October 15th, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
Lux sat criss cross on plush carpet of the living room floor. The house had been weirdly quiet today since Vincent and August were out at some sort of 'appointment' for the day. She wasn't sure what it was about but she had a feeling it had something to do with the nightmare he had a few nights ago.
There was a picture book open in front of her but she wasn't paying it much attention as she mindlessly flicked through the colourful pages. Sebastian was a few rooms away in the kitchen, preparing a snack for the small girl. She could hear the rhythmic sound of the man moving around, pots clinking together and the fridge opening and closing. Whilst part of it was almost comforting and soothing (the sound of a home, a place meant to be comforting), another part of her mind wondered if it was enough noise to block out the sound of her simply slipping out the front door.
She flicks to another page, shaking the thoughts out of her head. She'd been slightly on edge ever since that little incident a few nights ago and she wasn't really sure why.
The door to the living room is pushed open further as Sebastian enters, carrying a plate of neatly arranged finger sandwiches and a small sippy cup full of juice.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said warmly, setting the plate on the low coffee table near her. "I thought you'd like a little snack. How's your book coming along?"
Lux glanced up briefly, her fingers still absently flicking the corner of a page. "It's okay," she replied softly, her voice barely above a mumble. She hesitated, eyes darting back to the colorful illustrations before her. The plan forming in her mind felt risky but urgent. Today, with only Sebastian here, might be her best chance.
Sebastian settled into the couch behind her. He tilted his head slightly, observing her with quiet affection. "You're awfully quiet today," he noted. "Anything on your mind?"
Lux shakes her head, picking up one of the little finger sandwiches and nibbling at the edge. Jam. One of her favourites.
Sebastian smiled at the sight of her eating, his eyes soft. She was such a neat little eater, her bites small and tentative. "Good girl," he murmured, leaning back into the couch. "If you want to talk about anything, I'm here."
Lux nods, continuing to nibble at the snack. "Where... where are papa and August today?" She asks quietly.
Sebastian's expression softened further at her question, though there was a flicker of caution in his gaze. He didn't want to overwhelm her with too much information. "Papa took August to see someone who helps with bad dreams," he explained gently. "Just something to help August feel a little better after the other night."
"Does he often have nightmares?"
Sebastian paused, considering his response carefully. He didn't want to frighten Lux or make her feel like she needed to shoulder any responsibility for August's well-being. "Sometimes," he said softly, leaning forward slightly. "August has been through a lot and sometimes the bad memories can reappear in the form of nightmares."
"What has he been through?" Lux presses, curiosity getting the better of her. In all truth, she had been wondering what August has gone through even since her last question about the topic had been completely shut down.
Sebastian's smile faded slightly, and he sat back, his gaze distant for a moment as if considering how best to answer. He didn't want to burden Lux with too much, but she was asking, and perhaps this was her way of seeking understanding.
"Well," Sebastian begins, trying to explain this in an age-appropriate way. "Some things happened which made him very very scared for a long time - ages before he came to live with papa and I."
Lux furrows her brows. "Like what?"
"Things that aren't easy to talk about," he said gently.
Lux frowns at his vague answers, getting slightly frustrated. It felt they all knew everything about her yet she hardly knew anything about them. "But what?" She repeats, wanting a more specific answer.
Sebastian sighed softly. He could see the curiosity burning in her eyes, but also the frustration that came from the feeling of being kept in the dark. It wasn't easy, explaining things in a way that wouldn't overwhelm her or push her too far. But he knew that if she was asking, it meant she needed to understand.
"Sometimes, things happen to people when they're young that make them scared or sad," he said carefully, his voice slow and measured. "August... he went through some nasty things. Things that made him feel like the world wasn't a safe place. That's why he has nightmares sometimes."
Lux's brows furrowed further, her mind whirring with unanswered questions. "What kind of bad things?"
"Well, Luxie, it's not easy to explain. August had to live in a place where he was hurt a lot before he came to us. And sometimes, when people go through things like that, it takes a long time for their minds to heal."
Lux clenched her jaw as a tangle of emotions tightened in her chest. She knew she should feel bad for Augustâreally badâbut something about Sebastian's evasiveness made her feel dismissed, like a little kid being patted on the head and sent away.
"That doesn't sound fair," she muttered, her fingers tightening around the edge of her plate. She wanted to press further, to ask why August's past seemed to dictate so much of their lives - her life! Maybe if August hadn't of been through so much in the first place she wouldn't be here.
She would be free. She wouldn't have to be playing this silly 'little sister' roll for the boy. And then her stomach dropped slightly as she came to a realisation. Had the kidnapped her just for Augusts entertainment? Just so that he would have someone to 'play' with when they couldn't be asked to watch over him. They didn't care about her, this was all for August. Surely. It had to be. Right?
Her thoughts spiralled silently and Sebastian's voice merely faded into the background. The realisation was gnawing at her insides.
They don't care about me. I'm just here for him. A distraction, a playmate... nothing more.
It was quiet in the house. Too quiet. And she finally realised just how badly she wanted to leave. She couldn't believe she didn't see this sooner. How could she be so stupid.
