Aubrie: A Short Story

falls asleep with her head on Parker’s lap. Once the movie ends, he picks her up bridal style. “I’m going to take her to bed.” He whispers to her grandpa.
Parker carries her to the bedroom and places in the bed, covering her with the blue blankets. He walks back out to the living room area to help her grandfather, who is putting out the fire. Parker helps him clean up a little before they both go to bed. As Parke walks towards the bedroom, Aubrie’s grandfather stops him.
“Parker wait a minute.” Parker turns around to face him. “There is something I need you to do.”
“Okay?”
“I need you to keep Aubrie safe.”
“What do you mean?”
“Who knows how much longer I am going to be here and you and I are all she got. I just need you to watch out for her and do whatever it takes to protect her.”
“Is she in some type of danger I should know about?”
“Did Aubrie ever tell you how her mother died, or is believed to have died.” Parker shakes his head ‘no’ in response. “When Aubrie was four years old, her and her mother were asleep in that room.” He points at the room where Aubrie is sleeping. “All I know is that I heard her mother screaming, and then my daughter was gone by the time I broke the door down. But the reason I am telling you to keep her safe is because her mother wasn’t the only one to go missing. My wife and I had a house not too far away from here, before we bought this cabin, and she went missing. She taken from our home in the middle of the night. All that was left was bloody footprints and an open window. Even before that, her mother disappeared in a similar way. It is very unusual, and no one has still figured out what is happening. I just need you to promise me you will protect