Alrighty fellow readers! Another fan chapter! Woohoo! It's a more than one parter so let's hope I can do this. P.S. I was working on this at work when it was night time and i was alone and also at home last night while we had a lightning storm. Holy crap this started to freak me out. I'm the one who wrote it and i got jumpy to the point of i screamed when the work phone went off. Anyways Enjoy and remember to keep me posted. Always open to ideas!
Chapter 25: Double The Terror!
*Aria's POV*
Okay. So it's Monday night, wearing my black ripped purple sewn on under tank top and my jean biker shorts with my biker boots, and I was nervous. Betty, who had car privileges from her parents to babysit, was driving us to the house we were going to babysit for. Apparently, from what Betty has said, these twin boys just turned 9 and think they're all grown up and won't listen to their parents at all. They listen to Betty a little bit but that's it. I guess it's a phase. A tough one. They say they don't need a sitter but as far as their parents are concerned they do.
"Don't worry. It's only for a couple hours." She told me as I nodded my head.
"Yeah. But I'm still nervous. I mean I've never really babysat before. I mean my neighborhood wasn't exactly the best place for kids. What if I mess up? What if I make you loose this client? What if-" I was listing down my worries as questions when I was interrupted.
"Aria. Calm down. I heard you did well watching those kids in the daycare until there parents showed up. Clarice also told me how you comforted her when she lost her brother in the store. Trust me, if I didn't think you could handle this, I wouldn't have said yes to the help." Betty said as she put her hand on my arm and patted it before putting it back on the wheel.
"I hope so." I muttered as I sighed. We pulled up to the house, yellow two story, and parked the car in front of the house. I got out and followed Betty to the door. She rang the bell and I couldn't help but be nervous. We heard a crash and some yelling before the door opened up to a woman dressed up in a nice sapphire blue dress and her brown hair tossed up in an up do.
"Hi Betty. I'm so glad you can make it." She said with a smile.
"Hi Mrs. Donavon. I hope you don't mind that I brought help with me." She said as she gestured to me. I smiled the best I could.
"A friend? Betty you know how I feel-" She started but Betty was quick.
"I know but with your sons I figure two of us would be easier no matter how long you take. No extra charge. I trust her completely." Betty said as looked at me again.
"Well if Betty trusts you then I suppose we can have a test run. My names Sarah Donavon." She said to me as she extended her hand. I smiled and politely shook her hand.
"Very nice to meet you Ma'am. My name's Aria Andrews." I said as she then gawked.
"Your not related to that Andrews boy are you?" She suddenly asked me.
"He's my cousin ma'am. I'm just staying there until I finish high school." I told her as she then looked at Betty.
"Don't worry Mrs. Donavon, She's more responsible than Archie is." Betty added as we then heard another crash followed by a male voice yelling.
"Oh boy. No time to argue I suppose. We're already running late. Please come in." She said as we followed her inside.
"Boys! Betty's here and she has a friend with her." yelled as soon there father came in, holding both boys by the ear, and then released them.
"This is my husband, Drew, and my sons. The left one is Duke and the one on the right is Luke…..I think. Honey which is which again?" She suddenly asked. I was shocked. Was it really that hard to tell which was which?
"I think it's the other way around dear." Her husband said. This wasn't good. I decided to take action. Both boys had brown hair and hazel eyes so it was hard to tell who was who but decided to try.
"Do you boys mind telling me who is who? I'd like to try and know." I said as I bent down to their hight, under my ribs, and smiled at both of them.
"My names Aria. I'm a friend of Betty's and I've never met twins before." I said as I smiled brightly at them. At first they just looked at me. Then the one on the left spoke up.
"Is your name really Aria?" He asked sceptically in a soft voice.
"Yup. Not short for anything either." I said to him.
"What does it mean?" He asked me.
"Well. Hm. An Aria is usually a long song accompanying a solo voice like an opera. It also translates to 'air' and 'melody' in Italian but in Hebrew it means 'Lioness'." I said to him.
"Why air?" He asked me.
"Well in opera you need to take large breaths of air in order to sing long notes whether they're high or low." I said to him.
"That's cool. I'm Luke." He said with a smile before his brother punched him.
"Ouch." Luke said. I then looked at the other twin.
"Now that wasn't nice. I know you don't want me to tell you apart but you shouldn't hit him. He's the only brother you have. Be lucky to have him." I told Duke as he looked at me.
