Chapter Text
“Poor woman. She’s a wreck.”
Lilith stated, taking the earrings out of her ear lobes. Her husband was behind her, seated at the foot of their bed, untying his shoes. “And who could blame her? I could never imagine the pain of losing a child.” He managed. “No. Never. I don’t want to. I’d be heartbroken. Poor Barbara. She told me after the service that she might not return to work. It’s too hard for her. She’s an investigator and she can’t manage to find the person who killed her only daughter? Ugh, I can’t manage to talk about it anymore. It’s too saddening.” Lilith whispered, rubbing her temple.
It truly was saddening. Charlotte Emily was only a 7 year old girl, the same as Lilith and her husband’s daughter, Elizabeth. The two girls were best friends. Lilith’s husband was best friends with Charlotte’s father, Henry. Lilith was best friends with Barbara, his wife. When they learned of Charlotte, or Charlie, and how she died, Henry and Barbara entered the greatest mourning period they would ever know. Was there ever a way to move on from your child being brutally murdered and left in the alleyway of a children’s restaurant? Charlie had come there to have fun. Little did she know, or anyone know, that she would meet her demise.
Elizabeth was confused. Where had her friend gone? And how would Lilith and her husband explain it to her?
Delicately.
Her husband stood up, placing his long, pale hands on his wife’s shoulders. His hands were cold. But Lilith had grown used to it, and felt protected. Trusting. Safe. He bent down, gently kissing his wife’s neck. “Don’t worry anymore. It’s not our burden to bear. For now, we must protect our own children. Someone is out there…murdering poor children!” He exclaimed, bending to his wife’s height. Lilith turned to face him, staring deeply into his dark, gray eyes. “Alright. But to start with, I don’t want the children going to the pizzeria anymore. They’re not safe, and even if they do go, I don’t want them surrounded by police officers and investigators. They’re children, darling. They deserve a certain peace that we once knew at their age. Do you understand?” Her husband smiled, drawing his wife’s chin to him. “I do. And I agree. They’ll be safer here. We can keep a close watch on them.” He said, and she smiled. “I knew you’d understand.” Lilith wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his.
Yet there was a figure in the doorway, watching them. Blonde hair in pigtails wrapped in red bows, a pink nightgown, and orange socks. In her hand, she held a pink fox plushie. Lilith quickly perked up, shocked. “Oh, Elizabeth. Dear, you scared me.” Lilith wheezed, her manicured hand pressed to her chest. Elizabeth ran to her father, wrapping her arms around him. Lilith placed a hand on her daughter’s back, her husband doing the same.
“What is it, Elizabeth?” He asked, rubbing her back gently. Lilith knew. And her husband did as well. “I can’t sleep. I’m worried about Charlie.” Elizabeth’s high-pitched voice muttered, rubbing her eyes. The poor child was exhausted, and incredibly confused. Her husband sighed, and stood up, his daughter’s body attached to him. She refused to let go. “I’ll take her back to bed. Would you tuck the boys in?” He asked Lilith, who let out an exasperated sigh.
“Yes, I will. Sleep well, my darling.” Lilith whispered, kissing her daughter’s plump, red cheek.
“I’ll be back, Lily. Stay awake for me?” Her husband teased, raising his eyebrow. Lily. He was the only one allowed to call her Lily.
“You bet, William Afton.” Lilith said with a smirk.
🁺
“All tucked in?” Lilith asked, sitting on the edge of Andrew’s bed. “Yes, mummy.” Andrew affirmed. He was an adorable toddler. Just three years younger than Elizabeth, and only eight years younger than his eldest brother. He was the baby of the three children, and the most sensitive and heartfelt. Andrew was shy and reserved, only feeling comfortable around his mother and father. He loved his siblings, but his favorite person was his mother, even more so than his father. Lilith adored this. She loved all her children equally, but there was nothing quite like a cuddle or a kiss from Andrew. Tucking him in was the highlight of her night.
“Good. Need a bedtime story?” Lilith inquired. Andrew sleepily shook his head. Lilith rubbed his forehead, sweeping his light brown hair from his eyes. She kissed his forehead gently, then pressed her cheek against his. Tonight, after the funeral of a child, she would give all of her children a bit more love. You never know when you could lose them. “Mummy loves you, Andrew. Go to sleep now, baby. I’ll see you in the morning.” Lilith whispered, standing up, and turning off his bedside lamp. Darkness diffused. Andrew whimpered, but Lilith quickly remembered. A bear-shaped night light was plugged into the wall swiftly, providing just the right amount of light to satisfy him. Lilith knew her son and his fears.
Nothing would get him.
She promised herself that.
The door was left ajar, with the door on the other side of his room closed and locked. If need be, he could rush to his mother and father’s room, climb into their bed, and comfort him. It was her nightly ritual. Ensuring his comfort. Andrew quickly closed his eyes, and fell asleep, breathing so softly that Lilith stared at his chest to ensure that it would rise and fall. He was peaceful. Sleeping well. Her job with Andrew was done.
Down the hallway, there was the sound of loud music playing from a stereo. If it continued, it would disturb everyone else in the house. Lilith opened the door quickly, her hand pressed against her hip. Her eyebrows were raised, eyes widened, and lips pursed. “Michael William Afton, turn the music off! What have we said about playing music after 8 pm?” Michael groaned, pressing the power button on the stereo, the music shutting off mid-chorus. He knew he was in trouble. His mother had used his full name, rather than calling him Mike as everyone else did. Then again, she was the only one allowed to call him Michael. “Sorry, mum.” Mike complained. “What are you doing in here, anyway? Tuckin’ me in?” Mike joked, then read his mother’s face. “Oh God, you are! Mum, no!” Mike whined, throwing his head backwards, slamming a pillow into his face. “Oh Michael, please? I haven’t tucked you in since you were Elizabeth’s age!”
