Kimberly

“Shut the fuck up!” Kimberly screeches and throws a small ceramic cat at the wall. The children duck and run for cover as shards splatter across the room. The youngest, age five, hyperventilating, screaming as tears rushed down her blotchy red face. Her blonde pig tails we’re twisted like a bird's nest and sticky with yesterday’s pancake syrup.

“I hate you!” I hope you all fucking die!” Kim continues after downing a shot of something that made her twinge. “It’s all your fault papa died. If I could trade any one of you for him, I would.” She muttered before slithering off to her bedroom and locking the door behind her.

Five children huddled together in Lauchlan’s room. The floor was littered with trash. Soda cans, still dripping, stuck to food wrappers and paper plates.

“Shh. It’s okay Anna.” Renee held the five-year-old and rocked her. “Rock-a-bye-baby on the tree-top.” The eight-year-old's eyes quivered with sadness. “I’ve got you little baby.” Renee kissed Anna’s head.

“Lauchlan, can you call Aunt Lottie?” Dylan wiped tears from his cheeks.

“Yeah, for real.” Andrew nodded in agreement as he rocked back and forth on the floor, curled up in a ball.

“Mom, took my phone.” Lauchlan huffed. “She got mad at me for calling Lottie last time.” Voice trembling, he put his head down, his arm resting on his knees and he sobbed. “I’m sorry guys, I don’t wanna be here either."

“What the fuck!” Andrew cried. “I don’t want to be here.” The light in the room was dim, and the walls were crusted with insect remains and smoke stains. The stench of feces littered the air. The heating unit was missing pieces of the baseboard and the part that remained was rusted. The Snoop Dogg curtains hung slanted in the window.

“Can’t you sneak it back from her?” Dylan pleaded with his brother. Lauchlan looked at him sympathetically. And shrugged.

“Maybe if she passes out or leaves again, I can try.” He responded dejectedly.

*crash* They listened as pots and pans crashed into walls and clattered on the floor. A dish shattered against drywall and heavy footfalls stormed back and forth below.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuuuuuck!” Lauchlan listened as Kimberly stomped about downstairs. Throwing things and slamming doors. “I fucking hate yoooooou!” She roared as she took a slug of something that made her cough violently. The wind whistled and the shudders slammed against the siding of the house. A flash of lightning made the children shudder and huddle closer together. Kim continued her rampage.

Lauchlan’s eyes were fixated on the ceiling. A family of roaches skittered across his line of sight. The girls were knocked out. Their snores reverberated off the thin walls, and the little boys quietly argued over the points and abilities of their Pokémon cards. The time was perfect. Lauchlan slipped out of the room and slid silently down the stairs. The kitchen light was dim. Dust and cobwebs cloaked the bulbs.

Lauchlan tiptoed through broken glass to the next room and peered behind Kimberly’s bedroom curtains. The room was empty, and he scratched his head. He maneuvered back through the kitchen and knocked on the bathroom door.

“Mom?” He knocked again. His voice was strained, and he gulped loudly. He checked the time. 2:15 a.m. Lauchlan pulled up his recent calls log and dialed the first contact that appeared. Aunt Lottie. Lauchlan tapped his foot and ran his tongue across his teeth as the phone rang.

“Mmm, Hello?” Lottie was in bed; she looked at her phone screen to check the caller-ID. “Lauchlan? Sweetie, are you there?”

“Hey, Aunt Lottie.” Lauchlan trumped back up to his room. The floorboards croaked beneath his feet. “Do you think you and Uncle Charlie can come get me and the others?”

“What’s going on Is your mom there?” Lottie sat up in bed, her dark brown eyes widened, and a look of concern washed over her face. “Are you guys okay?”

“She’s been drunk all day and when Anna had an accident and pooped her pants she flipped shit.” Lauchlan paced the floor while the four younger children slept huddled together on the floor amongst the food wrappers, pests, and animal feces. “I just came downstairs to find my phone, and I don’t think she’s home. I don’t see her anywhere.”

