they looked backward and said goodbye

[cibosity]

Even a seven-year-old can tell that there's something not right about this situation. Five times now, he's heard the same conversation between his parents, the same ring of a gunshot echoing in their tiny hall, before footsteps approach the spot that he's taken under the bed, curled so that his knees meet his chest. It's always shouting and yelling

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[crossyourpath]

It isn't something that Felicia's prepared for. She'd stumbled right into the cloud on her way to a party, laughing and enjoying herself. Dressed like the iconic Jeannie she'd been in for a fantastic time, the way that Halloween had been meant to be enjoyed.

Instead she walks right into a nightmare. Heart racing, she feels something drop in the pit of her stomach. She's dressed for a party, laid back and casual, ready for a night of beer pong and silliness. The way things are supposed to be, but isn't right. The hallway is too long and none of the doors lead outside. Ryan's coming after her and she can't get away. Pulling open a door, she stumbles back and lands on bed just as she hears a gun go off.

"Oh my god," she whispers, heart pounding. "What was that?"

[cibosity]

There's a break in the monotony, unexpected and almost unwanted, when the bright voice of a young woman sounds in lieu of where James' father should be starting to yell, gruff voice drowning out the protests and pleas of his wife. He's worried in the way that little boys sometimes get, fearing that they've set off something terrible, that all the yells and fuss really are their fault and if the parents ever realize, the boys'll be in for quite the long slew of grounding. Only of course, this time it's a little more.

It's not his toys on the line, or even playtime with his best friends after school. It's his parents. Death is a distant concept and not yet an experience of James', but he doesn't precisely need anyone to pass away to know that the way the silence deafens after each gunshot.

But when his father's shoes suddenly start walking, clicking against the hardwood floor, this time it's just too much for James, and he starts crying from where he's shuffled himself against the wall by the side of the bed.

[crossyourpath]

Freezing on the bed, eyes wide at the sound of footsteps Felicia tries very hard not to move. She doesn't know what to do and nothing is springing to mind. All she knows is that fighting back is what she wants but can't have. What's on the other side of the door is anything but good. Squeezing her eyes shut, she takes a deep breath trying to make herself move.

She doesn't. She's scared and wants to stop what's happening and what could happen but there is nothing she can do. Just go away she wills silently at the door, before sliding slowly off the bed. The sound of movement and tears snaps something in her. On her hands and knees on the floor, she looks around before catching sight of something under the bed. Ducking her head down she catches spots a little boy

[cibosity]

This is new. It's new, and he's already willing that she go away, disappear, because even if there's any way for her to help, it's not her job and the Fords don't beg. Strange, how all of the lessons that his momma's tried to teach him all filter back into James' mind now, now that he knows she's gone and won't ever be back, aside from the few seconds her voice sounds for during every one of these cycles. He doesn't get to do her proud anymore, and that just has his tears falling faster, unable to keep from wiping his eyes even though she's always told him that big boys don't cry.

"He's gonna, he's gonna shoot it again," he manages to choke out, reaching out with a tear-soaked hand and grasping at hers, trying to tug her under. "Don't let him see you, he might shoot you instead and I don't wanna see you die. I don't wanna see anyone..."

His voice dies off suddenly, before James reaches out with his second hand adding to the first, tugging as hard as his little body allows, while the steps still manage to get closer and closer.