Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.
Eteru42, phil34metro: We shall see, won't we?
Your Saving Grace Is Here: Thanks for the explanation. Yes, the water on Lisa's floor had spilled into reality. And don't worry. You'll see Lynn again.
U. N. Owen: You'll have to wait and see like everyone else.
MasterCaster: Interesting observation.
tylerdunkley82: Thanks! And yes, kids will be kids.
Restless
By LolaPresents (Editing by Catspeaker)
Chapter 4
Eventually, the mysterious figure that loomed across the street faded, and the girls sitting at the shanty table began to feel less oppressed. With a unified sense of relief, Lori and Leni finished their meal, paid the bill, and headed back toward the petting zoo.
The evening was beginning to give way to nightfall, and the zoo would close soon, giving them a chance to catch Lana as she and her staff cleaned up, tended to the animals, and prepared for the following day. After a flood of cars exited the lot, the duo drove in and parked.
"I hope she's okay," Leni mused, shutting off the engine and pocketing her keys. "She was so young when it happened."
"Me, too," agreed Lori before stepping from the car. "I can hardly imagine the pain she's been keeping all these years."
Sighing in unison, the girls headed toward the building, which served as the ticket booth and gift shop. Tall chain-link fences surrounded the grounds to protect animal and human life alike. While no hazardous animals were roaming around, Lana still took precautions.
The mildly dangerous animals, such as the various venomous reptiles, were kept in glass enclosures. The remaining beasts got contained in fenced-in areas. Even the elephants had a home of their own, as did the more popular attractions, horses, ostriches, and swine.
Passing a few people on their way out, Lori held the door and smiled at the children's happy faces, knowing her sister had made it all possible. Lana was such a carefree soul and would do anything for anyone. That's what made her involvement in what happened so devastating.
After the last customers left, the girls strolled into the large open room, scanning for their sister. Sure enough, Lana was standing behind a long glass counter filled with trinkets and souvenirs, doing something with a stack of papers near the register.
Their younger sister had dressed in a pair of grey overalls and a red cap with the zoo logo. Her long blonde hair got held back in two separate ponytails. It was hard to imagine underneath the dirt, dust, and unflattering uniform that Lana was a beautiful girl who could have made it as a model if she wished.
"Hey, Lana!" chirped Leni, gaining the attention of the zoo owner. "How have you been?"
Lana recognized the voice immediately, and a broad smile grew upon her face as she put down the papers and looked toward the door. Adult life proved challenging, making it harder to stay in touch. However, Leni wasn't alone. Lori, whom she hadn't seen in forever, was with her.
"Hey, guys!" returned Lana, rushing from behind the counter to greet and hug them. "It's so good to see you both! What brings you to my little safari?" she asked after stepping back to appreciate their presence.
"Well..." sighed Lori, wholly unprepared for the discussion. "It's rather personal. Is there anywhere we can talk in private?"
"Of course," chirped Lana, brightly smiling as she faced a nearby blonde who wore the zoo uniform and sported a full-length cast on one leg. "Hey, Paula," she called. "Do you mind closing up tonight? My sisters and I need to talk."
"Sure thing, boss," said the aging and constantly injured athlete, giving her boss a one-handed salute.
"Follow me," offered Lana before leading her sister to the back of the facility where her office resided.
Lana's office was rather unkempt, but it seemed she at least tried to maintain some semblance of order. Two large windows looked out upon the grounds, offering the nature-loving girl a peaceful view while she tended to official matters.
"I'm sorry the place is such a mess," Lana apologized, offering them seats before taking her own. "But, as you can see, caring for this many animals makes certain demands of one's time, and I can't be bothered to clean."
"Understandable," chuckled Lori as she sat in one of the plastic chairs.
"You're doing a great job!" reassured Leni. "You should see my desk!"
"Heh, well..." Lana hummed, leaning back in her chair and interlocking her fingers behind her head. "What brings you two out here? Do you need a season pass, or are you just looking to bring the kids for a one-time visit?"
"Neither, I'm afraid," Lori murmured, looking more severe than when they arrived. "Though, that's not a bad idea."
"It's about what happened when we were kids," Leni muttered, joining Lori with a dour expression.
"Oh..." grimaced Lana, suddenly leaning forward and folding her arms upon her desk.
A visible dark cloud came over their younger sister's eyes. It was clear she hadn't expected the visit to be about this subject. When the young woman spoke again, it was with resolute uncertainty.