“Oh, oh no. Okay.” Lottie nudges Charles. He snorts as he’s jolted awake.

“What? Huh? What happened? What’s going on?” Charles thrusts himself forward and shakes his head before turning his eyes to his wife.

"We have to get the kids. Kim's not home and they're freaking out."

“Oh, well fuck. Did you call her?”

“Not yet” Lottie told him as he rubbed his eyes and let out a powerful yawn.

‘Well, we should probably call her, so she doesn’t have us arrested for kidnapping her kids.

“Yeah, probably. Alright.” Lottie huffed. “Hey Lachlan, I’m going to call your mom and let her know that I’m taking you, but I am coming to get you with Uncle Charlie.”

“Okay.” Lauchlan kicked his brother’s foot. “Wake up. Aunt Lottie’s coming to get us.” Dylan smacked his lips then stretched out his arms and yawned.

“What?” He squinted at his brother.

“’Aunt Lottie is coming.” He slowed down his words. “Wake up Rey-Rey.” Lauchlan gently rocked his cousin back and forth. “Come on, Rey. Aunt Lottie is coming.”

“Oh, yay!” Renee cheered quietly and softly shook Anna awake. “Ana, we’re gonna go visit Aunt Lottie. So, you have to get up.” She spoke in a joyful tone to comfort little Anna. Anna’s blue eyes were glassed over, her lips he curled in a distressing frown, and she began to wail. “Shh. It’s okay honey.” Renee held her hand and patted her head gently as they all flooded down the stairs.

Lottie dialed Kim’s number from the car. Brrrr-ring. Brrr-ring. Brrr-ring. [Hello, you have reached the voicemail box of number...] Click.

“Okay, I guess I’ll try again.” Lottie flicked a button on her steering wheel. “Call Kimmie.” [calling Kimmie] Brrr-ring. Brrr-ring. Brrr-ring. [Hello, you have reached the voicemail box of number XXX-XXX-XXXX, please leave a message after the tone.] [Beep]

“Hey, Kimmie. I don’t know what’s going on but the kids called me and asked me to pick them up so I’m on my way to get them. I’ll bring them home in the morning. Please call me and let me know where you are and if you’re okay. I can keep the kids for a day or two if you need me to. Just please give me a call and let me know that you’re okay.” Lottie pulls the car over and the two girls climb into their car seats. As she drove back home, she peeped into the rear-view mirror to check on the little ones. Renee stared, stone-cold out the car window wiping away tear after tear.

“Renee, are you okay baby?” Lottie asks as she flicks the turn signal and follows through the turn.

“Yeah.” The eight-year-old shrugged, “She’s been worse. Last night she kicked Anna in the back while Anna was trying to run away from her.

“Why was Anna running from her?” Lottie raised an eyebrow and grimaced. “Why was Auntie Kimmy so upset with her to begin with?”

“Oh. She had another accident.” Renee stated matter-of-factly.

“My mom hates me.” Anna said in a cartoony voice. “I’m disgusting.”

“No, you’re not sweetheart!” Lottie clicked her tongue. “You’re not disgusting. Don’t say that.” She shut the car off and looked over her shoulder at Anna whose face was covered in dirt. Her teeth were spaced far apart, and her eyes wandered around, lost.

“O-K!” Anna responded sharply. Lottie opened the car door and took Anna’s hand and helped her exit the vehicle.

“How about we get you girls into a nice, cozy bed?” Lottie smiled at Anna.

“Ugh! Yes please!” Renee skipped down the driveway and into the house following closely behind Lottie.

“What happened Lachlan?” Charles asked as he pulled three blankets from the trunk of the closet floor.

“Anna pooped her pants during a movie we were watching.” Lauchlan told him.

“Okay, A- And?”

“Well, mom started screaming about how she can never just sit and enjoy a movie or relax, and then she just started throwing stuff.”