"You don't hit your brother or sister?" He asked me.
"I don't have a brother or a sister. I'm an only child and grew up like that. I have a cousin but that's a bit different than a sibling." I said as he then looked at me with wide eyes.
"How about we let your parents leave and then the four of us can figure out what to do." I suggested to them as they just nodded. I stood up straight and I saw Mr. Donavon's shocked face. I looked over and saw the same look on Mrs. Donavon's and Betty's face.
"What?" I mumbled as they brushed it off. We soon saw them out the door as they explained the rules to us. Man they were uptight but it was there house. Soon the boys ran off somewhere while I looked at Betty.
"So what was with that look you three gave me?" I asked her.
"Oh well. Actually we were just shocked was all." She said as I raised an eyebrow.
"Why?~" I questioned her.
"Well Duke and Luke don't talk to people a lot. Actually when I 1st started babysitting them they wouldn't even tell me who was who. They kept switching their names up and kept confusing everyone. The fact that Luke talked to you and told you his name right away says something. Duke, however, will take some time." She told me as my jaw dropped.
"So basically I just earned a couple brownie points with the parents?" I asked as she nodded.
"Yeah. Pretty much." She said as I smiled.
"Sweet." I said before we decided to find the twins and figure out what to do for the next 4 hours. At first the boys stayed with us but after 10 minutes they decided to both go to their room. I didn't like that and neither did Betty.
"How about I make then cookies and you try to get them out of here instead of being alone up there." I suggested as Betty agreed and went up there. I had the cookies in the oven before I heard a loud crash. I started to run up the stairs when I heard the crashing sound again. I got to a room where the crashing sound came from and saw one twin on the ground and holding his head while the other one was throwing his toy trucks around.
"I said enough." I heard Betty yell after he threw a big toy at her. He then grabbed a big toy truck and went to throw it at his brother. I ran and let it hit my shoulder instead of the one twin's head. I then looked at the twin.
"That's enough Duke!" I scolded him as he then stopped throwing his toys.
"You don't throw toys at us and especially not at Luke!" I scolded him as I picked Luke up and looked at Betty.
"I'll get him an ice pack." I said to her as I began walking out.
"Alright." Betty said as I brought Luke down stairs. I sat him down at the kitchen table before I went to the freezer and found an ice pack.
"How'd you know I was Luke?" He asked me as I made my way back to him and put the ice pack on the, now forming, lump on his head.
"To be honest I wasn't sure. I just figured he was Duke because of him hitting you earlier." I said to him. I then went and grabbed a hand towel and wet in under the kitchen faucet.
"So why did he start throwing a tantrum?" I asked Luke as I turned around and went to him to clean his face off.
"I'm not supposed to tell." He told me.
"Tell what? All I want to know is why your brother did that and what I could do to make him happy instead of mad." I said to him as I finished cleaning his face and smiled at him. He smiled back before his face suddenly dropped. I grew curious and felt a breath on my neck. I whipped my head around and saw nothing.
"Is something wrong?" Luke asked me as I shook my head.
"No. Nothings wrong sweetie. Just felt a breeze on my neck is all." I said as I turned and looked back at him. He seemed to be scared like he saw something I didn't.
"Luke? What's wrong? Are you still feeling pain?" I asked him as he then shook his head.
"N-no. I'm feeling a little bit better." He said as he handed me the icepack. I smiled and lightly kissed his head where he got hurt before bringing the icepack to the freezer.
"That's good. At least it's not serious." I said.
"Why do you care? You just met us?" He asked me suddenly.
"Well I'm partially responsible for what happens to you. And besides that I happen to like kids." I said as I turned and looked at him with a smile.
"You do?" He asked me as I nodded yes to him.
"I wouldn't ask Betty if she needed help if I didn't." I said as I then remembered the cookies.
"Oh Sugar! The cookies!" I yelped as I ran over to the oven and quickly put on an oven mit before pulling the cookies out and setting them on a towel that was on the counter.
"Cookies?" Luke asked me.
"Well I thought you two would like some sugar cookies." I told him as I put the cookies on a plate and went to get milk.
"Can Leviathan have one?" He asked me. I stopped and looked at him.
"Who's Leviathan?" I suddenly asked him.
"Oh. Um n-n-no one." He said as he shied away. I looked over at him and saw him get fidgety.
