Page 63 of Two Daddies for Little Jenna

"Maybe eat just a scoop so they won't even notice the difference," I heard a naughty voice in my head saying.

Unsurprisingly, the naughty voice in my head was always in Michael's voice. I imagined it dressed in diapers, with little horns on its head and a spear in hand.

I fixed up a scoop on my plate and topped it with a bunch of strawberry syrup before placing it between two waffles. Placing the plate on the table, I switched the TV on.

I was always terrified of being alone. Being locked up in the basement meant having nothing to do for weeks on end. But I knew my Daddies would return at the end of the day, and I'd be back in their loving arms in no time.

When I saw the film recommendation pop up asScream, I trembled with excitement. I wasn't allowed to watch horror films, which made it all the more exciting. It was one of my favorite horror films of all time, probably because it was one of the first films I'd ever seen. It was what made me fall in love with films.

I pressed play and giggled as the film started. I was home alone like the character in the film. It would be funny if I got a call now from a killer just like in the film.

Suddenly the phone rang loudly behind me and I jumped in my seat, my eyes widening in horror. I had used my psychic abilities to will the phone into ringing. There was no other explanation.

"Hello?" I said when I answered the phone and paused the film.

"Who's there?" I asked again when there was nothing but silence on the other end.

"Hello, Jenna," I heard on the other end in a strange voice. "What's your favorite scary movie?"

"Michael, you naughty boy," I scolded. "What do you think you're doing? You used the software your Daddy created to change your voice, didn't you? You'll get in trouble again, Michael. I bet your bottom's still sore from our previous shenanigans. Your Daddy warned you not to use the software as it's against client policy."

"Answer the question."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I'll play your little game, but you're deleting that software from your phone the moment you hang up. It'sBabadook, probably because it's so deep and meaningful."

It was in factScream, but I wanted to sound like an intellectual.

"That's a lie. It'sScream."

"Wait, how do you know that, Michael? I haven't told anyone before."

"Who's Michael?"

Blood froze in my veins. Was it someone prank calling me? But how could anyone know my favorite film, unless they'd gone through my browsing history years ago. No, it wasn't possible. That would mean the caller was someone who knew me back in the cult.

"Lucky guess much? I'm hanging up if you won't reveal who you are."

"You know who I am. I am your destiny, and I've come to deliver justice for your crimes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what's going to happen now, don't you? You've seen the film a dozen times."

I began to panic. Was the caller in my house?

"I don't know."

"I think you do." There was some heavy breathing followed by a moment of silence. "You'll get what you deserve for your crimes. The only important rule of the cult was to protect it at all costs. It was taught to every single one of us. You single-handedly destroyed the cult when you sent the founder, Otis, to prison. It led to more arrests and the cult came to an end."

"You've seen one too many scary movies," I yelled into the phone. "You're just a coward who's seen me on TV, now trying to recreate a scene from a film. Do you know how crazy you are for prank-calling me? How did you get this number?"

"This isn't a prank. I can see you. You're wearing a pink top and a blue skirt."

I began hyperventilating. This wasn't happening, not the day my Daddies left me alone. Unless, he'd been waiting for me to be alone for days before calling me now like a psychopath. Daddy Clark's fears hadn't been unfounded after all. He'd been peeking through windows and staring at cars that seemed to be suspicious. I thought he was being paranoid, but little had I known I should've been just as paranoid.

"Love is an important part of life. I understand that, which is why I'll let your lovers live, but only if you confess to your crime of ending the cult and accept your punishment. Your lovers did nothing wrong. They don't deserve to die a brutal death. Now, guess where I am in the house."

I couldn't listen to him anymore. I was so scared my heart seemed ready to explode out of my chest. I'd been trying so hard to forget my past, but this stranger was suggesting that that chapter of my life wasn't behind me yet. My mind refused to entertain the possibility.