“Jesus Christ.” Charles shook his head and parked the car. “D-did anything else happen?”

“Well, she smacked Anna for having the accident and then when Anna tried to run away, mom grabbed her by her hair to pull her closer and then kicked her in the back. Anna went flying into the tv and knocked it down.”

“Are you fucking serious Lauchlan?” Charles lit a joint and sat down in the chair on the enclosed porch. The vent fan roared behind the walls.

“Yeah, then she started screaming about how she hates all of us and she called Anna a retard.” Lauchlan hung his head, disgraced. “Oh, and she told Renee she was going to send her back to her father to be raped some more.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me?” Charles’ jaw dropped. His eyes were in shock. “Alright, well take your brothers inside and go to bed. We’ll talk more about this after everyone gets some rest.

Buzz.Buzz. Buzz.Buzz. Lottie rolled over and smacked her phone screen. Buzz.Buzz. Bu- She sat up in bed and stretched out her arms while she let out a long yawn. “Charlie.” Lottie kicked his foot.

“Huh?” Charles snorted then smacked his lips. “What time is it?"

“It’s 7.”

“Ugh. Has Kim called you back yet?”

“No.” Lottie shook her head. "No, but I’m calling CPS as soon as I get my coffee brewing.”

“Good. Fuck her.”

“I know, I kind of don’t feel comfortable taking the kids back.”

“Hell no, neither do I but what can we do?”

“Ugh, I know. Hopefully CPS will actually do something this time.” Lottie said will an eyeroll.”

“Honestly, I feel like CPS is useless.” Charles said with a melancholic ring.

“In my experience they have been but to be fair, they have very little staff and an ever-expanding caseload and unfortunately, she’s not the worst-case scenario.”

“It’s still bullshit.”

“I never said that it wasn’t.” Lottie replied as she pulled the covers back and hopped out of bed.”

“I know.” Charles stated as he followed her.

Knock. Knock. “Knock, knock. Boys are you awake?” Lottie asked as she entered the room. The three were lying over top one another snoring like grizzly bears during hibernation, she stepped backwards out of the room without saying anything else and pulled the door to a silent close before moving on the next guest room where the girls had spent the night. “Knock, knock. Anyone home?” She opened the door and was greeted by two little smiles.

“Hi. Auntie!” Anna said in a loud tone with no voice control.

“Hi baby! How are you doing this morning?” Anna gave a thumbs up and a goofy smile.

“I’m so happy you came to get us Auntie!” Lottie watched as Renee moved closer to her. “Mom gets really scary when she drinks.”

“I know sweetheart. And I’m so sorry that you have to see that.” Lottie touched Renee’s chin. “Come on, I’ll make us some breakfast. What sounds tasty today?”

“Can we have peanut butter pancakes?” Renee’s eyes glimmered.

“We sure can. I’ll go whip some up.” As Lottie stirred the batter, she recounted the evening and reports from the children to a CPS caseworker over the phone.

“We’ll open a report and touch base with her within 24 hours and then we’ll be in touch.”

“Okay, sounds great. Thank you.” Lottie responded before ending the call and heading to the next room with two plates of pancakes.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

“Hi aunt girl!” Dylan burst into the living room followed by his brothers. “Is there breakfast?” Lottie smiled.

“There sure is buddy. Feel free to help yourselves!” With that said, the three boys stomped into the kitchen to get their fill.

Brrr-ring. Brrr-ring. Brrr-ring.

“Hello?” Lottie answered

“Hey! Dude. Oh, dude I’m sor-so sorry.” Kimberly spoke quickly with an up-beat tempo.

“Hey. So, what happened last night?”

“Oh. Du-dude. It was nothing.” Her voice squeaked. “The kids were just bleb-being assholes an-an-and I just needed a little breaky break so I had Lachlan babysit.”

“Okay but where are you?” Lottie didn’t hide the impatience in her voice.