"Why? What's happened? We made a pact never to speak of that," she reminded them.
Lori looked back at her baby sister with a sympathetic expression. She wished she could have spared her younger siblings from all of this. It was unfair when it all happened. They were only kids. It only made her feel like she'd failed in her role as the eldest sibling. The one meant to protect them all.
"We know, Lana," Lori apologized, "but Leni, Lisa, Lynn, and I have been," she sputtered, "how shall I say this..."
"...been thinking a lot about it recently and having bad dreams?" Lana instinctively finished.
"Yeah," sighed Leni. "That's putting it mildly. So, how about you? I take it you've seen things, too?"
Lana unfolded her arms and rubbed her face, nearly dislodging the cap with the zoo logo on it from her head. She'd put so much effort into forgetting the past that she was reluctant to say anything now. But it seemed she wasn't alone in her experiences. Maybe it was some form of communal guilt, and talking about it might help.
"Yeah..." she eventually admitted.
Lana went quiet as her blue eyes darted around the room as if making sure they were the only ones present in the office. A moment later, she looked back to her sisters and continued.
"I've been seeing a shadowy figure out of the corner of my eye at night while feeding the animals before I leave," she informed them. "And last night, I dreamt something pulled me into the duck pond."
"That must've been awful..." muttered Leni, frowning with empathy.
The girls shared their stories of strangeness and nightmares for several minutes. One of the common elements seemed to involve getting pulled into a dark, cold space, whether a void, closet, or underwater. The experiences left all of them feeling suffocated and suppressed.
"It was," answered Lana, now fidgeting with a stapler. "I was so scared and didn't know what to do. But, as always, I woke up."
"How often do you have these nightmares?" asked Lori. "And, have you discovered anything odd afterward?"
"Only for the past few days," informed the girl behind the desk. "And what do you mean by odd?"
"When I woke up after something tried to pull me into my closet, my wrist got bruised, even though I was still in bed," Leni offered. "And after Lynn's recent hallucination, there was blood in the sink."
"No," Lana replied thoughtfully. "I don't think so."
"No water left over from being pulled into the pond?" Lori prodded, hoping to stir memories of something her sister might have forgotten or overlooked.
"No, nothing," responded Lana, slightly shaking her head. "But I'll let you know if something like that happens. Alright?" she suggested. "In the meantime, try forgetting about it. It doesn't do any good to bring it back up now."
"Lana..." Lori spoke softly and knew what she was about to ask might be crossing the line. "Do you regret what you did?"
Lana looked back at her eldest sister incredulously.
"Of course I do!" spouted the busy girl. "But I didn't have much choice, did I?!" she argued, growing irate at the line of questioning. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's feeding time, and I have a lot of bowls to fill," she announced as she stood and grabbed a large burlap sack.
"Hey, Lana!" shot Lori, standing up and grabbing her sister's arm, forcing her to make eye contact. "You're not alone in this. We're here for you. All you have to do is open up to us. Alright?"
Lana grimaced and then smiled before relaxing, nervously alternating between expressions. For nearly twenty years, she'd maintained her solitude and silence. For her sisters to come barging in here, demanding she talked about something so sensitive seemed unforgivable.
Part of her wanted to yell at the two to get out and never return. At the same time, she knew Lori's words to be true. They had gone through something traumatic together and should be handling it together. Another part of her wanted to hug both tightly again and beg forgiveness for everything.
It would be nice to catch up and get some things off her chest, especially considering what her sisters told her about their experiences.
"Fine," muttered the zookeep. "Grab a bag and follow me out to the feed shed. Paula will be busy inside for a while, and we'll have the place to ourselves."
Nodding, Lori and Leni each grabbed a sack and followed Lana through the maze of enclosures to a rough wooden shack near the back of the lot. After pointing out which feed to fill the bags with, Lana led them back outside.
The larger animals were kept near the rear of the lot, closer to the feed shed, to isolate them from traffic noises and keep them from spooking. Idly leaning against the fence containing the elephants, Lana showed her sisters how to feed them, then watched as they enthusiastically went about their business.
It had been so long since they'd done anything together like this, as a family again. It was cute and sweet, reminding her of the old days before everything changed, and Lana began to feel guilt coil in her heart.
"You know," she began, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. "I regret how we handled things back then," she admitted. "But, we were young and didn't know any better."
"I did," sighed Lori, "but I didn't heed my conscience. Lynn's argument was too compelling."
