| I am my own villain. |

~***~

Another two children have gone missing this week. Margaret Wills and Terrence Pentergast Junior. There is an ongoing pattern with the murder of a family, followed by the kidnapping of their children. "The Pasco Family" are suspects for the murders and kidnappings, but officials still have no leads on who the members of this so-called family are.

They presume that there are the two leaders of this "cult" who call themselves "the parents" and their "children" are members who work for them; killing and kidnapping. The motives for the abduction of these children and the killing of their families are still unknown and are being heavily investigated. We strongly advise anyone in Pasco County and the surrounding area to be on high alert for child abductors and any suspicious persons, and for all to follow the new curfew in this state of emergency.

~***~  

The panic among the entire diner is subtle, but the atmosphere is very powerful. People just look at each other, and some just up and leave with a calm trepidation. Clyde rubs his wrists while looking around at the quiet chaos.

"What do you suppose we do now?" I catch half of Clyde's attention, "It's gonna be harder to catch 'em with that new curfew," I added while trying to stay in his line of sight. I look around behind me, trying to find whatever it is he might be looking for.

Why is he so distracted?

"Mona, we need help," Clyde says, catching me off guard. I turn around to face him, and his full attention is on me now.

"Let's face it. Your leads have us running in circles and practically chasing a ghost," Clyde leans closer, "and besides, I need to be somewhere right about now. Someone's expecting me. I didn't think we'd take this long to find that lead of yours..."

"Who is it?"

Clyde leans back, sitting up a little taller as he pulls out his wallet. He pulls some cash out and quickly mumbles incoherently under his breath while placing the money down on the table.

"Sorry? didn't quite catch that," I stand up after him and practically leap out to him as he walks away. I catch his elbow outside of the diner, and it causes him to quickly turn around. "Where are we going, Clyde?"

"I could easily ask you the same thing," he lifts an eyebrow at my hand that's still holding his arm, and I hastily push him away.

"Clyde," my voice cracks, and I cough it out, "please."

Clyde sighs and rolls his shoulders as he looks anywhere but me. "My sister, okay. I need to see my sister."

I step back, "well that's no problem. Where does she live?"

Clyde lifts up his hand and sighs while scruffing his curly hair. He seemed to start cleaning his hair not long ago, but it's definitely something he rarely did before. I put my hand on my hips and start tapping my foot at him. "Does she live far?"

"Not too far, but far enough..."

"...enough for what?"

"We won't make it until after curfew, and knowing my sister..." he trails off as he leans against his truck and crosses his arms while looking around the small town.

"Why not just call her and let her know we'll be a bit late? I don't see how that's such a big issue --" the look he gives me shuts me up.

Clyde's not worried about the curfew. He's worried about bringing home some random kid, after dark, when there's a statewide emergency. Everyone is on the lookout for anyone who looks suspicious, and Clyde looks suspicious with me. "-- Oohh..."

Clyde stares out at the street again, and I look down to my feet. I kick some of the dirt on the pavement and mutter, "just go. I'll be fine."

His head snaps at me, "No! You're not safe by yourself."

"Well, obviously I can't go with you to your sister's house..."

"Well, you could --" he stops talking and rubs the back of his neck, "-- but you may not like it."

"Is she crazy or somethin'?"

"No, no, nothing like that... it's just, uhm..."

"Clyde, if you keep stutterin' like a broken record, I'm gonna come over there and smack you. Spit it out already!"

"She - I - uhh --" Clyde gulps, "It's complicated. I can't really explain."

"Then just shut up, and take me or leave me," I curl myself in, tapping my foot again as I await his response.

"Fine, yeah, I'll just call her and let 'er know. Just get in the truck, please," Clyde rambles as he scrambles his way back into the diner. I roll my eyes at him and enter the truck. I turn on the radio and the news is on the first station. I turn the knob a few times, trying to find a station that isn't playing the news about The Pasco Family, and finally, I make it to a song. The song.

"Sonofab!tch!" I shut off the radio and cross my arms again, glaring at Clyde in the diner; eager to just get the hell out of here.

~***~

The needle on the record crisps through the small speakers until the music begins. Cynthia begins to twirl Delilah as the melody entrances them in the early afternoon.

"I had a girl

Donna was her name

Since she left me

I've never been the same"

Delilah looks over to her father who is sitting beside the giant window with horse figurines displayed on the windowsill. He has a cigar between his lips as he stands up from his lazy boy, and turns up the volume. He waltz's over to the two young girls, and they giggle as he dramatically bows before joining their dance.

"'Cause I love my girl"

"Donna, where can you be?"

"Where can you be?"

Mr. Baytes holds Delilah's hands and lifts her onto his feet to dance with her. As they chuckle and sway to the calm tune, Mrs. Baytes watches from the kitchen with a hint of a smile.

"Now that you're gone"

"I'm left all alone"

"All by myself"

"To wander and roam"

Two small cats rub against Cynthia's legs, and she picks one up and cradles the creature as she closes her eyes. She scratches the orange patch of fur on the feline's face, and it purrs in content. The other cat hops up on the mantle where the record player sits, and Mr. Baytes quickly lifts the cat away from the music and puts it down with a soft smile.

"Oh Bandit, you silly kitten," Delilah picks up the cat, "I know you love the music, girl - but you've gotta be careful."

Cynthia continues to sway with the other cat, and she smiles at her sister. "Monroe is a lot more sophisticated," Cynthia says, causing Delilah to tilt her head at the big word her sister used. "She doesn't need to go near the music to enjoy it."

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It's kinda funny how when you go through every chapter to add a quick authors note, and you notice all of the mistakes you didn't the last time you read your story, haha! All feedback is greatly appreciated! I'm constantly plowing through my book and polishing it up as much as possible.