“I-I’m at R-r-rick's house.” Kimberly giggled. “Bu-but I’m coming home now. We’re, um, we’re getting in the truck now.”

“Are you sober?”

“Oh yeah. Of- Of course dude. It’s-it’s so early, you silly goose. Hehe”

“Alright well, I guess call me when you get home and I’ll drop the kids off.”

“Okey dokey!”

“Are you seriously gonna take them back?” Charles raised an eyebrow.

“I mean, it’s not really like I have a choice. She can say I kidnapped them and am holding them hostage and she’s fucking crazy enough to do that so what else am I supposed to do? It’s going to be a few days before CPS does anything, if they do anything.”

“Well, does she seem okay to take them back?”

“She sounds like she’s drunk as fuck.” Emma shook her head in disapproval. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t send them back home if she’s still wasted.”

“Try calling the cops.” Charles suggested.

“Okay. I’ll give it a shot.” Lottie said deflated before calling the police station and recanting the events of the night before.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Lottie peeped out of the large living room picture window. Two uniforms stood on her porch. One was a tall man with beady black eyes, and dirty Sanchez mustache. The other was short and stocky, clean-shaven with tanned skin.

“Hello, please come in.” Lottie stepped backwards and to the left while extending her arm out towards the room.

“Thank you.” The short one muttered. “Ahem, so um we’re here because we received a call concerning the safety and well-being of the children in Miss Kimberly Franstein’s home. Can you explain the reason for the call.”

“Again?” Lottie didn’t try to hide her annoyance. “Look, officer. No offense but I’ve gone over this story like three times already. Twice while I was on the phone with your fellow officers.”

“I apologize; I am just trying to gather all the facts.” She repeated the story once more for the stocky fellow speaking quickly in a panicked tone.

“Alrighty, well we’re going to swing by there and check it out. In the meantime, can the kids hang out here?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Lottie affirmed.

“Okay. Cool. Hang tight, and we’ll be in touch soon.” The tall officer tipped his hat then he and his clunky partner climbed back into the patrol car and drove off. Lottie sat on the front porch and chain smoked a pack of Marlboro 100’s. Twenty minutes later the same two officers pulled back up in front of her house. Lottie snuffed her cigarette out in the ash tray and met the officers halfway.

“Hey, so we stopped by there and Kimberly seems to be sober so we’re going to escort the kids back home but if there is any trouble give us call back right away.”

“Are you sure she’s sober?” Lottie protested. “She sounded like she was slurring her words when I was on the phone with her earlier”

“Yes, you don’t need to worry.” The tall officer glared at her hard as if dumbfounded by the audacity of Lottie for asking such a question.

“Okay, well let me go call the kids out.” Lottie turned and went back into the house. Two minutes later, she came back outside the five children following close behind. “Don’t worry guys, if you need me, you just have to call me. Anytime. Day or night.” Lottie went down the line hugging and giving each child a kiss on the forehead. All except Lachlan, who was contented by a hug. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the patrol car fade away into the background.

“I can’t believe they’re sending the kids back to her again!” Lottie screeched as she slammed the front door shut. “I fucking hate her! She’s going to end up killing one of those kids!” She dropped to her knees and sobbed.

“It’ll be okay.” Charles kneeled beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll call a lawyer and see what we can do to get custody of the kids.” His gentle hands rubbed up and down her back as she rocked back and forth on the ground.

“I just love the kids so much!” Lottie cried. “I need them to be okay; I need them to be safe. I can’t stop worrying about what she’s going to do to them.”

“I know.” Charles sighed. "I know.”

“I’m so scared and I have this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach, "Lottie began as she wiped the running tears from her cheeks. “I know something bad is gonna happen and I’m so fucking scared because I don’t know what it is, but something horrible is coming. Three days later, Lottie gets a phone call she has been impatiently awaiting.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

“Hello?” Lottie gulped as she answered the unknown caller.

“Yes, hello. Miss Lottie Chambers?” the familiar, authoritative voice questioned.

