6 - A Whole New World

"Erin, come down here!" Mr Bishop yelled at the top of his lungs.

Robin flinched at the thunder in his tone, nearly dropping the coffee mug in her hands.

The little girl hustled down the stairs and into the living room. "Yes, Daddy?"

Robin craned her neck to watch.

Recently, Mr Bishop's quick temper began rearing its head. The way his shoulders stiffened and jaw went rigid was a clue that Robin took notice to. She studied Erin, remembering the fear her father had instilled in her at Erin's age.

"Dammit, Girl! Get your ass down the fucking stairs! Don't make me come up there or I swear to god you'll regret it!" her father yelled as he banged his fist on the wall.

Robin sprinted down the stairs and met her father's scarlet face. One shoulder of her rucksack was off her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm ready, I promise," her voice trailed at the end. Robin shrank back in fear when he slammed his barstool down while getting up. She could almost see the air steam from his ears.

"Just get your ass in the car, now," he said.

She nodded and bolted out the door.

The weight on the sofa shifted, snapping Robin back to present.

"You forgot to do the trash last night." His hands were on his hips.

"Sorry, Daddy. I'll do it right away."

"Good. I need to grab some stuff and get changed again." He spilt coffee on himself earlier. "And, I'm running short on time, so make me some eggs, alright."

"Ok."

The stairs squeaked under his feet as he walked up into the second level.

After deeming the coast clear, Robin shuffled into the kitchen. "You need any help?"

"Daddy usually likes two scrambled eggs with orange juice." Erin reached for the cooking pan from one of the cabinets near the stove. "After we make eggs, I'll do the trash, and then we should probably start on the laundry. Daddy hates it when he doesn't have clean clothes during the weekend." Erin hopped off from the stool to retrieve the eggs. She dragged the carton out from the fridge and cracked one egg against the pan.

"ERIN! Get your butt up here, now!"

Erin jumped, the shell and yolk tumbled into the bowl, but it seemed far from the girl's concern as she shot up the stairs.

Robin almost chased after her, but it wasn't her place to interfere with a father and daughter affair, remembering the last time someone meddled with her father in one of his fits.

Instead, she decided to finish the breakfast and began setting the table when Mr Bishop stomped down the stairs. Her nerves were on high alert. Something bad happened to that little girl, Robin was almost positive. She had heard Erin screaming and enormous thuds from above during the five minutes she spent alone downstairs. Every time the girl's lungs had let out a shriek, guilt rose through Robin's being. Her whole body jittered with anxiousness.

"Sorry about that, Erin just needed to be taught a lesson."

Robin nodded, unsure what to say to that. Whatever he meant by "taught a lesson," she didn't think it inferred something good. She itched for answers, but she dared not ask.

Mr Bishop plopped into the chair. "I assume Erin told you that today is laundry day, so make sure you separate white from darks and turn shirts with decals inside out." He bit into the toast Robin had made at the last-minute.

"Ok." Robin dodged his chair and gripped the railing.

"I'm leaving in a few minutes, the chores are on the list."

With one foot on the step, she looked back at him and nodded. She wanted nothing more than to check on Erin and flew up the stairs when he shoved another forkful into his mouth.

Knocking twice, Robin awaited a response. Inside, the room was still.

"E-Erin, it's me, Robin. May I come in?"

"Yes."

Opening the door, shock flashed across her face. The room was the aftermath of a tornado which left no corner untouched.

The books that had been stored meticulously on the shelf were scattered across the linoleum. Drawers were pulled open, a mix of the girls' clothes were scattered everywhere and the lamp was hanging by its cord off the night table. At least Robin saw no broken bulb remnants on the floor, but she still felt wary of the man's temper.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" Robin rushed to Erin, concern replacing her anger toward Mr Bishop for trashing their bedroom.

"Mmhm. He just throws stuff when he's mad," Erin answered still shaken.

"Did he hurt you?" Robin's hands glided over the girl doing their own evaluation.

"No, I'm okay." Erin bit her lip and bowed her head. Straight away, her shoulders began shaking.

For a moment, she considered calling Ms Hartman since she smelt trouble, but when she saw Erin lying on her bed weeping, she just couldn't do it. The little girl reminded her so much of herself years ago - the same fear in her eyes - so Robin decided to stick it out. For now she would keep a close eye on Erin. After all, she hadn't said her father had actually hurt her.

Robin climbed onto the bottom bunk where the sheets once laid. Sitting next to the girl, she put her hand on her shoulder blade rubbing soft circles.

Suddenly, Erin's arms wrapped around Robin's waist as she buried her face in the crook of Robin's neck. Erin's sobs were muffled as tears pooled on Robin's skin, she almost cried herself.

Never had this raw emotion affected her so much. Her heart broke seeing the lively girl so upset. She closed her eyelids holding in tears. Her hand quivered as she smoothed Erin's hair. "Shh, shh. It'll be okay. Everything will be okay." She wrapped her arms around the girl, wishing she had had someone to do the same when she cried.

