Stay Away From Georgie

Chapter Fifteen: Devious

Later that night, Rachel walks into the living room and sees Christopher laying on the sofa. He waves at her and calls for her to join him.

"But it's nearly midnight and mommy's not home," she says. "I looked all over for her. Have you seen her? Did she call?"

Christopher only shakes his head. "She didn't." He sits up and pats the chair next to him. "Let's watch TV."

She shakes her head, then walks in the opposite direction. "No. I'm going to talk to Georgie." She walks into John's tool room and grabs the flashlight. She opens the basement door and beams the light around. "Georgie?" 

Georgie flips the box over and happily crawls toward her on all fours. Rachel takes a few steps back as if a dog is attempting to pounce on her. "Hey!" she pushes him away.

Georgie frowns, skeptical. "What's wrong, my friend?" he sits on the floor in front of her. "Is something troubling you?"

She just nods. "I can't find my mother anywhere."

Georgie smiles and puts a finger to his chin as if he was thinking. "Perhaps I could encounter her for you."

"Can you help me?" she demands.

"Yes!" He says, holding her with one hand. "Of course. Anything-" a cackle escapes from his throat in mid sentence. "For you, Rachel. We're still friends, right? We help each other, right?" he drags the last word in an ethereal tone.

"Right," Rachel nods. Georgie's hand slides up her arm slowly. He rests one hand on a muscle and stares her in the eyes.

"I just ask of you, this. May I have-" There's the cackling again. "a little drink?"

Rachel snatches her hand back angrily. "No, I don't want to feed you my blood. I'm tired of giving you my blood. That is not what friends do, Georgie."

Georgie recoils away from her. "But you want to keep me alive, right?" his voice is grim and very, very depressing. 

You know that feeling you get when you're wedged in a situation and if you make the wrong move you might regret it? That's how Rachel felt. She felt like running away, but at the same time she wanted her mother back. Rachel stuck out her arm, but Georgie didn't move.

"What?" Rachel asks.

"I'm afraid that won't be enough for me," he avers. "You see, I am very weak right now. My skin is shriveling and  I'm getting smaller again. I need more blood if you ever care to see your mother again."

Rachel stretches out her arm once more. "I have plenty."

Georgie gently pushes her arm downward. "Maybe you can fetch me a friend? A friend from school, perhaps?"

"But I don't have friends."

Georgie chuckles and grins at her. Sometimes, kids don't know a devious smile when they see one. She surely didn't understand the one on Georgie's face. "Christopher will take you to school tomorrow. Your first day! It'll be ever so exciting! You'll draw tons of delicious-I mean wonderful friends. When you do, bring one here."

"I don't want to bring them here."

"Why?" Georgie stands up now, almost towering the small girl. "You think they'll be afraid of me. Don't you like me, Rachel?" he demands. Rachel doesn't reply. Georgie's smile disappears. "Have fun at school tomorrow." he says before crawling into his box.