“Yes, this is she. Can I ask who’s calling.” Lottie questioned back, matching his energy.

“Hello. Miss Chambers. This is Kenny Trimble from child protective services. You and I spoke a few days ago.”

“Yes. I remember. How can I help?” Lottie asked expectantly as she paced her kitchen floor and chewed on her nails.

“Well, we just wanted to inform you that when we did pay Kimberly and the children a visit this morning. She said she was sober, and she appeared to be as well. We asked the kids if they were okay and they said yes.”

“So, what? What does that mean?” Lottie stopped pacing and slapped her free hand down onto the counter.

“I’m afraid that there is nothing more we can do at this time.”

“Seriously? Well did you ask them in front of her? They’re terrified of her!” Lottie stated matter-of-factly and slightly raising her voice.

“We had no reasonable cause to separate them for questioning. I apologize if this is not the outcome you were expecting.”

“All I want is for those kids to be safe.” Lottie replied. “That’s it. I was not hoping for or expecting any specific kind of outcome, other than that.”

“Well, from what we can see the kids are safe. It’s not illegal to do the bare minimum. As long as the kids are housed and fed and aren’t showing any visible signs of abuse or major neglect there isn’t much we can do.”

“Well, that’s bullshit.” She snapped.

“I’m sorry you feel that way. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”

“And I hope you have the day you deserve.” Lottie clapped back before ending the call.

“What happened?” Charles huffed. “What did they say?”

“He said, and I quote, ‘It’s not illegal to do the bare minimum.’” Lottie shook her head as the words fell out of her mouth.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Charles stood stunned with his mouth agape. “That’s fucking bullshit. And that’s a disgusting fucking thing to say.”

“True story.” Lottie sighed. She dragged her feet across the floor as she slumped into the living room and dropped her body onto the couch. Charles followed closely behind then tapped her feet and sat down with her when she lifted her legs.

“It’s okay.” Charles massaged her calves. “We’ll figure something out.”

“She’s going to get Anna killed.” Lottie sobbed, her voice muffled by a throw pillow. “What are we gonna do? What can we do?”

“Well, isn’t David dead?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“What about Janine?” Charles reached for the remote and turned on the PS-5.

“She signed her parental rights over to Kim.” Lottie sighed and sunk back into the couch.

“Fuck, it let’s take her to court.” Lottie was stunned. “At least for the girls. We can keep brainstorming ideas to get the boys help but we can petition for custody of Renee and Anna.”

“Are you sure? I know that you didn’t sign up for this.”

“No, I didn’t but I do love them. They need help and we can provide it.” Charles lit a joint and leaned back onto the couch nuzzling up closer to Lottie.

“Okay, well I should probably research some lawyers in the area then.” Lottie pulled out her phone a googled, ‘family court lawyers near me”.

“Lachlan!” He had begun to hate the sound of his own name.

“What?” Lauchlan cracked as he met his mother on the front porch.

“Don’t fucking talk back to me you little pussy!” Kimberly screeched as she jumped out of her camp chair and delivered a hard smack to his face. Lachlan bit his lip and puffed out his cheeks. A red handprint smeared across the left side of his face.

“What do you need mom?” Lauchlan’s breath hissed, and his body shuddered.

“G-go to the k-kitchen and bring me my-my-my purssse.” Lauchlan wretched as the aroma of vodka and iron-crusted genitalia invaded his nostrils. “Now!” She spat at him.

“Alright.” Lauchlan sighed as he went back inside. He kicked old food boxes and soda cans as he trumped through the living room into the kitchen. “I’m so fucking sick of this.” Lauchlan muttered to himself.

“Hurry up!” Lauchlan twinged as his mother’s shrill voice rang through the house.

“I’m coming!” He shot back as he snatched the brown Michael Koors bag from the sticky wooden table. His voice cracked and he cleared his throat before delivering the purse to his mother. When he opened the door, Ricky was there. Lachlan stood about five feet eight inches with an average frame for a boy of sixteen. He looked up at Ricky and Ricky grabbed him by both arms and slammed him against the side of the house.