Pulling her head back to look the teen in her eyes, Robin wiped the girl's flushed cheeks. Poor girl, her eyes were swollen and red. "I gotta get his breakfast." She hiccupped and sniffled.

Searching around the destroyed room, Robin found the tissue box near the corner. Retrieving the plain forest green box, she walked back to the ginger. "Here." Robin handed Erin a tissue. "It's alright. I did it for you."

They heard the door slam, Mr Bishop's BMW rev up and drive out the driveway.

"Let's just leave this here for a little bit. Maybe I can make you some pancakes or do you like eggs?"

"Pancakes, please?" Erin smiled a little.

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Thanks, Robin."

"But afterward, we should get this room nice and tidy again and do the laundry. Sound good?"

"Mmhm."

They hugged again. "I'm so sorry I didn't get here earlier," Robin whispered more to herself. Buried regret graced her memories.

Robin still felt bad Erin had a frown on her lips. She didn't like seeing people unhappy, especially her parents, she reflected with a dry closed-mouth smile.

She squatted in front of Erin who looked at her askance. "Hop on!" Robin said.

Erin's eyes might have well popped out of her sockets as she climbed on with joy. The little girl squealed and her eyes sparkled.

She grunted when Erin's heels dug into her ribs, but Robin let the pain pass. "Alright, are you holding on tight?"

The girl hugged Robin's neck securely. "Yes!" she shouted.

"Okay, up we go!" Robin balanced Erin, scooping her legs around her waist, one under each arm. Waiting, she balanced before stepping outside the trashed room. Her back was burning under the pressure, but Erin's delighted face allowed Robin to forget. "Let's go?" She asked stopping short of the stairs.

With a jerky nod from Erin, Robin gripped the railing as they descended.

Once at the bottom, Robin took off zooming with the girl on her back zipping in and out of random rooms.

Erin cheered, laughed and whooped. Her fist pumped the air while the little girl shouted.

Robin smiled, satisfied Erin's sadness was gone. "Okay, okay." She chuckled way past out of breath. Her ribs could only endure so much. "Let's eat some breakfast."

Coming to kneel, Erin hopped off and hugged Robin. "Thanks! " She giggled, skipping into the kitchen with Robin in tow.

Robin selected the pancake flour box from the pantry. Walking to the counter, she shuffled through the drawers until she found a whisk and one-half measuring cup. "Do you wanna help make pancakes with me?" Robin asked.

"Yes, please!"

"Okay. Let's see. First, can you go get me a large bowl, like the one on the box, please?"

"Sure!" Sashaying to the cabinets, Erin dug out a big glass bowl, then set it on the counter. Her head tilted up and her eyes held an expecting look. Erin rested her fingers on the counter's ledge. She asked, "What else?"

"We also need a measuring cup."

With a quick nod, Erin presented a liquid cup.

"Hmmm, first cut open pre-made pancake batter and pour into the bowl."

With a snip, the bag of flour opened. "Here, help me pour some of the flour in the bowl, okay?"

While Erin scooped the flour into the bowl, Robin filled the measuring cup with water.

"Okay, that's good, Erin. May I put in the water?"

Erin scooted to the side as the liquid sloshed into the batter. Taking the whisk, Robin flipped the mixture until the lumps disappeared.

"Erin, can you get me a large pan, please?"

With a jerky nod, Erin set the hunk of metal on the cooktop and returned to Robin. "What's next?"

"Pouring the batter into the pan. I'll hold the bowl and you scoop the batter into the little measuring cup."

By the time they finally finished baking the cakes, it was almost 9 a.m.

"That was so much fun!" Erin shouted over the buzz of the old stove.

Once they sat down, they dug in.

"So what do you and your father do for fun?" Robin asked before shoving her fork into her mouth. She chewed on the soft fluffiness and swallowed.

Erin toyed with her fork and smiled at Robin with a small shrug. "Sometimes we play dolls, but he doesn't really like playing with them anymore. He has a lot of work and stuff."

"Well, maybe after we clean up our room and the laundry is still in the machine, we can play with your dolls for awhile if you want to?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"Well then, we ought to clean our room quickly!" Robin returned a smile of warm content. There was just something about this little girl she couldn't help but deny. She loved Erin.

"Yeah! I even made a new outfit for my doll!" Erin squealed in delight. "Guess what I made it from?"

"What?"

"No, no! You gotta guess!"

"Um, your old clothes?"

"Nope! Two more guesses!"

"Uh, I don't know."

"Guess!"

"A rug?"

Her face twisted in an "are you for real?" look.

Robin chuckled. "No?"

With a sly, prideful grin, Erin shook her head. "Uh uh!" One more!"

Robin thought long and hard, but nothing sensible came to mind. She sighed, defeated. "I give up, Erin!"

"I made it out of the old curtains like Maria did!"

Robin's neck snapped back as her brows furrowed. "Maria?"

"Yeah! I really like her a lot!"

"I don't think that name rings a bell."