*An imaginary friend perhaps?* I thought with a smile.
"Really? That's a shame. I thought he was a friend. If he was then I'd gladly let him have a cookie as well." I said as I gave Luke a cookie and a glass of milk.
"You would?" He asked me with his head tilted. I decided to play along.
"Oh yes. I like meeting new people and seeing what they're like. I also like making friends. Is Leviathan your friend?" I asked him.
"Yeah. He doesn't like me saying that though. He and Duke don't like me talking about him though." He said to me and took a bite out of the cookie.
"Well that's no fun now is it? Maybe I could meet him?" I asked him as he then looked at me. He looked behind me before at me.
"I don't think he wants you to meet him." He told me.
"Oh well. Guess he doesn't want a cookie then. Do you like them?" I asked him as he smiled brightly at me.
"They're really good!" He exclaimed. I smiled at him.
"That's good." I said as I heard the plate start to move. I looked over and saw it was closer to the edge of the counter.
*Did Duke sneak down here?* I thought.
"Leviathan wants one now." Luke said to me.
"Oh really? Why is that?" I asked him as I went over to the plate of cookies and pushed them back where they were.
"Because he said they smell good. I didn't know we had cookie mix." He told me before he commented on the cookie mix.
"You didn't. I made them from scratch. I usually do with all my sweets." I said as I poured a glass of milk.
"Really?" He asked me as I pulled out another plate and put a couple cookies on it.
"Yeah." I said to him.
"Mom never does that." He told me.
"Some people don't." I said to him.
"Can Leviathan have one? He really wants one." Luke told me. I turned and smiled at him.
"Anywhere special he want me to put his? And any milk?" I asked him. He then looked over, as if looking behind me, and then back to me. I just blinked and decided not to question it.
*If I try to ask he might think I don't believe him.* I thought.
"He said yes to half a glass of milk and he also asked if you're bringing Duke some." He said. He seemed like he was worried his brother wouldn't get any.
"Well normally I wouldn't think it was a good idea but Betty's talking to him. I'll have her come down here and spend time with you while I try to get to know Duke as well. In other words yes. He's getting a couple as well." I said with a smile.
"Oh. Okay. Then Leviathan wants you to put his in the closet. That's where he lives." He said as I looked at him surprised.
"Why does he live there?" I asked him.
"He said it's nice although he'll be under our beds sometimes. He'll be in other places but he likes our closet most of all." He told me.
"And you're sure he won't get mad about this?" I asked him. I was asking about Duke being mad but I guess he thought I meant his imaginary friend.
"No. Leviathan thinks your pretty. He never really liked Betty because she's blonde. If Duke gets mad tell him Leviathan said it was okay." He told me as I just looked at him for a moment. I then smiled lightly and continued to play along.
"Alright. I'll let Duke know if he asks." I said as he smiled and continued to eat the cookies I gave him. I made my way upstairs and finally heard them.
"I don't wanna say sorry. Leviathan said you're stupid anyways." I heard Duke say.
"But Duke you know it's the right thing to do." Betty said to him.
"What do you know? You're just a dumb blonde." He said as I stiffed a laugh.
"Now-" She started before I used my foot to tap on the door.
"Betty." I said as she looked at me.
"Why don't you go downstairs to Luke? Let me try." I whispered the last part so only she could hear me.
"Oh but-but. Ooo fine." She said giving up with a sigh after. I smiled and walked inside while she left.
"Hey Duke." I said as he continued to sit on the floor and turn his back to me.
"You don't have to apologize if you're not ready to." I said as he tensed up.
"Would some sugar cookies make you feel better?" I asked him.
"Yes." He muttered after a while. I smiled lightly at him.
"Alright." I said softly as I walked over and set the tray down before putting a plate and cup next to him. He looked over and saw the other plate and glass.
"Are those yours?" He mumbled to me.
"Hm? Oh no. These are for Leviathan. He wanted some and told Luke it was okay for me to bring them to him." I said as I got up and went over to the wicker double door closet. I opened it and then put the plate and glass in there slowly.
"Did Luke tell you about him?" Duke asked me.
"A little bit. Not much other than he wants a cookie, doesn't like Betty at all since she's blonde, is both of your friend and Luke says he thinks I'm pretty. That's it really." I said as I went to close the closet door.
"Don't close it." He said as I stopped myself.
"It's so Leviathan can see and hear us better." Duke told me.
