Thirty minutes of crying really takes the energy away from you. I haven't moved since he left, and he hasn't been back yet either. Yeah, air for food. Best tasting shit ever! I groaned and sat up from slouching against the wall and rubbed my red, puffy eyes. Slowly, I was losing my patience as well as my sanity. The cell gaps mocked me of my freedom, telling me if they were any bigger, I would've been out by now. Ugh, the complications of arguing with yourself!
I stood up and winced from the sore muscles of being scrunched up for so long. Raising my arms, I let out a small baby dinosaur noise as I stretched as much as I could and smiled a bit in appreciation. Then there was a flash. My arms dropped back down to my sides and I quickly moved over to the other end of the room. Looking closer, it was a shiny metal in the shape of a small jagged rock almost. I flattened myself against the floor and reached for it, my fingers barely scraping the coolness of the surface. I growled in frustration as I pressed my face against the bars, stretching myself to the limit to cover the short amount of distance between me and the object.
My hand clamped around the object and I smiled in accomplishment and dragging it back to me and gasped finally realizing what it was. A key. Not just any key, but the key to my freedom. My smile widened and I could've cried once again, but there was no time for that. I didn't know when he could be back and I didn't want to figure out. I'm going to be long gone by the time that happens. Quickly scrambling to my feet, I walked to the lock and after a few minutes of wrestling it in, it slowly slides in. The beautiful click of the sound of the lock sliding away echoed down the halls and I cringe slightly hoping he wasn't near to hear it.
I opened the door, slowly and careful to keep the squeaking to a limit and slipped out into the hallway. Looking around, there were three ways I could go, but I remember us going right to get outside. So that's the direction I took. Unlike last time, I noticed there were actually a few normal doors around here, but one caught my attention. Glass door with gold letters on it spelling 'Office' with the man's coat hanging on the door with something poking out of his pocket.
Frowning, I gently took the paper out and my eyes widened as I realized that it wasn't just a piece of paper. It was a photograph. The faces smiling back at me were priceless. The man was in the middle of two girls, his arms wrapped around them both while smiling a real smile that reached his brown eyes. One of the girls looked kind of like me but had red hair instead. Other than that, she could have been a spitting image. The other girl shared the same eyes but had chocolate brown hair. They were both young, maybe about 14 years old.
I gasped quietly from the shock of him having a family. Shaking my head, I put the picture in my pocket absentmindedly and continued walking towards the exit which was screaming my name louder and louder the closer I got. My feet seemed to move on their own as they sped up, anxious to get out. I was almost there when suddenly, my feet slipped out from under me and I smacked down on the floor. A sharp pain shot through my arm and a yelp slipped from my mouth. I gritted my teeth and slowly pushed myself up, making sure to avoid putting any pressure that could make any injury my arm may have, worse.
I looked back to see what caused my fall, but the only thing I could see was a newspaper article. Frowning slightly, curiosity took over and I picked it up, slowly skimming through the words and the caption. Apparently, two girls were found dead in a ditch, Lucy and Harper Mullins, daughter of Joseph Mullins. The frown on my face deepened as I studied the faces of the girls. For some reason, they looked oddly familiar. As if I just recently saw them...
The photograph! My eyes widened as I realized that they were the same girls in the picture in his coat. My chest hurt at the thought of how much pain my kidnapper must be going through. It was a weird sense, but I felt bad for him. I almost forgave him for kidnapping me. Gazing down the lonely hall, I closed my eyes and clutched the newspaper. What am I thinking...?
Slowly, I made my way back to my cell and slipped back inside. I didn't bother locking it for there really is no point anymore. I wasn't going to try and escape. It just wasn't worth the fight anymore. His footsteps fell against the floor as he made his way down to my cell, holding a Happy Meal from McDonalds. He looked at the door and then at me, frowning slightly.
"What are you doing...?"
I studied his face for a bit and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Joseph...?"
Joseph's eyes widened slightly at the sound of his name and he fumbled with the box he held in his hand with my food. Damn, it smelled amazing, making my stomach protest, but it didn't matter at the moment. All that mattered is now I know his story. Now I know why he was doing what he was. Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered quietly.
Joseph stayed quiet as he walked into the cell and handed me the meal. "Here..."
