They're Safe Now
So, wrote this one first but finished it second. I was part-way when the idea of Stacy coming home to discover what Chase had done entered my mind.
I really suggest checking out @cyanacity 's Make Me comic before reading this or She's In On It Too. Not just because of spoilers but because it's a great comic. And if I have to suffer, I should at least be generous enough to share the suffering.
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Samantha and Grayson were directed through the halls. This place looked like a hotel, the corridors seeming a little more infinite than most hotels did, which was saying something. On every door, there was a name and two years. The years Samantha had a chance to have a proper look at as they passed were oddly close together.
"So, Samantha, you are 12 and Grayson, you are 9. Is that right?" The man taking them to their rooms asked.
"Yeah." Grayson was too dazed to sound sure. Their guide posed them with other administrative questions on the way. Neither of the Brody children could answer with confidence. They were both a little preoccupied with the revelation they were dead.
Their doors only helped to rub it in.
Samantha Brody
2006-2019
Grayson Brody
2009-2019
They are only half listening as the man explains what life is going to be like in this place. He leaves them be after suggesting they accustom themselves to their rooms. Samantha's is mostly like the bedroom she has at home. She sits in silence.
Someone knocks at her door several minutes later.
"Grayson?" It's not him. Instead, it's a girl who looks around her age.
"Hi, I'm Rafaella. I noticed you moved in today. Wanted to see how you were doing."
"Okay."
"So how are you feeling? I know it's a bit difficult to get your head around it at first."
"I have a killer headache."
"Oh, brain tumour, was it? You guys tend to get headaches. Don't worry, I was lungs. Still feel a bit out of breath from time to time."
"No, I came with my little brother. We-"
Her most recent memories slam into her and she really wishes they hadn't.
Messing about with Grayson on the stairs.
Her dad showing them his 'Nerf gun'.
Him deciding to show how to play with it.
Grayson on her lap, head bleeding and eyes wide open.
Their father pointing the gun at her as she begs him to stop.
"Oh my God..." She begins sobbing. "He shot us."
"Your brother?"
"No, Dad. He... he just pulled out a gun and-"
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to." Rafaella offers a hug. Samantha isn't sure why but she accepts the stranger's arms seconds later.
"He just went crazy. He was never like that. Dad liked alcohol a little too much but he would never hurt us when he was drunk. We were messing around with Nerfs and then he showed us his gun. It was like he didn't realise what he was doing. I didn't even know he had a gun. Why did he have a gun? Where the hell did he get a gun from?"
"It's going to be alright. He can't hurt either of you any longer."
It's said with good intentions. However, the words only trigger more tears. He was her dad. He wasn't supposed to pose a threat in the first place. To her or Grayson. Oh shit, Grayson.
"I want to see Grayson. He's next door, right?" Samantha immediately headed to his room. "Grayson? Gray, it's Sam." Her brother opened the door slowly. From behind her, Rafaella excuses herself and leaves them alone.
"Did that really happen?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I think so."
"What's going to happen when Mum gets back? Is he going to hurt her? I wanna see her but not like this. Not like this, Sam."
The two siblings stayed there for a while, hugging and doing their best to comfort the other. Pressed against her chest, Grayson's eyes are closed. Samantha moves her hand. At least there isn't his blood all over her palm.
At least they're safe from the man who should have been one of the safest people they knew.
