Fairy Tale

Chapter 12: Autumn Wood

My heart leaped into my throat

They can't be home already....

My heart was pounding; I tried to control it but I couldn't. Luna gripped my shoulder and Dot grabbed a hold of my hand. Maya held a scared expression on her face and leaned up against me.

Why did I end up being the oldest...?

I took a deep breath. "It's now or never."

"You're going to go in?" asked Luna, surprised.

"I have to."

"No you don't, Autumn."

"I do."

"Autumn," she whispered and looked into my eyes. "lets run away."

I shook my head. "We can't."

"Why not?"

"They'll catch us. Plus, how would we get food? There's so many things that could happen. I'm not going to take that chance."

She had a pained expression on her face. She hugged me. Luna hadn't hugged me in forever. At first I was surprised, but then grateful.

She gave me the courage to go on.

I squeezed her hand and slowly walked up to the front door, hand-and-hand with Maya and Dot, Luna close behind me.

I cautiously opened the door and walked inside. "Go to your rooms," I whispered to the girls intently. I didn't want them getting hurt. "I'll take care of them." I looked up at Luna. "Watch out for them. Don't let Mother and Father hurt them."

She nodded.

I knew I was in for an extra special beating for this stunt.

I nervously walked into the kitchen, twisting my sweating fingers. I found Mom and Dad sitting at the table.

I froze. And they smiled.

But it wasn't a sinister smile.

It was a...kind smile.

I looked at them, confused. What was going on?

Mom had hair down which was unusual for her; she normally had it up in a but.

What happened when they were away?

"Hello sweetie." My father gave me a handsome smile. I've never met this side of them before.

I didn't know they could be nice.

Or even remotely human.

Weird.

"Where were you? We were worried."

"I-," I didn't want to explain. They would surely punish me for brining my siblings to church.

They hugged me.

You heard right. They got up and hugged me.

They had never hugged me before.

I didn't know what to think.

"You must be starving. How 'bout some ice cream?"

I nodded.

"Where are your sisters?" asked my father with a concerned expression.

"I-In the bedroom," I stammered.

Something was going on.

"Well go get 'em. We're having ice cream for dinner!"

I was dumbfound. Ice cream? I had only had ice cream once in my life (thanks to Mary Ruth).

"Y-yeah, ok."

I walked into the bedroom and found my sisters crowded into the bed.

"Autumn!" Dot and Maya ran up and hugged me, and Luna jumped out of bed.

"Are you okay?" asked Luna, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We're having...ice cream for dinner," I said uncertainly.

"Ice cream...?" asked Luna doubtfully.

"Ice cream?!" Maya made a weird face.

"Ice cream!" Dot broke out into a grin.

"But...?" Luna looked confused.

"I don't know what's gotten into them, but...apparently we're having ice cream for dinner," I said.

Luna raised an eyebrow. Our parents never let us have ice cream, but for dinner? In our dreams.

I shrugged.

Luna shrugged.

We walked into the kitchen.

Mom had set out six big bowls of ice cream; one for each of us.

I sat down at the table.

Should I eat it?

Dot dug in immediately.

Maybe it's poisoned...

Maya took a bite and smiled.

Maybe they're trying to kill us all instead of just me.

Luna took an uncertain bite.

Well they're not dead...

My siblings all ate gratefully.

So I guess it'd be okay if I had some...

I took a bite...

and...

Hey.

It was good.

I took another bite.

and...

that one was better!

I started eating.

Was this happening?

Maybe.

Maybe my parents realized all the pain they've put me through.

Maybe they're going to become the parents I've dreamed about.

Maybe they're changing.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Or maybe they were just gaining our trust so they could do something truly evil.

Maybe...