“No!”
“I’ll let you listen to music until 9 pm on a school night.”
Mike paused.
“Deal.”
Lilith was over the moon. She quickly rushed to her son while he adjusted himself. She pulled the covers over his body and to his collarbone, stuffing the blanket into his sides. Lilith fluffed his pillow, while Mike raised his head. “It’s been so long since I’ve tucked my little boy in.” She said excitedly.
“I’m not your little boy anymore. You have Andrew now, and he’s your little boy. I’m the big boy of the family. The man!” Lilith threw her head back, laughing loudly. “Yes, yes. You are the man of the family. Don’t tell your father. But do remember, I’m still your mother. And you’re my first baby.” Lilith said, pressing her hand to his forehead, and turning his face to hers. She kissed his cheek. Extra loving. “I love you.” She said, kissing his cheek once more. “I love you too, mum. Don’t tell anyone you did this.” Lilith stood up with a smile. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll only tell a few friends at your school.”
“Mum!”
“Kidding! Sleep well, darling.” Lilith said, exiting his bedroom and shutting the door behind her.
🁺
“Feeling better?” William asked Elizabeth, while she sipped a glass of water. She handed the glass back to her father, swallowing hard. A cough escaped her mouth, then a gag. William reached for the bucket he had set beside her bed, placing it under her chin. “Shh, shh. It’s alright, Elizabeth. I’m here.” He muttered, patting her back. Elizabeth heaved, crying over the bucket. “I’m scared.”
“Of what, Lizzie?” William asked his daughter, taking the bucket away and wiping her mouth. He pulled his daughter close to his chest, and she placed her tiny hand on his arm. She felt safe around her father. “I’m scared for Charlie.” Elizabeth sniffled. William fell silent. There wasn’t much he could say. “She’ll be alright. We don’t need to talk about her.”
“She’s alone in that box!” Elizabeth sobbed, burying her face into her father’s purple button up. He raised his eyebrow in confusion. “What box?” He inquired. “The box she was sleeping in! They put her in the grass! She doesn’t like the dark!” Elizabeth cried, breathing heavily. William could not find the words. He fell silent. “Would you like me to stay with you?”
“Charlie’s in the box all alone! I have to get her out! I’m scared for her!”
It shocked William that this child feared for her friend rather than her murderer that had yet to be caught. Elizabeth was brave. Her tears and her sickness came from concern for Charlie. “Daddy, will she be okay?” Elizabeth begged her father, sniffling and crying. William had tear stains scattered around his shirt. “Yes, Lizzie. But you must sleep, dear. You’ll feel better in the morning. And our bedroom is right across the hall. Will you be a big girl for daddy and get some rest? For me?” William lifted his daughter’s head and wiped her cheeks. Her bright, green eyes pierced his own. Tears continued to fall from them. William wiped them away. “I’ll try, daddy.” Elizabeth whispered. She fell back against her pillow, and William tucked her into bed slowly and gently. “I’ll be in my bedroom if you need me. I’ll leave the hall light on so you can see. And I’ll leave the door open. You’re my brave girl, right?” Elizabeth nodded.
“That’s right. I love you. Sleep well.” William comforted his daughter, kissing her forehead. He exited her bedroom, watching through the crack of the door until she fell asleep. Her crying and illness brought further exhaustion, and she quickly closed her eyes. The child slept soundly. William’s job had been done as well.
Lilith was in her nightgown, her hair in curlers, reading a book against her pillow. “What took you so long?” Lilith questioned William, setting her book down on her bedside table. William undressed, slipping into his pajama bottoms and t-shirt. He shook his head as he entered his bed, raising the quilt. “Lizzie was so worried about Charlie that she got sick. Poor thing.” Lilith placed her hand over her heart and sighed. “Oh, my poor dear! Is she alright? Is she sleeping?” Lilith asked. William nodded. “Yes, she’s asleep. Finally.”
“Good.” Lilith started. “Dear?”
“Hm?”
“I was wondering if we could invite Henry and Barbara over for dinner tomorrow? I don’t want them to worry about cooking or doing their own chores, and they might need to get out of the house. They might be surrounded by too much. Would that be alright?” William looked away. He inhaled for a moment, then slowly exhaled. He was not quick to answer. But he turned to face his wife with a wide grin. “I think that’s a great idea. You’re always considering others. Time for bed. I can’t think of Charlie anymore. It’s too much to bear.” William admitted. He turned out his lamp and turned on his side, away from his wife.
“William?”
“Hm?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Lily.”
She turned her lamp off as well, and wrapped her arm around her husband, taking his hand. Sleep did not come easy that night. Though they both acted as though they were fast asleep, something plagued their minds.
A few hours into the night, William felt something crawling on the bed, and Lilith opened her eyes sleepily, confused. Elizabeth was crawling in between her parents, holding a teddy bear close to her chest. Her eyes were red from crying and she sniffled continuously. William raised the quilt for his daughter to crawl inside, and Lilith turned to face her child. Elizabeth pressed against her mother, feeling safe under the blankets and between her parents. Lilith stared at her husband with great worry, comforting her daughter and helping her to sleep. They stayed awake for the remainder of the night, ensuring that Elizabeth was alright, and that she would have peace.
There was no peace for every single person in the household.