on stage wearing a sparking green cocktail dress and for the first time in endless months, she felt at home. The crowd went wild as she sang her heart out, only thinking of her daughter. Not of Boone, or Peloquin, or any monsters. Just her daughter, and how finally she was making a life for them doing what she loved. Now nearly a year later, she was still working at the club, and loving every second of it. She was the headliner, and some nights the entire place would be sold out. She had been offered other jobs, and Nick noticed, of course increasing her pay to have her stay. With better money rolling in, and her savings growing, she was finally able to move into the loft, in a much better area of the city. It was an old mill, turned into loft apartments and condos. She had a nice woman by the name of Gladys who lived a few doors down that worked as a nanny watch Parker while she worked nights. Currently, she had plenty of friends, the kind she could trust and finally get close with. They only knew that she was from up North, no family, and how her boyfriend died suddenly. She never went into detail, and they never asked. She said after his death she was attacked and raped, got pregnant and kept the baby. Since she moved, she started her life over again with her daughter. These friends, mostly bouncers, waitresses, or workers at the club were all understanding and some nights would even come over for dinner where they would play with Parker, drink wine, play records and laugh. Several times she had been set up on blind dates, but they never went any further than that. Anytime the men would walk her back at her place, kiss her at the door she could almost hear Peloquin growling and laughing faintly in her ears. Ripping away, she muttered an excuse and never called. As of right now the only person she needed in her life was Parker.
The loft was beautiful with a great view of the harbor where sparking green lights of the passing boasts and buildings could be seen. She had bought a German Shepherd named Max who was gentle with her and the baby, but growled at any strangers, Somehow having him sleep by her feet made her feel safer, mostly whenever she had the dreams. They were always the same, the monsters of Midian laughing and running towards the ruined gates while she heard Peloquin's deep growls. Always snapping awake, her large green eyes darting around, she would clutch her chest remembering that monster on top of her, reminding her that she was his. Tonight she had come back from the club, sat and had tea with Gladys for a while and fed Parker a late dinner. The baby was getting thick dark hair, and appeared to have her eyes. She sat in her highchair in the kitchen, spreading her baby food about and giggling as Lori made faces and tickled her. After giving her a bath, and changing her, she brought her into the nursery and softly sang to her before she fell asleep. Staring down, she smiled. Turning on the baby monitor she strolled down the hallway, over the hardwood floors before going into her bedroom. Changing, she wore a baggy T-shirt and panties and looked at herself in the full length mirror that hung on the back of her closet. Looking at herself, she sighed. She hadn't been to the doctor's since Midian. She knew she was different, but there didn't seem to be any change. Constantly she waited for that strange mist to appear before her eyes. For that overwhelming sense of power and strength that she had the day she delivered her daughter. Instead, no matter how hard she focused she couldn't seem to summon it. Somehow in just a matter of a day, she gave birth to a full term child, and it didn't kill her. She looked at the faint scars on her neck, usually hidden by a scarf. Tracing her fingertips against it she felt a chill. Getting into her large plush bed, she settled back before Max hopped up, settling down and putting his head on his paws. Turning and shutting the light off, she laid back and stared at the ceiling, all the while listening to her daughter's light breathing over the baby monitor. Turning, she looked out the window and saw a full moon staring back at her from the night sky.
The next day…
"Mamma!"
Parker babbled as drool dripped down her chin as she wiggled and chubby little arms in her highchair. Laughing, Lori, walking in heels, dressed for the club walked over leaning over and kissing the top of her head. Gladys was doing the dishes at the sink, and was planning on taking Parker to the park later on after her nap. Lori was going to the club early to go over some music sheets with the band. Grabbing her car keys and purse, she swung it over one shoulder before kissing Parker's cheeks.
"Bye honey, mamma loves you!"
The baby gurgled, laughing as she winked down at her and thanked Gladys again for dropping by and watching her for a few hours. Grabbing her things, she headed out closing the door behind her before taking the elevator down to the parking garage. She had bought a sued jeep a few months earlier, which helped a lot with her getting around the city. Ten more payments and it would be completely hers. Once the elevator doors opened, she walked out into the dim lit parking garage, heels clicking loudly with an echo as she pulled her keys out and checked her bag as she headed to the jeep. The parking garage was empty, as thin sunlights came in from the ends. Walking, she headed over to the jeep when she heard his voice.
"Lori…"
Lori froze, stopping dead in her tracks.
"Lori…"
Lori's eyes widened as she turned, feeling her heart leap in her chest. Turning, she couldn't believe it. Turning slowly she looked and saw nothing but shadows and parked cars.
"Hello?"
She asked, her voice slightly cracking. Looking around, she didn't see anything. Glancing from side to side she slowly began to walk again when she heard him. Stopping, she looked ahead, ten or so yards away he stood. It was Peloquin. He looked exactly as he did all that time ago, his glowing flashing eyes, his red skin, standing back wearing a long pea coat. Instantly terror filled her as she stared. Peloquin grinned and began to walk towards her. Slowly he shook his head.
"You think you could have hid from me forever? I told you once, you…belong…to…me."
With that, Lori's eyes rolled backwards, and she fainted.