The Dead Children's Playground

by James Kaine

Kayla Macklin craned her neck around to see the exit sign from her vantage point in the backseat of her father’s Tesla.

ew yuck

“Triana? Isn’t that the town where that crazy cheerleader butchered all those people?”

“Did I scare you, my fragile little sibling?” Now it was Kylie’s turn to offer Kayla a nasty stare.

this is so real

“Why don’t you love me, Mom?”

Ah fuck this

“My brother’s still single,” Ben said with a smirk. “Ew,” Desiree said. “Your brother’s ten years old.”

“Please!” the desperate specter shouted. “Please help me! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die again! It hurts!”

It was as if talking things out civilly and showing compassion for one another were crucial elements of a healthy relationship.

Wow never would have guessed

“Aren’t you supposed to give me an assignment of prayers or something? Like ten Hail Marys and ten Our Fathers?” “I’ll put it on your tab. I wish you well, Kayla.”

“Either she’s the demon from that old movie Drag Me to Hell,

I love that movie

“You think she seduced him into helping her out? Like she was banging him or something?” “I don’t think so. But there’re other ways to seduce someone besides sex.” “No good ones,” Desiree scoffed.

Lmao potential demon on the loose and Desiree is still feral

“Oh, Kylie,” she said. “You’re so much more than regular. A human could live a hundred years and not meet anyone like you.”

The light shone on Jasmine sitting in Eunice’s chair, which had been fully restored somehow. She rocked back and forth with her arms draped over the rests as she surveyed Kayla with eyes that weren’t her own. “Jasmine?” Kayla asked. “Oh, I’m just borrowing my great-granddaughter for a spell. It’s easier to do with kin.”

Yea nbd I borrow my kin all the time

When they strung him up from the tree, I did the only thing I could. I got into his head and brought him back to the place we used to play. I let him sit by the creek and be at peace while the life drained out his body as he hung from that noose.”

Ow why am I crying

Kids are so fucking weak. Most of them, that is.”

“You ain’t the only one with powers, you foul bitch!”

“You know it’s time to go now, though, right?” The man shut his eyes tight, fighting to keep from breaking down as he nodded his acknowledgment. “But you gon’ be somewhere where you’ll always have friends. You ain’t never gon’ be alone again.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I thought we beat it. But I guess that thing was in you long enough to take whatever it was that let you beat the cancer the first time. Even when they said it was back, I thought you’d beat it again.” She turned to the empty swing next to her. “I’m so sorry you died, Kylie.”

R u kidding? Rude

As the afternoon sun shone down on the Dead Children’s Playground, the Macklin sisters played together one last time.