*Okay. I guess this is a start.* I thought as I continued to play along. I wanted to know why they needed an imaginary friend to approve upon anyhow.
"Alright. If that's what Leviathan wants then there is no harm." I said as I turned around and and made my way over to him.
"Where would you like me to sit?" I asked Duke.
"Anywhere is okay." He muttered while looking at the cookie. I decided to sit in front of him so I could talk to him better.
"Didn't you grab any for you?" He asked me. I shook my head no.
"No but that's okay. I'll eat one later." I told him with a small smile.
"Why?" He asked me.
"Well because you kids come first. And Leviathan." I said as I decided to add in the imaginary friend to make him feel a little more comfortable.
"Do you know who Leviathan even is?" He asked me as I shrugged.
"No but I know he's yours and your brother's friend. I'd like a chance to meet him. If you three would let me." I said to him as I took a look over to the closet and then back at him. I saw him look at the closet before he nodded and looked at me.
"He said your the only adult to want to meet him. He says you think he's imaginary but is willing to prove otherwise. He also said the cookies do taste better made from scratch and that I'd like them as much as him and Luke do." He said to me as he bit into the cookie. My face dropped a bit as I looked back at the closet in curiosity. How could he know they were home made? If Betty was up here with him then he couldn't have tried to take the cookies.
"How long has Leviathan been here? I'm getting the feeling he's not so imaginary." I said as I muttered the last part to myself.
"He's not imaginary. He's real. He's glad you're thinking that now. He says it's easier to meet him when you start to think and know he's real. He's right. These cookies are yummy. Did you really make them by hand?" He asked me as I continued to look at the closet door.
"Yeah." I muttered to him.
"Why do you keep staring at the closet?" He suddenly asked me. I snapped my head at him and smiled.
"I'm sorry Duke. I was just curious was all. I should be talking with you and getting to know you instead of trying to force Leviathan to make me see him." I said as I smiled at him. Then we heard two glass objects slide across the floor followed by a door shutting. We both snapped our heads to the closet, that was now closed, with the plate and glass cup, now empty, half way to us. I was in a panic now.
"He doesn't want you afraid. Only Betty." Duke suddenly told me as I snapped my head to look at him.
"What?" I questioned him.
"He told me you seem afraid. He doesn't want that. He wants Betty afraid of him." He told me as he finished his cookies and milk.
"Uhuh." I said as he put the plates and cups on the tray.
"I'm ready to apologize to Luke now." He suddenly told me.
"Oh. Well um. Alright. Let's go down there together." I said as I stood up and took the tray from him.
"He's in the kitchen with Betty." I told him as he nodded and ran out the door and down the stairs. I only watched him.
*Great. A weird mystery. Why.~ Why when Archie isn't here? One night of normal.* I said as I looked back over at the closet.
"Who and what are you?" I questioned lightly to the closet.
"Your new friend." I heard a whisper in my ear. I went wide eyed and whipped my head around to find no one there. Yup. Just great. I shuttered and decided to go downstairs and into the kitchen quickly. I saw Luke and Duke getting along and Betty had sighed.
"Betty? Can I talk to you a moment?" I asked her as I set the dishes down in the sink.
"Boys why don't you two pick out a movie while we talk." I said to them.
"About what?" Luke asked me sweetly.
"Yeah." Duke said in a sceptical way.
"Mostly on whether we make food or do take out." I quickly told them.
"Okay!" They both suddenly said with a smile and bolted into the living room.
"Betty. Did either of the boys talk about a friend named Leviathan?" I quietly asked her.
"Hm? Well yeah. A few times. told me he was imaginary. They said he didn't like me so they never talked about him in front of me. Why?" She asked me.
"You haven't noticed weird things while that happened?" I asked her.
"No. A few broken things or missing food but that's it. It was usually when one twin was missing. It's a game they play and blame it on a friend that's not real." She told me.
"Betty I'm starting to think he's real." I muttered to her.
"What do you mean?" She asked me.
"Well I've noticed things move and hear things as well. You haven't?" I asked her.
"No. Not since you've been here helping me keep an eye on both. By the way how did you get Duke to apologize? I never seem to get to." She asked me as I just looked at her.
"I just told him that he didn't have too but should and then he said he would. I don't know Betty. Maybe I've been doing so many weird mysteries that it's now on the brain a lot." I told her as, even though I started doubting myself, decided to shelter her from this kind of danger.
