Reality?

Back in the parlour, candles flickered gently. Two glasses of chocolate milk sat on the island table. Betty sat swinging her legs, her excitement barely contained. Anne handed her a glass

" here you go sweetie."

Betty grabbed it and immediately began to chug it down. Her mind was already racing- all she thought about was if she finished fast, they could begin searching for Lisa.

"Slow down Betty, I wouldn't want you to choke" Anne said, walking towards her. But Betty had already finished and jumped down from the stool.

" Can we find Lisa now?" Betty asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hands.

Anne crouched in front of her, gently taking her small hands in her's " sweetie don't you think it's been a long night? You haven't slept, you must be tired." She hesitated but slowly pulled out a bottle of pills from her pocket.

Betty eyes widened at the rattle of the container.

" You promised we'd find Lisa, mommy you promised " she cried, pulling her hands away.

" I know and we will. When you wake up we'd search for her. The sun would be out- it'll be easier then. Just take one for mommy okay?"

Betty fumed in disagreement. " No! You'd just make me forget again! You're lying just as Lisa said!" She screamed, thrashing as Anne tried to hold her steady " Betty calm down… they're just sle—"

The sound of her skull hitting the sharp corners of the table stopped everything.

Anne staggered, " Betty… just… just trust mommy okay? Mommy's doing this for… for yo—" her fingers reached behind her ear, distracted by the warm trickle, she collapsed with a thud.

Betty sat curled by the basement door, knees pulled to her chest as she crossed her arms and rested on them. Outside, the fog had grown thicker. The chirping of the crickets slowly faded.

The basement door clicked open, followed by soft steps as they quietly approached. A coldness brushed against Her arm. She flinched– then her eyes lit up as she smiled " Lisa! I've looked everywhere for you. Mom said she'd help me look too… but she lied. She doesn't believe me, she's scared just like– oh no what have I done?" Her smile vanished as she stared at her trembling hands, she still felt the weight of the object. And still smell that rusted, metallic scent.

She buried her face in her arms and sobbed.

" They were going to take me away Betty." Lisa said softly. " They wanted to make you forget, just like last time… but daddy, daddy's not scared anymore. He won't try to take me away."

" I… I didn't mean to. I just… I wanted them to believe me " Betty whispered.

" Daddy believes you now Betty. You did nothing wrong." Lisa comforted softly.

"Really?" Betty's face lit up in excitement " we can play together? And he wouldn't be scared?"

The cottage illuminated as the the lights flickered back on, the stereo rewound. "Where Evil Grows" began to play again.

Betty smiled, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hands " We can be happy now, no one has to be scared." She stood up, leading Lisa into the out the door into the thick fog.

Betty wasn't alone. Not really.