Princess

Lindsey was already mad at Kirk. He was supposed to call her about dinner earlier, and as usual, blew her off. She had a feeling that he in the house lost in that damned Halo ODST game again. Ever since he had bought that game, Kirk had been playing it nonstop. There was always just one more level, just one more save point to go. She had really had enough and tonight the XBOX 360 disc was either going into the trash or find itself in several shards. Lindsey thought about it and decided on both choices.

She just didn’t understand why he had to be like that. Lindsey always made time for him and his friends and their interests. It wasn’t as if she didn’t take an interest in his job or family. Just last week she had stopped by to visit Kirk’s mother to take over some brownies on one of her rare night’s off.

Juggling baking brownies between two jobs and having a life with Kirk and having to deal with his friends over all of the time was difficult enough. Trying to manage to get some time with her best friend to loosen up as well as planning the wedding that was in eight months was taking its toll, and now to be blown off again for that video game? She was going to let Kirk have it. It was just inexcusable.

The plan was to have dinner and catch the revival of Shirley Temple’s The Little Princess at the Jackson. Lindsey was still fuming when she slammed on the brake to stop in front of the house. Her Acura lurched on the rocks and dirt that made up the driveway. Kirk’s dilapidated Gallant was already parked, of course. Lindsey threw open the door and killed the engine. She had a thought to slam on the horn just to give Kirk a warning, but a smile crossed her face as she thought of the ecstasy she would feel by ripping the disc out of the console and smashing it against the wall.

She placed her palm on the hood of the red Gallant as she passed it to the front door. It only had the residual warmth that came from being parked in the sunshine. He hadn’t even gone to work!

“Fucker.” Lindsey blew out the word as she clenched her jaw.

Putting the key into the lock of the deadbolt, Lindsey didn’t feel the familiar resistance of the tumblers against her key. The door was unlocked. She could hear the sounds of something loud coming from the upstairs media room. Lindsey threw down her purse and began to stomp up the stairs.

The sounds were loud, but it wasn’t that stupid ODST game. They were words, dialogue.

“I insist that every room be searched.”

“Sara. Sara.”

“Daddy?”

The lines jogged harshly in Lindsey’s memory. They were from The Little Princess. Why would Kirk be watching that movie here when they were supposed to be going to the Jackson to be watching it on the big screen? She kicked the door open with her foot to startle Kirk. The volume was so loud that he couldn’t have possibly heard her coming into the house or even up the stairs.

“Kirk, what the…” Lindsey stopped. The TV and XBOX were off. Kirk was sitting in his NEO Boom chair staring at the black screen with a blank look on his face.

“Daddy? Oh, daddy. I missed you! I found you! I found you! They said you were dead, but I know you weren't. I knew you'd come back. Oh, daddy. Hold me. Hold me close. You won't ever go away again, will you? Will you, Daddy? What's the matter, Daddy? Why don't you talk to me?”

The voice was so loud. Lindsey could almost feel Shirley Temple’s high pitched voice reverberating in her head.

“Sara,” Kirk whispered, slack jawed and bleary-eyed.

“Don't you know me, daddy? I'm Sara. I'm Sara.”

The reverberations of the tiny voice assaulted Lindsey again as she walked into the room and around Kirk and his video game chair. Lindsey stopped when she saw the doll. The antique porcelain-faced doll was sitting in Kirk’s lap.

“Sara. Where is my daughter?” Kirk moaned.

“Kirk, what the hell is going on here?” Lindsey screamed at his near comatose form. He didn’t respond. His look was centered on the dead television.

“I don't believe it. I don't. I don't. My daddy has to go away but he'll return most any day. Any moment I may see my daddy coming back to me.” The doll turned its head and stared at Lindsey, it’s blank gaze intense. “And now you’ve ruined the ending. We shall have to start over!”

Lindsey’s head was spinning. The small eyes tore through her. She couldn’t move or run away. Lindsey couldn’t take her eyes off of the small thing that was being held by her fiancee. The tiny voice echoing loudly in her head, “We shall have to start over!” The small chuckles that came from the doll boomed in Lindsey’s mind.

“Yes, we shall have to start over,” Lindsey said knowing that she couldn’t resist the pull of the demonic doll reaching for Kirk’s hand.

“Why are they sending so many soldiers, Daddy, if it's only gonna be a little war?” the doll’s voice echoed.