"Thank you."
I took the box and just held it in my lap. The silence between us was awkward, making me squirm uncomfortably. I could feel his eyes studying me in pain.
"W-where did you f-find my name baby girl...?" He asked me quietly.
"I found a newspaper about your daughters..." Slowly I removed the photograph I took from his coat and handed it to him. "As well as this."
He slowly took it and I could see his chest stop moving, telling me his breath hitched. I suddenly felt even worse than I already did. "I'm sorry for snooping..."
Joseph wildly shook his head and dropped the photo, looking at me. "N-no, my daughters a-aren't dead. M-my, you're my daughter... Y-you're my daughter..."
I shook my head sadly. "Your daughters are dead, Joseph."
He sunk to the ground, his face in empty shock and the tears started falling from his eyes. Joseph stared blankly at the wall, shaking his head slowly. "This c-can't be happening..."
I couldn't stand looking at him anymore. It was too sad to handle. Turning to face the wall, I heard him get up and walk over. The next thing I know, I was in a tight embrace which startled me slightly. Will he hurt me like this, or is he finally somewhat healed...?
"My daughter... Is right here.," He said uncertainly, trying to convince himself. I shook my head and pulled away.
"They're gone, Joseph."
The tears were now starting to drown his face. "I-I didn't kill them..." My heart shattered and I slowly rubbed his back comfortingly. Mostly trying to calm him down, but also to keep me from breaking as well.
"They say I killed them... I-I didn't. I'm not a murderer..." A sob escaped from his body. "Please God... Give them back to me..."
The sneaky tears didn't stay back. A few stray ones grazed my cheeks as I bit my lip to keep it from trembling. "You will see them soon... I promise you." I wiped the moisture from my face and offered him a small smile. He looked at me solemnly and wiped away his own tears. His posture straightened and he cleared his throat.
"I believe... I need to take you home to your real family."
I stared at him in disbelief, my heart soaring from those words. Did I just hear him right? Was I going home...? "Really?"
Joseph sighed and nodded. "Yeah. I'm not your father... I'm really sorry about this..."
I grinned, not able to hold it back any longer. "It's alright."
He smiled at me slightly and nodded towards the door. "Come on, I'll drive you home."
I followed him down the hall and into his truck, quickly buckling up, not being able to hide my excitement of finally seeing my family again. Boy, did I miss them. I guess it's true what they say. You never really appreciate something until you no longer have it. That is something I have learned from this experience. I guess I never really knew how much I really appreciated my family and friends and school life until now. That is something I'm going to have to show more often.
We parked outside in my driveway and I sprinted up onto the porch and knocked on the door, Joseph coming to stand next to me. My dad answered the door, not looking up.
"Can I help-" I cut him off with a tight hug.
"Daddy!" I cried and buried my face in his shoulder. He tensed slightly, but instantly relaxed and gathered me tightly in his arms.
"Carrie... My little girl!" Dad smiled at me and then caught sight of Joseph, the smile melting right off his face and replaced with a furious glare. I put my hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"It's alright Dad..."
It didn't help. The next thing I know, my dad is swearing at Joseph, taking a swing with a clenched fist. His fist came in contact with Joseph's face, a nasty crack sounding on contact and I cringed. From Joseph's nose, blood started pouring out and onto the porch. I quickly ran over and grabbed Dad by the shoulders and looked at him in the eyes.
"Dad... Calm down. He's different. He was upset and lost... It was a huge misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" His words were angry, but his eyes said different. I nodded slightly.
"He lost his daughters..."
His gaze shifted back at Joseph and nodded slightly. "I understand." And then he growled and pushed me away gently. "Now get out of my sight... Never come near my family again."
Joseph nodded and gave me a sad smile before turning around and headed back to his truck, wiping his nose off with the sleeve of his coat. I heard my dad sigh and saw his body slump a bit. "Wait... Come by anytime you like. I'm sure you'll want some company..." He said quietly. Joseph smiled and climbed into his truck and drove off.
I felt arms gather me up once again and my dad's face on my shoulder. "I'm so glad to have you home again sweetie..."
I smiled and hugged him back. "Glad to be home..."
ns 15.158.61.7da2