“Who the fuck do you think you are talking to your mother that way?” Lachlan stared into Ricky’s black pit eyeballs, his mouth ajar. “Hey, answer me!” Lachlan’s brain felt scrambled as Ricky shook him wildly back and forth, still hovering above the ground.

“Ahhh. Fuck you bruh.” Lauchlan’s voice sounded as if he was speaking into an oscillating fan. Then he landed on the floor with a heavy thud.

“Boy!” Lachlan gasped as Ricky kicked him in the gut. “I will fuck you up.” He covered his head while Ricky administered blow after blow. Lachlan trembled as Ricky crouched down next to him on the ground and grabbed the back of his neck. “If you ever fucking speak to me like that again, I’ll fucking kill you.” The hair on Lachlan’s neck stood up as Ricky’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You ain’t my kid boy, and I don’t give a single fuck about you, and your mother wants me here more than she wants you here so keep that in mind you little bitch.” Lachlan held his tongue even as Ricky shoved his face into the floor and spit on him. Once Lachlan heard the truck start, he struggled to his feet and went inside.

Lachlan searched for his phone, starting with the kitchen and then the dining room, then the living room and finally, Kimberly’s bedroom. Lachlan spotted an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t seen his mom smoke cigarettes in two years, since she accidentally burned a hole in the front porch because she forgot about a cigarette she had left sitting on the step. Luckily, a neighbor noticed it quickly and was able to grab a fire extinguisher from his garage. Kimberly never offered the man a thank you or even asked his name.

After tearing through his mother’s dresser drawers and nightstand cabinets Lachlan continued his search for his phone in the bathroom and laundry room before concluding that Kimberly must have the phone on her this time and he went up to his room. Renee and Anna were huddled in a pile of trash done up like a make-shift bed and his brothers were once again disputing the value of Pokémon cards. “Lachlan!” Dylan burst into excitement. “Did you find it?” Lachlan winced when he saw the hopefulness in his brother’s eyes.

“No.” Lachlan plopped onto the floor beside Dylan and Andrew. “I’m sorry. I think she took it with her when she out with scumbag.” He rolled his eyes and started fiddling with a rubber band he found on the floor.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Lachlan went to the girl's bedroom and looked down out of their window. There was a man in dress pants and a plaid button up and a woman in a skirt suit with clipboards. He tip-toed back to his room where the others were waiting. “I think CPS is here. Should we answer the door?”

“Mom will kill us.” Andrew shivered. The others nodded and clamored in agreement. Lachlan’s heart sank into his stomach when he heard the caseworkers get back into their car and drive off. Fifteen minutes later, Lachlan heard a car pull into the driveway, followed by the sound of a pair of footsteps climbing the porch and entering the house.

“Kids! Me and daddy are home!” Lachlan curled his lip and grunted in disgust. He looked at the others and sighed.

“Come on guys.” Lachlan waved them forward. “If we don’t go down there, she’s going to get pissed off again.”

“Okay.” Dylan looked down at his feet, and they tramped down the stairs one after the other.

“Hi mom.” Lachlan watched as Anna embraced Kimberly desperate for affection.

“Hi silly goose!” Kimberly hugged her back. Lachlan watched as her eyes shot open and her nose twitched. “Ugh! Did you shit yourself again?” Lachlan cursed under his breath as Kimberly pulled Anna’s pants back and then kicked her in the back sending her flying into the next room.

“Mom, what the fuck?” Lachlan pushed Kimberly and she fell back into Ricky. He kicked and punched as Ricky tackled him to the ground, but when Ricky power drove his fist into Lachlan’s face, his vision blurred, and his head filled with fog.

“You’re still a bitch.” Lachlan whispered with a strained voice.

“I’ll show you a bitch boy.” Lachlan’s body wobbled as Ricky sat him up and tied him to a chair.

