Ashe

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The lights, the music, and the presents all make it so special. This year was extra special because of the dollhouse we got. It was so pretty, with tiny furniture and little accessories that made it look like a real house, only smaller.

Janna and I couldn't wait to play with it. We spent hours before dinner arranging the furniture and creating stories for our dolls. Janna was so excited, her little hands moving the pieces around as she made up her own adventures. I loved watching her imagination come to life, and we laughed so much, it was like our own little world.

The dollhouse was the best gift ever, and playing with it made Christmas even more magical. It wasn't just a toy; it was a whole new world for us to explore together. I can't wait to see what new stories we will create with it, and I know that every time we play, it will remind us of this wonderful Christmas day.

Mommy called us for dinner, and we all sat down to eat. I loved Christmas food – the turkey was juicy and flavorful, the mashed potatoes were creamy and buttery, and the pies were sweet and delicious. Each bite was a taste of the season, a blend of flavors that made the meal feel extra special. As we ate, we shared stories and laughter, our voices mingling with the crackling of the fireplace and the soft hum of Christmas music in the background. The warmth of the family, the comfort of familiar traditions, and the joy of the festive table made the evening perfect.

I knew it was time for bed, and I hated going to sleep on Christmas, but tomorrow was Boxing Day and we were going sledding! The excitement for the next day's adventure began to build up within me. As I reluctantly climbed into bed, my mind buzzed with the memories of the day and the anticipation of what was to come. The thought of gliding down snowy hills with the wind rushing past and the laughter of friends and family echoing in the air made it easier to close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

The gentle glow of the Christmas lights outside my window and the lingering warmth of the fireplace downstairs created a cozy cocoon, wrapping me in a blanket of contentment. I knew that, much like today, tomorrow would be filled with joy, adventure, and the simple pleasures that made this time of year so magical.

With thoughts of sledding and snowy escapades dancing in my head, I finally surrendered to the embrace of sleep, ready to wake up to another day of holiday wonder and delight.

I woke up to a sound on my window, I didn't know what it was. It sounded like a rock or some snow, maybe. I climbed out of bed to look. There was nothing there. I wanted to investigate, so I put on a sweater and my slippers and tiptoed so Mommy, Daddy, and Jaxon would not hear me. The house was quiet and still, with only the faint glow of the Christmas lights illuminating my path. I quietly made my way to the front door, carefully turning the knob and stepping out into the crisp, cold air.

The snow-covered yard glistened under the moonlight, and everything seemed peaceful. As I walked further out, I noticed tiny footprints leading towards the garden. My curiosity piqued, I followed them, the chill of the night air biting at my cheeks. The footprints led me to a small, snow-covered bench where I saw something unexpected.

There, nestled in the snow, was a tiny, beautifully wrapped present with a tag that read, "Merry Christmas, from a secret friend." I picked it up, my heart racing with excitement.

I was so excited to see what it was but before I could go inside to find out I was grabbed from behind, and I screamed, hoping Jaxon would hear me. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled, my mind racing with fear.

I didn't know who was taking me and I was scared, I wanted Jaxon to come and save me. As a bag was put over my head, the world around me turned dark and muffled. The chill of the night air was replaced by the suffocating warmth of the bag, and I could feel my breathing becoming shallow and panicked.

I tried to scream again, but the fabric pressed tightly against my mouth, stifling the sound. My thoughts raced to Jaxon; I hoped he had heard my earlier cry and was on his way. Struggling against my captor's grip, I felt myself being lifted and carried away. The motion was disorienting, and I couldn't tell where we were headed.

I didn't recognize the place and I was put into a small room, the door locked behind me. The room was dimly lit, with only a single flickering lightbulb dangling from the ceiling. The walls were bare and cold, and the air was musty and stale. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

No windows offered a glimpse of the outside world, and the silence was deafening. I frantically looked around for any means of escape, but the room was empty except for a rickety wooden chair in the corner. I could hear my own breathing, sharp and fast, as the weight of my situation pressed down on me.

I sank to the floor, my back against the cold wall, and tried to steady my racing thoughts. Why had I been taken? Who was behind this? The questions swirled in my mind, but no answers came. All I could do was wait and hope that Jaxon, Mommy, and Daddy were looking for me. The fear was overwhelming, but I knew I had to stay strong and keep my wits about me.

I could hear voices outside the door, a man and a woman. I tried to listen closely, straining to catch their words through the thick wood. Their voices were muffled, but I could make out snippets of their conversation.

I pressed my ear against the door, the rough wood scratching my cheek as I listened intently. The man's voice was deep and filled with concern, while the woman's voice was softer, almost soothing, though I could sense the worry in her tone.

"We have to be careful," the man said, his voice trembling slightly. "This isn't what we planned."

The woman replied, her words too faint for me to understand clearly, but the urgency in her tone was unmistakable. They were discussing something important, something that involved me, and the fear gripped me tighter.

"Do we even know how this hex tech works? What if we hurt her?"

I heard the man respond, his voice growing more anxious, "I don't know, but we need it so he forgets her. This is for our son."

The woman's voice became clearer, revealing a tremor of desperation, "I just hope we're doing the right thing."

My mind raced, piecing together their fragmented conversation. They were doing this for their son, but why? What had I done to become entangled in their plans? The mention of hex tech sent a chill down my spine, filling me with a foreboding sense of dread. I needed to find a way out before they could carry out whatever they had planned.

The door handle rattled, and I quickly moved away, my heart pounding in my chest. The door creaked open, and the dim light cast long shadows on the floor. The man stepped in, his face shadowed and his expression unreadable. The woman stood behind him, her eyes darting nervously as she glanced at me.

"Please," I found my voice, though it was weak and trembling, "let me go. I don't know why you're doing this, but I don't mean any harm."

The man looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and resolve. "It's not that simple," he said quietly. "We need you to help our son. He is having trouble in school, and well, your smart brain will help him," the man explained, his voice softening slightly as he spoke. "He's struggling with his studies, and we believe that your abilities can make a difference in his life."

I didn't understand; they wanted my brain? I was only four years old. How could my brain help them? Panic surged through me, and I screamed, hoping someone would hear me and come to my rescue.

"We don't know that it won't hurt her? I mean, it is red hex tech, and it might hurt," the woman said, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

The man sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to stave off a headache. "I know, but we have no other choice. This is our last hope for him."

Desperation clawed at me, and I stepped back, my small frame trembling. "Please, there has to be another way!"

The man's gaze softened momentarily, but it quickly hardened again. "No, this is the only way. We're sorry, but we have to do this."

Tears welled up in the woman's eyes as she looked at me, her hands shaking. "We promise it will be quick. We just need a small sample. It won't hurt you, we swear."