"Sometimes, I wish we'd fessed up," Leni added solemnly. "If we had, maybe we wouldn't be going through this now."
"Yeah..." sighed Lana, offering an apple to one of the giant beasts, petting its trunk afterward. "Lynn calls occasionally, and we talk about what happened, but we always end up where we began, with no way forward. Then, we drift apart for a few months."
"At least she talks to you," Lori offered with deep regret. "She barely knows we exist."
"Have you spoken with Lola at all?" Leni inquired, scattering some peanuts on the ground, too timid to hand feed even the calves.
"No, but I probably should," Lana admitted. "She's just so far away and so removed now. I don't know how she'd react."
"There's only one way to find out," Lori reminded her sister. "And if you don't do it, I will."
"No, no..." murmured Lana. "I'll do it tonight when I get home."
"Very well," Lori replied. "But you must call me tomorrow and let me know what happens. Okay? What's happening to us is serious, so don't leave out any details."
"Fine..." grumbled Lana. "In the meantime, what are you going to do?"
"I was thinking about going to the library and researching dreams and the occult," she informed Lana. "Maybe I can gain some insight into what's going on and find a way to stop it."
"Why don't you ask..." the tomboy began to suggest before getting interrupted.
"They aren't speaking to us, remember?" Leni interjected, not wanting to hear their name.
Lana sighed with near exhaustion and nestled her head in her arms, folded on the top rung of the wooden fencing. She still recalled how they objected that day. But Leni was right, and a seemingly permanent wedge had gotten driven between them. There was little use in going to them. If only they'd made some attempt earlier, things might be different between them. But as it stood, they wouldn't be of any use.
"It's getting late, Lori," Leni surmised as she gazed at the falling skyline. "We should go. I need to make dinner and put Abby to bed."
"Alright," sighed Lori, turning to Lana. "Thank you for your time and for letting us feed the elephants. I wish I could say it was more fun, but..."
"Don't mention it," instructed Lana, taking the bags from her sisters. "I'll call you tomorrow," she added before leading them back to the lot. "Bye!" she called, waving as her sisters drove off.
Lori and Leni made pleasant small talk on the way back home. As if not wanting to recount the mutual guilt they were both feeling after speaking with Lana. Eventually, they fell into a comfortable silence until they found their way home to Leni's place.
Eating dinner with Leni was a different experience altogether. While she went out of her way to make a fresh pitcher of lemon iced tea and a tray of dinner rolls, the main course consisted of microwaveable plates of meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Keeping their family business to themselves, Lori and Leni ate dinner slower than usual, their minds occupied with more disturbing things. However, Abigail provided conversation herself, proving to be a real chatterbox.
Though the little girl was only a little over two, she reminded Lori so much of Lily when she was that age, constantly babbling about one thing or another. Her mother and father doted on her, catering to her every need. In some ways, Lori thought they were spoiling her. In others, she knew Leni was making up for her past.
Lori insisted on helping clean up afterward, but Leni wouldn't hear of it, demanding that she spend time with Abby while she could. Reluctantly, Lori agreed. It had been a while since she dealt with toddlers, but she hadn't forgotten everything she knew just because her kids were older, and, being the most senior of eleven children, she had significant experience to draw on.
Lori sat on the floor and placed Abby before her. Turning the television to a random cartoon, she played with the child. As Leni cleaned up, the more Lori thought of her youngest sibling, who was only a toddler when everything happened. Maybe tomorrow, that's who'd she go and see.
"Say, Leni?" called Lori from her place on the floor. "What's Lily up to these days?"
"You haven't heard?" chirped Leni from the kitchenette in her mobile home. "She's taking college-transfer classes at the community college and serving as a teacher's assistant at the middle school."
"Oh, really?" gasped Lori excitedly. "That's amazing! What subject is she interested in?"
"Language arts," replied Leni as she wandered into the living room, content to watch her older sister adore her child. "But right now, she's helping in the art department."
"That makes sense," Lori nodded, smiling knowingly. "She always did have a way with finger painting."
"Yeah..." sighed Leni thoughtfully. "But she moved past that decades ago. You should see some of her work now. It's amazing."
"Perhaps I will," agreed the older of the two. "I plan on going to see her tomorrow. I doubt she remembers anything, but I want to make sure. You know?"
Leni nodded in agreement before she turned her full attention to her daughter.
