Chapter 1
“Buffy,” Hank called from the hallway. “Buffy, are you listening to me?”
“Yes daddy,” she replied as she scrambled to make her way from the couch to her father standing in the hallway.
“Buffy, I’m going out for a little while. I have some work at the office and I’m not sure when I’ll be back,” Hank started.
“We’ll be really quiet for you, daddy,” Buffy affirmed, her little head bobbing up and down, not yet realizing her father’s exact meaning.
“Yeah, well, you better. What ever you do, you better not wake up Dawn. She’ll scream until I get back,” he said. “Now, *don’t* answer the door. *Don’t* answer the phone. *Don’t* leave the house, and *don’t* call anyone,” he instructed as he pulled on his jacket. “You do and I’ll be very angry with you, understand?” He asked. His anger seemed to already be exuding from him.
“But, daddy, aren't we going with you?” Buffy asked, her eyes wide as fear clutched at her. He wasn’t leaving her alone was he? There were all sorts of monsters and bad people out there who could come take her away without daddy there to protect her.
“Sweetie, I realize you’re not too bright,” Hank said as he rested a hand on Buffy’s shoulder. “But why on earth would I want to take you with me? Besides, you’re how old now?” He questioned.
Her face flamed with shame as she answered quietly, “eight...”
“What was that? Four?”
“Eight,” She responded a little louder.
“Six?” He pressed.
“Eight,” She said firmly, though still glancing down at the floor.
“Then start acting like it,” he insisted, giving her shoulder a small shove for emphasis. “Now, you’ll be fine. Just do what I tell you to, for once,” he said as he opened the door. “Buffy, one more thing, you better not tell anyone that you stayed alone tonight, and I mean anyone,” he stressed the last word. His eyes communicated his unspoken threat of what would happen if she disobeyed. “Got it?”
She nodded her agreement, watching through her eyelashes as her father turned and walked out the door. The lock clicked shut and Buffy found herself standing alone in the early evening darkness of her home.
She would be ok. Daddy had said so. She was in her home and nothing could come get her there. There weren’t really any monsters that would come get her anyway. They were only dreams and silly ideas that babies made up. That’s what daddy said. She wasn’t a baby anymore. Dawn wasn’t even a baby anymore. Daddy said she was a big girl now, too. What would she do if Dawn woke up? What would she do if something bad tried to come take her? Or tried to take Dawn?
She had promised her mommy that she would take care of Dawn. At least she thought she did. It was hard to remember sometimes. Was that something that happened, or something she dreamed? Memories of her mother came flooding back as she fought the tears that threatened to spill. She wouldn’t cry. Daddy didn’t like it when she cried and he would know. He always knew everything. He told her once that mommy always watched her and told him when she was a bad girl. She didn’t know if that made her feel better or worse.
A whistle sounded from the big window in the living room, startling Buffy out of her thoughts...Then a small tick arose from the back of the house... A large bang came from outside, sending Buffy scurrying up the stairs. She stopped when she reached the top, trying to calm herself. “Those are just noises the world makes,” she braced herself with the words her father had told her. Then Buffy heard what sounded like a knock at the front door.
Something wanted in.
Buffy quickly ran to the closet in her parents room. Daddy kept his golf stuff in there. She pulled out one of the clubs and clutched it to herself in terror. What was she going to do? She should hide. But what if the thing that wanted in found Dawn? She ran down the hallway and into her little sister’s bedroom. She slammed the door closed and turned the lock. As a sleeping Dawn stirred slightly, Buffy climbed up in the bed with her and pulled the covers up to their chins, still clutching the golf club in one hand.
“It won’t find us. It won’t find us. It won’t find us,” she chanted quietly, watching the shadows dance back and forth over the blinds covering the window. Finally, fear and exhaustion overcame her and she drifted off to sleep.
**********
The monster was big and dark skinned. It was kind of flat, but it was tall and bigger across than daddy. It had big pointy things coming out all around it’s head that branched off and made it look kind of like the deer she had seen in her books at school, but not exactly the same. Little Buffy stood firm, bravely clutching a large stick as her sister Dawn hid behind her.
“You can’t get us!” Buffy proclaimed.
“I will get you little girl. I will get you and I will take you away where all the bad little girls go,” the monster countered.
“I’m NOT a bad girl!” Buffy defended. “I’m a good girl. Now go away before I beat you up!” Buffy threatened the big tree-deer-monster.
“You can’t make me,” It announced.
“Oh yes I can,” Buffy replied, and proceeded to rush the monster, swinging with all her might. Blow after blow fell on the strange being until it howled it’s defeat and then drug itself away, scratching along with each pull. The sound filled her with a sense of accomplishment. She had defeated the monster, and she and Dawn were safe once again. As she returned to her sister, she pulled her close and hugged her. It made her feel warm and good. Just like mommy used to make her feel.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!