Chapter 3

The call connected.

Dad's laugh came through, warm and doting.

"Ari, it's your birthday today. Are you having fun at the amusement park with your sister?"

"Daddy! Come get us, right now!"

I couldn't help it. I screamed it into the phone.

He paused for a second.

"It's still so early. Weren't you begging to play the whole day when you left this morning?"

"I don't care! I don't want to play anymore! I just want to go home!"

The tears spilled over before I could stop them.

Seeing me losing it, Molly took the phone, hesitating before she spoke.

"Ari's not herself today, Dad. She's acting really strange. There's someone in a toy mascot costume, and she got scared and won't stop crying. She keeps insisting we go home."

Dad laughed it off.

"That kid. She's always been timid. The mascot probably just spooked her."

"Be good, Ari. Listen to your sister. Daddy's got a few projects he still needs to finish. Once I'm done, I'll take you and Molly out for a big dinner tonight, okay?"

In my past life, he'd said the exact same thing.

But before he ever finished his work, Molly was gone.

After that, Mom cried every single day until she nearly went blind.

Dad's hair turned white overnight, and he'd sit in the living room chain-smoking.

Smoking and slapping himself, hard, across the face.

"If I'd just gone to get them sooner. Why did I work late? Why?"

Later, to look for Molly, they quit their jobs and sold the house.

I snatched the phone out of Molly's hand like something had come over me.

"Daddy, no! I don't want a big dinner! I want to go home, right now, this second!"

I was crying so hard I could barely get the words out.

Dad's voice lost all its ease in an instant.

"Ari, why are you crying?"

"Someone wants to take Molly."

"He had all these different-colored candies, and he wanted us to drink some water, and he keeps staring at Molly!"

"The one in the mascot costume?"

"Uh-huh."

The line went dead silent.

Molly pressed her lips together, still doubtful.

"Dad, could Ari just be reading too much into it?"

A moment later Dad's voice came back, calm now.

"Never mind that for now. This isn't something small. Listen to me. Right now, go find an adult in a work uniform, a staff member."

"Daddy's heading down to the car right now, and I'll call the police for you. Even if it's a misunderstanding and we've bothered the officers for nothing, I'll explain and apologize to them. And whatever you do, do not go anywhere with anyone! You hear me?"

"I hear you, Daddy, hurry!"

The tears came harder.

But before I could catch my breath.

The loudspeaker blared out, sharp and piercing.

"Attention, all guests. Due to a sudden malfunction in the main control system, and for your safety, the amusement park is closing immediately."

"Please follow staff instructions and exit quickly, safely, and in an orderly manner. Repeating: all guests, please exit the park at once..."

The park was clearing out.

No one was watching us anymore.

My mind went blank.

"Oh dear, little one. What awful timing."

Oswald pressed in close, his voice sickening.

"Everyone has to leave now. Why don't you two come with me? I'll take you somewhere cooler to wait for your daddy. How does that sound?"