"Maybe. You've been helping Archie out a lot with those lately. Maybe this will help more than you think. If it goes well then can hire you either with me or you can sub in when something happens." She said as I shrugged.
"Yeah I guess. I like the twins. I wouldn't mind." I said with a smile. We decided to order Pizza and I went to ask the boys what they wanted.
"Boy we're ordering Pizza. What kind do you-" I started asking when I saw the two of them sitting in front of the open coat closet and just stared at it.
"Um boys?" I asked. Nothing. I decided to slowly walk over to them.
"Hey? Are you talking to Leviathan?" I asked them suddenly when I got close enough.
"Yeah." Luke whispered.
"He doesn't want Betty here." Duke whispered. I then felt their hand in each of mine and hold it tightly.
"He wants her gone." Luke whispered to me.
"Well we're only here for about 3 more hours. Will he be alright for that long?" I asked them above a whisper. They continue to look at the closet. I squint my eyes to see if I could see anything but it was so dark I couldn't.
"He said this time. Next time he doesn't want her here." Luke whispered to me.
"Well that's alright. I guess. Just don't hurt her alright Leviathan? She's my ride home." I said to the closet as if he were really there.
"He's gone now." Duke said as he got up and closed the closet door. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't freaked out by all of this.
"What did you ask us?" Luke said as he caught my attention.
"Oh. Right. Well Betty and I thought a Pizza would be easier so I was asking what kind you liked?" I asked them.
"I like pepperoni!" Duke piped up.
"No!~ I want meatballs!" Luke shouted.
"Why? There both the same!" Duke shouted.
"Hold on boys. How about a meat lovers?" I questioned them.
"What's that?" They both asked and tilted their heads. It was cute.
"It's a pizza with meat on it. All kinds. Pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, chicken, ham and sometimes bacon if you ask." I said to them.
"Let's get that!" They shouted to me.
"Would Leviathan like one?" I asked them. They stopped and looked at me. Did I just do something wrong?
"You'd get one for him too?" Duke asked me.
"Well he's here too. It's fair." I said.
"Too kind." I heard a whisper in my ear. I bolted up and looked around but saw nothing.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked me while tugging my hand lightly.
"N-nothing. I thought I heard something. That's all." I said as I looked at them and smiled.
"He'd like a meat lovers as well." Duke said as I smiled at him.
"Alright! Four meat lovers and whatever Betty gets for her." I said with a smile.
"I'm getting Hawaiian." Betty said as the three of us looked at her.
"Why?" The boys said as they ewed.
"Because I think it's good." She said as I made a face.
"Pineapple ruins a pizza though." I said to her.
"Not to me." She said.
"Blasphemy!" I shouted and pointed a finger at her while the twins laughed at this.
"Great. Now there's three of you!" She said as she sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Alright. 1 Hawaiian and 3 meat lovers." She said.
"4. 4 meat lovers. Leviathan wants one too." I told her. She was going to protest but she saw me lightly nudged my head at the boys and I mouthed play along I'll owe ya one as she sighed.
"Alright. 4 meat lovers then. And my Hawaiian." She muttered as she went into the kitchen to call the place in.
"Wow. Betty never orders food for Leviathan." Duke said in shock.
"Well if I'm going to slowly meet him then food helps." I said to them before I turned and looked at them.
"Now go pick a movie out for us to watch alright?" I asked as they nodded and ran to pick a movie. I smiled as I watched them pick a movie out.
"Too kind." I heard the whisper again as I whipped my head and saw the closet door slightly open before it closed shut again. I was seriously freaking out but had to ignore it. We watched a movie and ate pizza, putting one box in the closet, and soon it was time for bed.
"Can Aria tuck us in?" Luke asked Betty.
"Yeah! Let Aria tuck us in!" Duke shouted as the twins grabbed a hand each and started dragging me upstairs.
"Hold on you two! Go upstairs and change while I help Betty clean up. I'll be up there in 10 minutes alright?" I asked as they nodded, let me go, and bolted up the stairs.
"They seem to like you a lot." Betty said as she was both impressed and a little jealous.
"How long have you watched them for?" I asked her out of curiosity.
"About a year now. You've got them liking you sooner then I did." Betty admitted while cleaning up.
"Do you know how long Leviathan has been here?" I asked her. She just gave me a weird look.
