The Dead Children's Playground

by James Kaine

She deposited the comforter inside and started the machine before going back to check on Kylie. Mom had already gotten her out of the tub and was running the blow dryer over her hair, all while peppering her with questions about how she was feeling. Did her stomach hurt? Was she having trouble going to the bathroom? Did she have any other weird pains? She had to admit; she felt bad for Mom in that moment. Despite their issues, she had no doubt that she legitimately loved Kylie, and the pain and worry written all over her face had made Kayla sad.

She likes me? That was the takeaway from what Desiree said. She liked her too, but did she like her or did she like her? The last of the anger was gone, and she nodded as her own tears started. Desiree pulled her into a hug. Kayla let her arms hang low before she wrapped them around her as she cried. It was a release of everything that had built up since the day they found out that her sister had cancer. She had tried so hard to push it all down somewhere deep where the emotions couldn’t escape, where they couldn’t get out to hurt her, but that tank had been filled to the brim long ago. It finally burst.

She got up to leave when another question came to mind. “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.” “Thank you, Father.”

Kylie swallowed hard. She knew this monster was telling the truth. There was only one way she’d have a chance to save her classmates and every other child in Huntsville. Maybe if she went along, it would buy Kayla enough time to find what she needed to stop her. Maybe this was like the Avengers movie where Dr. Strange willingly let Thanos win temporarily because he knew it was the only way to stop him for good. She couldn’t let this thing kill anyone else. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway