Day 7 began with a calm morning, though the eerie tension that had been lingering in the Diaz-Buckley household continued to hang in the air. The sun streamed through the kitchen windows as Eddie, Buck, and Christopher sat down for breakfast, trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy despite the growing unease they all felt. Eddie had prepared their usual—a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast—as they discussed their plan for the day.
"We really need to get Christopher enrolled in a school soon," Eddie said, taking a sip of his coffee. "He can't keep staying home every day. I know we've been putting it off because of all this... other stuff... but he needs structure."
Buck nodded, his eyes darting between Eddie and Christopher. "Yeah, we need to figure out something before this whole 'Ken' thing gets worse. But we can't just leave him home alone anymore either, not with everything happening."
Eddie sighed, glancing over at Christopher, who was quietly eating his breakfast, seemingly lost in his own world. "I don't want him left alone, not with... well, you know. We'll hire a babysitter, just for now, until we figure out something more permanent."
Buck leaned forward, his voice soft. "Do you think a babysitter can handle all this? What if he starts talking to 'Ken' in front of them?"
Eddie shook his head, his expression grim. "We'll have to warn them, but we can't tell them everything. They'll think we're crazy."
They finished breakfast in a tense silence, both of them worried about how to move forward but knowing they didn't have much choice. Eddie wiped his hands on a napkin and stood up. "Alright, let's meet with the principal at L. Frances Smith Elementary and see what they can do for Christopher. Hopefully, they'll be able to accommodate him."
After breakfast, they met with a babysitter they had hired for the day—a college student named Maya who had experience watching children with special needs. Eddie and Buck gave her a quick rundown of the situation, leaving out the more supernatural details but making it clear that Christopher had an "active imagination" and that he sometimes talked to an imaginary friend named "Ken."
Maya seemed a bit hesitant but professional. "I've worked with kids who have imaginary friends before. It's usually just a phase, nothing to worry about."
Eddie forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "We hope so. Just... keep an eye on him, okay?"
With that, Eddie and Buck left for their meeting with the principal at L. Frances Smith Elementary School. On the drive there, the weight of everything that had been happening hung heavily in the car, but neither of them spoke much. They both knew how important it was to get Christopher into a routine—away from the house and away from whatever was influencing him.
At the school, they met with Principal Voelz, a kind but firm woman in her mid-forties. She listened intently as Eddie and Buck explained their situation—how they had recently moved, how Christopher had cerebral palsy, and how they were looking for a supportive environment where he could thrive. But there were obstacles—Christopher's needs required specific accommodations, and the principal explained that they would need to ensure the school had the proper resources in place.
"We have experience with children who have disabilities," Principal Voelz said, "but we'll need to do an assessment to make sure Christopher is placed in the right classroom and gets the support he needs. I'll be honest, it might take a little time."
Eddie nodded, his jaw tight. "We understand. We just want what's best for him. He's been through a lot lately, and we want him to feel safe."
Principal Voelz smiled sympathetically. "We'll do our best to make that happen. I'll be in touch once we have the assessments scheduled."
With the meeting over, Eddie and Buck thanked the principal and headed back to the car. The conversation had been positive, but the waiting period left both of them feeling uneasy. As they drove back home, Buck glanced at Eddie.
"Do you think he'll be okay here? I mean... with everything going on at the house?"
Eddie sighed. "I don't know, Buck. I'm just trying to keep him safe. We need to get him away from that doll, and whatever's making him talk to Ken."
When they arrived home, the tension only grew. Maya, the babysitter, met them at the door, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Christopher's been... well, he's been talking to himself a lot. Or, I guess, talking to Ken."
Eddie's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
Maya glanced nervously toward Christopher's room. "He's been sitting in his room, playing with his toys, including that doll you mentioned. He keeps asking Ken if he wants to play tea party. It's... strange."
Buck's face darkened. "Thanks, Maya. We'll take it from here."
The babysitter quickly left, sensing the tension in the house.
Eddie and Buck hurried to Christopher's room, where they found him sitting on the floor, his toys spread out around him. The female doll sat in front of him, and he was pouring an imaginary cup of tea, talking softly to someone invisible.
"Ken, would you like some tea?" Christopher asked.
Eddie knelt beside his son, his heart pounding. "Christopher, we need to talk."
Christopher looked up, his face innocent but distant. "What's wrong, Dad?"
Eddie gently took the female doll from Christopher's hands. "I don't want you playing with this anymore. It's time to put the doll away, okay?"
Christopher's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "But Ken likes the doll. He wants to play with her."
Eddie exchanged a worried glance with Buck before turning back to Christopher. "Ken isn't real, buddy. It's just a doll. It's time to put it away."
Reluctantly, Christopher nodded, but there was a sadness in his eyes that made Eddie's heart ache. He didn't want to hurt his son, but he knew that keeping the doll around was dangerous.
Eddie and Buck took the doll and placed it in the garage, hiding it where they hoped Christopher wouldn't find it. As they did, Eddie turned to Christopher, his voice firm but gentle.
"Christopher, if you talk to Ken again, you're going to be grounded for a day. Do you understand?"
Christopher looked down at his feet, nodding slowly. "Okay, Dad."
Eddie ruffled his hair, trying to soften the moment. "We just want to keep you safe, okay? No more Ken."
That night, the house felt strangely quiet. With the doll out of sight, Eddie and Buck hoped that things would calm down. But deep down, they both knew that getting rid of the doll wouldn't be enough. Whatever was happening to Christopher—whatever this Ken was—wouldn't let go so easily.
And as the night grew darker, they couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was still yet to come.