"Whelp!" chirped Leni as she reached for Abigail, scooping her up in her arms. "I better get this little one to bed. You can sleep in the spare room," she offered. "I'm sorry it's so bare, but we just haven't found the time to decorate it yet."
"I'm sure it'll be fine, sis," Lori replied as she stood. "As long as I have some blankets and a pillow, I'll be alright."
"Goodnight, Lori," Leni hummed, happy to have her sister around.
"Goodnight, Leni," Lori returned, just as satisfied, feeling like she was home again.
"Buh-bye!" chirped Abigail, waving at Lori as they disappeared down the hallway to the main bedroom.
Lori laid in bed for a good thirty minutes before falling asleep. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable, though. She was. It was the fact that the windows had no curtains, and the shadows the trees cast upon the wall unnerved her. She missed her husband, but knowing her sister and best friend were in the next room over was comforting, even after everything that happened.
Once she closed her eyes, she was gone.
Lana had nearly finished with her rounds by the time Lori fell asleep. Feeding was just one chore on her list of things to do. Others were to clean up after the animals and check all the exhibits for possible maintenance. Keeping a working zoo running was time-consuming, but Lana loved it more than anything, despite how tired she got.
The goat enclosure was a decent-sized area with a large but fake rock they could climb on and a small, circulating pond. The stack of faux boulders in the center of the site housed a small pump house that Lana had to service occasionally. And, from the look of the stagnant water, tonight was one such time.
Sighing, she entered and closed the gate behind her, then approached the small door in the back of the centerpiece. There wasn't much room inside, though. Just enough for the pump, some supplies, like extra filters, and other cleaning equipment. Typically, the goats paid the door little mind. However, one of the smaller ones ran inside when she opened it.
"Hey, Dottie!" called Lana, making clicking sounds. "Come back here, you!"
When the stray didn't return, Lana sighed and tried turning on the light so she could see where it went. Unfortunately, the lamp didn't come on. Lana gave the switch a few more turns before she gave up and pulled out her emergency flashlight instead. Turning it on, Lana stood frozen for a moment.
The back of the pumphouse seemed to be gone. A long stone tunnel replaced it, leading into darkness, and Lana could hear the bleating of the kid as it went further in. Swallowing with difficulty, she faced her fear and shone her flashlight down the long hallway. The kid was nowhere in sight.
A small rational part of Lana's brain knew there shouldn't be any tunnel here. There was no evidence of it in the many other times she had been in the pump house. Yet, the goat's bleating from the long-drawn darkness compelled her to go in.
Grabbing a nearby wrench, Lana squeezed past the pump and began inching her way down the stone passage. The tunnel was near claustrophobic, rough, and cold to the touch. Nothing but pure dark beyond the short distance her flashlight could illuminate.
The sensation of being watched overwhelmed her, and her skin crawled at the echoing bleats. She couldn't explain what was happening but knew she had to be careful. Rescuing the kid was the only thing keeping her in the pumphouse if that's where she still was.
As Lana progressed, she shone her light around, looking for signs of the young goat. Her breath hitched when she noticed the tunnel had gone from stone to dirt somewhere along the way. How long had she been squeezing herself into this tunnel now? Roots were coming through parts of the earth.
Swallowing again, she looked behind her, only to find no way out. The tunnel had sealed itself, trapping her and the animal inside.
Lana's first instinct was to call for help. But after a few tries, she realized how ridiculous that was. Paula would have left long ago after finalizing the day's intake. Not only that, but who would hear her this far underground? Where would her voice carry to with who knew how many feet of earth between her and the sky?
Spinning briskly, she shone her flashlight ahead, the tunnel stretching before her. There was no turning back now, and she only had one path forward.
Lana trudged along the dark, damp passage until it eventually opened into a small cave-like area with an oddly rectangular pit in the middle.
Furrowing her brows, she crept closer and peered inside, frightened but cautious. Inside was the kid, idly wandering about, seemingly unharmed.
"Hey, Dottie..." Lana called as she climbed into the depression. "Are you..." she spoke out before hearing something snap.
Immediately, Lana shone her flashlight at the ground before screaming at finding a small pile of bones underfoot. Too terrified to move, she stood there momentarily, considering her options. It wasn't until dirt began falling from above that she redirected her light. Someone was burying her alive!
"Wait! Stop!" Lana screamed, clawing at the walls of the pit. "Let me out!"
As dirt poured into the pit from somewhere above, it came increasingly faster with more significant amounts, rooting Lana in place. Screaming helplessly, she groped at the mud and tried to free herself. But when she nearly grasped the ground above, something knocked her back in.