"Not this again." She muttered but I looked at her.
"I just wanna know is all." I asked her. Betty thought about it.
"I guess bout 3 maybe 4 months." She said to me. I just sighed.
"Why do you-" She started before I interrupted her.
"Just curious about this. If that long then they might have the imaginary friend around for another year or so." I said to her as she understood that.
"Yeah. Not a lot of friends can do that." She said as I looked at her.
"Well I was alone through most of my life with no friends until I moved here and I never once had an imaginary friend." I told her. I never really did.
"Whys that?" She asked me.
"I got scared if I did have one then my parents would hurt them or send me away somewhere." I said barely above a whisper.
"Oh that's right. Archie mentioned your parents being mean to you. You never seem to talk about it though." She told me as we moved all the stuff into the kitchen.
"Nothing to talk about Betty." I said kinda quickly.
"Well what did they do? Ground you a lot? I'm your friend. I deserve to know." She told me as I looked at her.
"Betty. That's why I won't tell you. Our friendship is good as it is. Even if you and Veronica are dating my cousin I won't tell you. I don't want pity." I told her as I put the dishes in the sink.
"I wouldn't pity you. It's not like they hit you or anything." She told me as I kept quiet.
"Right?" She questioned as I kept silent. Betty gasped in realization.
"Aria?" She questioned me.
"No. Betty I will not have pity towards me. I don't want to feel sorry for." I told her as I tried not to raise my voice.
"I don't. I feel sorrow you never had friends or a normal childhood but I don't pity you. I'm your friend because I actually like you. The day you moved here I knew I would. And I was right to get to know you." She told me as I calmed down before lightly chuckling.
"Ya know. Jughead said you'd understand." I said to her as I head back to the living room.
*Oh shoot! The other box!* I thought as I went to the closet where I had put the other pizza. I pulled it out and found the pizza completely gone.
"Wha?" I questioned before I shut the closet door and brought the empty box to her.
"Time to tuck in the 'Twins of Terror' you call them." I said as I giggled.
"It's so weird. They're behaving better than usual." She said as she started dishes. I just laughed while I made my way to their room. I went to the room when I heard talking.
"Do you really like Aria?" I heard Luke ask suddenly.
"Yeah. Why do you like her instead of Betty?" I heard Duke ask suddenly.
"She can hear us. She's outside." I heard a new voice say. It was a male voice and it sounded a bit raspy. I decided to knock on the door.
"Boys. You decent? Still want me to tuck you in?" I asked them. I was going to pretend I didn't hear them conversing.
"Yeah!" They both said as I opened the door and stepped inside. Luke wore green dino pajamas while Duke wore blue shark ones. I thought it was adorable.
"Alright boys play time's over. Bed time is now." I told them as they crawled into bed. I tucked them in and said goodnight to each of them as I started to leave.
"Can you read us a story?" Luke asked me.
"Yeah! Leviathan wants to hear one too I'm sure." Duke said as I looked at them. I felt like Leviathan was something more than they let on but what full on proof did I have?
"Um. Sure." I said as I walked over to a tiny bookshelf. I didn't see any good ones.
"Any one in particular?" I asked them.
"How about Red Riding Hood?" Luke asked me.
"No way. Leviathan hates wolves." Duke commented.
"Then how about Goldie Locks and the Three Bears? Leviathan likes bears." Luke asked and mentioned the bears thing.
"No. Leviathan hates blondes remember?" Duke replied and asked as Luke sighed.
"Oh yeah." Luke said in disappointment. I then had an idea.
"Did you ever hear the tale of how Red Riding Hood met Three Little Bear Cubs?" I asked them. They both looked up at me filled with curiosity.
"No." They both said as I smiled at them.
"Then why don't I tell you." I said as I got up and looked at a toy chair with a beat up bear on it.
"Would you boys mind if I moved the bear to sit in the chair?" I asked them as I went over.
"No wait! That's Leviathans. He doesn't like his bear touched." Duke suddenly shouted out. I sighed, getting a bit annoyed by this, and turned to look at them,
"Alright. I'll ask Leviathan if I'm allowed to move it. Well Leviathan? May I?" I asked loud enough for anyone in the room to hear. I heard nothing.
"Well? May I or may I not?" I asked again as I looked at both boys for an answer. Their eyes were wide and I tilted my head a bit at them.
"Carefully." I heard a tiny whisper as I quickly looked behind me and all around to find nothing and no one there.