"Haven't you ever seen The Sound of Music?" Erin asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Her eyes squinted with the 'duh' look.

"Um, I'm not sure. What's it about?"

Erin's eyes lit up as if it were Christmas and she found a bunch of presents beneath the tree.

Eagerly, she babbled. "It's about this girl who's a nun, but she's not really good at that, not cause she's bad, but she likes to sing a lot. So the head nun sends her to be the nanny of like seven kids and the dad is kind of mean at first." She inhaled again. "And so she wants to make them play clothes because they're always in uniforms."

"Why are they in uniforms?"

"Cause the dad is a navy fighter or whatever. Oh and he has this whistle that he blows cause it's a really gigantic house! Anyway, the nanny is named Maria and he's uh..." Erin paused as she collected her thoughts. "He's Captain Von Trapp! Anyway, she makes them clothes out of the curtains in her room. I really like them! They're like...that green over there!" Erin pointed to the vase by the window.

"That's a pretty colour."

"Mhmm! Anyways, they go all around town in them."

Leaning her chin into her palm, Robin listened. "What do they do in town?"

"They ride their bikes and then go on a carriage ride and sing Do Re Me! I love that song! Then they go out in a boat, that's when their dad sees them in their outfits! And guess what?"

"Hm?"

"They fall into the water! They're okay though. But, he gets kind of mad that they're playing in those clothes Maria made!"

She continued jabbering about the movie, raving at the songs, in particular. Sometimes, Erin even hummed the musical aloud with the lyrics.

"We should watch it sometime soon!"

"We should, it sounds very interesting."

They sat and talked at the table some more while eating all the pancakes they could until their stomachs were stuffed.

"Okay, Erin. I'm going to clean these dishes and then we should begin doing the laundry."

Although Erin's face fell a bit, the little girl agreed.

Taking each dish by the rim, Robin scrubbed the grease and leftovers stuck on the surfaces. Diligently, she cleansed each plate and bowl stacked on the sink and counters, taking a little longer than she had estimated while Erin sorted the clothes as her father instructed. When the plates shined, Robin loaded the dishes inside their cabinets until none were left on the counters.

With wrinkled fingers, Robin climbed the stairs. Hearing a soft noise from the second floor, she tiptoed until she found the room from which the hum originated. Pressing her ear against the wall, she listened.

"Unbelievable sights, indescribable feelings, soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky," Erin's mouse voice sang.

Smiling, Robin cracked open the door stepping inside undetected. Erin's back was toward her as she knelt on the floor sorting.

"A whole new world." Erin's voice was joined by Robin's.

Midway through, the young girl's voice stopped as she stared wide-eyed at the teen.

"Don't you dare close your eyes."

The girl joined in, her voice was small. "A hundred thousand things to see."

"Hold your breath, it gets better."

"I'm like a shooting star. I've come so far. I can't go back to where I used to be." Erin's singing regained confidence.

"A whole new world." Robin grabbed Erin by the hands and beamed.

Giggling, Erin skipped in a circle. "Every turn a surprise."

"With new horizons to pursue." Shooting out her arms, Robin twirled, her hair flew with her.

"Every moment red letter."

"I'll chase them anywhere. There's time to spare. Let me share this whole new world with you," They sang together, dancing and laughing, rebelling against the rules without a care.

Out of breath, Robin stopped spinning them around as her tone softened. "A whole new world."

"A whole new world," Erin repeated in soprano.

"That's where we'll be."

"That's where we'll be."

"A thrilling chase."

"A wondrous place."

"For you and me," Robin harmonised.

They turned their face downcast each blushing and then breaking out into uncontrollable laughter.

Something inside Robin fluttered. Her soul warmed and shattered some of her invisible wall.

"You have a good singing voice." Erin was the first to talk.

Robin's cheeks flushed crimson red, as she smiled. "Thanks." she whispered, "you do, too."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Daddy says we're not supposed to sing."

"He's not here to listen, right?"

"Well, I guess not."

"Just as long as we don't sing when he's around I think we'll be okay." Winking, Robin's eyes sparkled with playfulness.

Erin nodded wearily, not entirely agreeing.

"Here, let me help you with that laundry."

"The ones right here need to be sprayed with spotter," She said. Pointing to the pile furthest from the left, her head tipped. "These ones are ready to go in though. Which one do you wanna take first?"

"I don't really mind, whatever you want."

"I'll take the darks ready to go in."

"Ok, then I'll take the ones in need of spotting." Robin gathered the dirty clothes in a bin allowing Erin to lead her to the laundry room.

"The spray is under the counter and the detergent is over there. Don't forget to separate them after you're finished!"

Robin swung her hand and saluted. "Aye aye, Captain!" She winked. She earned a giggle from the girl as Erin dashed back to her father's bedroom. Robin smiled to herself. Maybe she had a reason to stay after all.

A/N: I'm dedicating this story to @NatashaPreston and her PUBLISHED story The Cellar. Join Summer, the man who took her - and three other kidnapped girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet in a horror tale of love, hate, and fear.