As Lana stared at the ceiling, unable to move, all she could do was weep as the hole filled, leaving her alone and confined in the damp earth. Her breathing became labored and declined rapidly. And just as she took her last breath, she sat up in bed, sweating profusely.
"What the..." gasped Lana as she bolted upright, still in her work clothes. "How did I..."
Confused and disoriented, Lana flipped her covers aside and stood, letting the dirt on her lap fall to the floor. Staring at it in disbelief, Lana realized what her sister's relayed was true. Something more was going on than mere night terrors.
Now inclined to take things more seriously, Lana reconsidered what she'd learned. She had no idea when she started dreaming or how she got home. Creeped out by what she'd just experienced and shivering at how cold her bedroom seemed, she sat on the bed and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort.
Lana was only beginning to relax when she heard the bleating of the lost kid again. Grabbing her phone, she bolted out of her apartment and stood in the dewy night grass, staring at the sky, looking for clues about what to do. However, the sparkling evening sky offered no answers and gave little hope.
Lana had grabbed her phone on the way out, intending to call for help. But now that she was outside, her phone in hand, the urgency dwindled. Instead, the soft glow of the screen caught her attention. She glanced at it and noticed Lola's contact information was already prepped and ready for calling.
Lana stared at her phone for several minutes, doubting what she saw and wondering if she was still dreaming. Regardless, she had made a promise to call her twin and considering she didn't seem to be in any immediate danger, she pressed the call button.
Looking up as the phone rang, she could've sworn a misty figure dissolved some distance away, and the feeling of oppression she'd felt all evening subsided. But before she could respond, Lola picked up.
"Lana?" asked Lola. "It's kind of late. Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Michigan was three hours ahead of California, and Lana realized her sister wouldn't have been expecting a call from her at this time.
Lola was one of the few Loud children that continued her pursuits into adulthood. However, things didn't go precisely as planned. Where the young girl once dreamed of becoming a well-known movie star, famous for her roles in various feel-good chick flicks, her direction changed entirely after the incident.
Like Lynn, her enthusiasm for being in the spotlight dimmed as time passed. Popularity led to interviews and scandals, something she couldn't afford if anyone learned the truth. While still relatively famous, it was only within certain circles. Following in the footsteps of people like Jamie Lee Curtis and Danielle Harris, Lola was the world's hottest scream queen, starring in multiple Slice movies.
"Gosh, I know, Lola, I know..." Lana muttered, genuinely embarrassed. "I guess I forgot. But, with everything going on, I had to call and see if you were okay."
"Why?" Lola purred, prolonging the word to avoid the reply. "What's going on?"
Lola remained silent as Lana explained everything she knew, including what had just happened to her. And though she knew she must sound ridiculous or crazy, Lana continued until every detail had gotten relayed, as promised.
"Oh, thank God..." sighed Lola from her end of the phone, both relaxing and tensing simultaneously. "I thought my movies were starting to get to me."
"You too, huh?" muttered Lana. "You know, it's been a real long time. Is there any way you can take a break and stay with me until we figure this out?"
"Sure, sis," replied her twin unabashedly. "I'm between films, anyway. I'll get the first flight out tomorrow."
"Oh, thank you so much, Lola!" Lana chirped. "You have no idea what this means to me."
After some heartfelt farewells, the twins ended their call, leaving Lana sitting on her knees in the wet midnight grass. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. She planned to pick her sister up and catch up with her before reporting her findings to Lori, as discussed.
For now, she needed sleep more than anything, and with the heavy feelings now distant, she stood and headed back into her apartment. However, upon returning to her bedroom, the dirt that littered the floor seemed to have disappeared. Perhaps whatever was hounding her would leave her alone for one night.
Changing into her nightgown, she tossed her soiled clothes into her hamper, let her hair down, and climbed into bed. Still creeped out and frightened, she snuggled under her covers, pulling them up to her nose. Finally, she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. Whether she could or not was another question entirely.
Lana knew precisely what her vision referred to, but whether it was a reminder or a warning, she couldn't tell, and that's what scared her the most. At twenty-seven years of age, she was no longer afraid of the boogieman, but after everything she'd gone through the past few days, her old fears resurfaced. Lola couldn't get there fast enough for her.
Standing just inside the woods behind Lana's apartment building, a dark, misty figure lingered for a moment before fading into nothing.