“Fuck you.” Lachlan breathed and looked up at Ricky who wore a startling grin. He was shaken as Ricky smacked Kimberly across the face so hard it sent her flying to the floor.

“Now suck my dick whore.” Lachlan closed his eyes as his mother gagged on the fifty-six-year old’s cock and fondled his crinkled testicles. “Mmm. That’s a good little bitch.” Ricky groaned as he wrapped Kimberly’s blonde hair up in his fist forcing his penis deeper into her throat.

“Stop! That’s fucking nasty.” Lachlan cried. “Mom, what’s wrong with you?” He clenched his eyes as tight as he could, tears seeped through his lids, and his face grew an alarming red as Ricky pulled Kimberly to her feet by her hair and then pushed her to the ground.

“Ugh! Yes, eat my kitty daddy!” Lachlan heard his mother moan as Ricky licked between her legs and fingered her violently. He slapped her and called her a dirty whore and Lauchlan wept. The other children watched, eyes wide and straight faced. Andrew and Dylan gagged, the girls covered their ears and covered their eyes as Ricky turned Kimberly around, wrapped a hand around her throat, and shoved his rancid penis inside her and groaned. “Oh god, yes. I’m such a bad girl.” Lachlan rocked in the chair trying to get his arms free so that he could cover his ear.

“Yeah, you are you dirty slut.” Lachlan heard Ricky grumble in his gritty monotone voice. Ricky moved his hand from her throat and wrapped her hair around his fist and began punching her with every thrust. “Take it, stupid bitch.” Lachlan winced with every blow he heard, and Kimberly grunted along with it. He sobbed in relief and dropped to his knees after Ricky climaxed and cut the rope that bound him to the chair.

“Your mother is what a bitch looks like boy.” Lachlan glared at Ricky. His scraggly white beard was dripping with blood. “And make no mistake, she is my bitch.” He felt Ricky spit on his back before he heard him stomp away, dragging Kimberly by her arm behind him.

Lachlan sprung towards the others and led them back into his room.

“I’m so sorry guys.” Lachlan opened his arms wide, and the others embraced him. “I’m sorry. I’m going to get us out of here tonight.” He kissed Anna’s forehead; her eyes were so trusting. Lachlan read Goodnight Moon to the girls and played cards with the boys. Two hours later, Lachlan slunk down the front stairway and was met by a wall of fire coming from his mother’s room. “Fuck! Guys!” Lauchlan raced back up the stairs and down the hall to his room.

“Come on! We gotta go.” Lachlan grabbed a hold of Anna with one hand and Renee with the other. “We gotta fucking go! The house is on fire.” He led them back the way he came only to find the flames had begun creeping up the stairs.

The children screamed and rushed to the back stairway on the other side of Lachlan’s room. The staircase was packed with trash, pizza boxes, and filthy clothes. Lachlan pushed his way through and created a path for the others to follow. When they got to the bottom, both the front door through the living room and the side door off the kitchen were unreachable. Lachlan dragged the kids to the laundry room in the back of the house and began banging on the windows that had been replaced with a thick plexiglass and didn’t budge.

When Lottie arrived at Kimberly’s house, the flames were extinguished and only the bones remained of the house. Thin, charcoal-colored beams stood towering over the smoldering rubble. “What happened?” Lottie asked the officer tearfully. "Where is everybody?” She sniffed. "They’re okay right? Kim and the kids? They weren’t home, right?” The officer grimaced.

“I’m sorry, Miss Chambers. Seven bodies have been found, six of them we believe to be Kimberly and the five children.”

“No.” Lottie lost her breath and dropped to the concrete. Charles stopped her head from hitting the ground and took a knee beside her. Thick, dark grey clouds rolled over the sky and Lottie could swear she heard the children screaming and pounding on the plexiglass window before the smoke filled their lungs and the flames encased their bodies. They were found, bodies melted together. Lachlan, acting as a shield to protect them one last time.