"You heard him too?" Luke suddenly asked me.
"I-I think I did." I said as I shook this feeling away. I'm imagining things and it needs to stop. I continued to play along though, out of spite and curiosity, and gently moved the bear before I moved the chair to face them.
"Alright, Now to tell you the tale of Red Riding Hood and the Three Bear Cubs." I said as they leaned forward. Both were eager to listen to this untold tale.
"Once upon a time there was a young woman named Red Riding Hood. The same Red Riding Hood who had faced the wolf in the woods. She was now a young woman and lived in a new town with a new forest near by. She was nicknamed red, not just for the red cape she still wore, but because of her light red hair as well.
She would often go near the woods, for she would find animals that were hurt, and take care of them in her little home outside of the village. The villagers would say she was weird or warn her of how dangerous it was. Even her cousin in town, the village paper writer, would warn her of the strange and weird things he would hear there. She paid no mind though. Why would she?
One day she went out near the woods to find any new friend to care for when she heard two cries. She wondered into the woods to find two little bear cubs, crying and holding each other. Red felt a pang in her heart as she went up to the bear cubs. At first they growled and swatted at her. After convincing them she was their friend and even fed them cookies she had they agreed to let her take them to her home to help them.
They called themselves Landon and Duncan. Landon was shy but Duncan was bold. When she brought them home Landon mentioned they had a brother. Red was surprised to hear of a third cub while Duncan said his name was Levi. Red wanted to find the cub but they both told Red that he would be here soon. Red was worried but still took care of both cubs.
While the cubs of brown were there weird things would happen. Things would get moved or food would be eaten and sometimes things would break. Both Landon and Duncan had said it was Levi but she never once saw him. Red was never mad though. She felt they told the truth.
One day she asked if she could meet Levi. Both cubs seemed scared and she didn't know why.
"Levi is different from us." Landon told her.
"Oh. How so?" She asked.
"Levi doesn't like people. He says they're bad." Landon said as he scrunched back.
"Am I mean though?" Red asked them both.
"No. That's why Levi likes you." Duncan chimed in as Red smiled.
"Then why doesn't he come out? I'd like to meet him." Red said as she pushed the two cubs into agreeing to meet Levi the third mysterious cub she had been hearing and caring for without seeing. So that night she had fed the cubs some delicious meat and tucked them into bed.
"Levi's outside waiting for you." Landon said with a yawn.
"He waits to see you Red." Duncan commented after his yawn. Once both cubs were asleep she went outside her home. She looked and looked but saw no cub.
"Maybe he's afraid?" Red wondered to herself as she stepped further outside."
I had stopped the story when I saw both twins had nodded off. They looked so cute.
"We'll finish next time boys." I said as I ticked them in and moved the chair back. I noticed the toy bear was gone. Strange. Thinking it fell I looked under the toy table and saw nothing. I stood up and shrugged. I went to the door when I stopped and looked back at the sleeping twins. I smiled.
"Maybe someday I can be a mom." I mumbled to myself as I turned off the light and gently closed the door. Now the parents came home and were happy to see everything was better than fine. They liked me and wanted me to help Betty out again soon.
"Why don't you two watch them again tomorrow night? We could use another night to ourselves. Only for a couple hours." She commented.
"Oh sorry but I can't tomorrow night." Betty told her.
"I can move my plans around. If it's only for a couple hours then I don't mind." I told them with a smile. Now Betty dropped me off at home and I sighed. I made $35 for the night and I was happy about that. I went to my room and put my money away before I went to the bathroom to shower and change. I got back in my room and saw something that made me freeze in fear. A teddy bear was on my bed. Not just any teddy bear. The same one that was 'Leviathan's' toy bear. I saw it was holding a note. I cautiously went over and grabbed the note to read.
'I'm glad you're interested in me. I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. See you next time Red. ~Leviathan.' I started shaking a bit. I was officially scared now. I looked at the bear as it's doll eyes stared back at me. I gently but quickly moved the bear off my bed and put it in the corner of my room on my small desk facing away from me. I needed sleep and no scary unknown thing with a teddy bear was going to stop me from sleeping. I laid in bed and eventually fell asleep. I was unaware of the eyes that watched me sleep and the hand that gently stroked my hair while I slept.
"Soon Red. Soon." The voice whispered in a raspy tone as I slept on.