"Luxie? Are you okay?" Sebastian's voice pulled her back momentarily. He placed a hand on her shoulder gently, his thumb brushing in small, comforting circles. "You've gone quiet on me, sweetheart."
"I'm fine," she mumbled, barely meeting his gaze. "Just thinking."
Sebastian nodded slowly, not fully believing her but deciding to drop it. "Alright my love"
Lux reaches over to her plate, picking up the last little finger sandwich and taking a bite. She chewed slowly as her mind tried to come up with ideas on how she could get out. She wasn't sure when Vincent and August would be back but she knew it would be soon and that it would be much easier to escape with only 1 pair of eyes watching her and not 3. She also knew that the doors had an alarm system on and so did all the windows - she'd seen them the other day when the men took her and August on a little walk.
"I'm done" She murmurs, pushing her plate away from her on the coffee table.
"Good job, baby doll," he praises warmly. "Why don't you go wash your hands while I clean up here?"
Lux nodded, her small figure retreating to the bathroom. Washing her hand was a nice bit of independence and something the men had only recently started to let her do by herself. The moment the door closed, she exhaled deeply, her mind racing. This is it, she thought. If I'm going to do this, it has to be now. The idea had rooted firmly in her mindâshe wasn't going to let herself be used as a pawn in their game.
Her plan was simple. In fact, she didn't really have a plan at all. The alarms made this whole mission a lot harder but she wasn't about to let them hold her back from freedom. She would find a window and try her best to squeeze through without setting an alarm off - although she knew that was pretty much impossible. When the alarm did set off, she'd run and pray. She wasn't a very athletic girl but she knew she was fast and agile. Maybe she could climb up some tree or hide in a bush until it got dark. Then she'd make a proper break for it.
She glances around the bathroom, spotting a small vertical window about the toilet. It was pretty far up the wall and she'd have to stand on the toilet in order to teach it but it was worth a shot.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she moved to stand on the toilet. The porcelain felt cool and solid beneath her bear feet and her knees wobbled slightly as adrenaline rushed through her. This is it, this is it, this is it her mind chanted over and over again.
She steadied herself with a hand on the wall, craning her neck to get a better look at the small window above. It wasn't big, but it looked just wide enough for her to squeeze through if she could manage to open it.
Her fingers stretched up, barely brushing the edge of the window frame. She bit her lip, looking around the luxurious bathroom. She spotted the small wastebasket in the corner. Her heart raced as she stepped back down to grab it, placing it on the toilet seat to give herself a few more inches.
Standing on the unsteady makeshift stool, Lux carefully reached up again. This time, her fingers found purchase on the latch of the window. She fiddled with it, her hands trembling as she twisted and tugged. The window gave a small creak, and her breath hitched. She stays still for a few seconds, praying for silence, but just as she begins to think that she's in the clear, a loud wailing sound fills the house. She'd set the alarm off.
The noise sent a jolt of panic through her and she quickly put her leg up on the window sill, using it to pull herself up.
Lux scrambled against the window frame, her body trembling with exertion and fear as the blaring alarm echoed through the house. She squeezed her shoulders through the narrow opening, her thin frame just barely fitting.
Just over the blaring sound of the alarms she could hear Sebastian's voice calling out. "Lux? Luxie, where are you?" The urgency in his tone sent a pang of guilt through her, but she shoved it aside.
Her foot slipped on the slick edge of the windowsill, and she winced as her knee banged against the frame. She didn't stop. Pulling herself fully out of the window, she tumbled to the ground below, landing in a patch of damp grass with a thud. Pain shot up her side, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out.
Her heart pounded as she stumbled to her feet. The alarm was still blaring behind her and she could still somewhat hear Sebastian but the possibility of freedom pushed her forwards.
She darts across the lawn, her feet now wet from the damp grass as she runs down the side of the house and onto the driveway. The concrete slabs of the expansive driveway definitely wasn't very nice to run on barefooted but she didn't care.
She glanced back briefly, just long enough to see Sebastian emerge from the front door, his expression a mix of panic and heartbreak.
"Lux! Baby! Wait!" he shouted, his voice urgent but tinged with desperation.
She didn't stop. She couldn't. She turned her head forward and focused on the street beyond the tall gate of the private estate looming ahead of her. She had no idea how she was going to get past that but she didn't care right now.
Sebastian was closer now. She could hear his footsteps on the driveway, hear the urgency in his voice as he called for her again. "Lux! Please stop! You're going to hurt yourself!"
Lux was fast but Sebastian was faster.
She stumbles to the ground again, wincing as she feels her knees and the palms of her hands collide with the concrete. She pushes herself back up again, forcing herself to continue. Sebastian was close and she knew that he'd catch up soon if she stayed down for much longer.
Reaching the end of the driveway, she turns to the right, running over to the gate as fast as her little legs will carry her. But even as she approached, she realised her next obstacleâhigh, wrought iron, and secured with a coded lock. Her stomach dropped.
No time to think. She darted to the side, spotting a tree near the edge of the fence line. It wasn't large, but it was close enough to the fence that she might be able to climb it and leap over. Her muscles burned as she scrambled up the rough bark, her small hands clutching at branches as she hauled herself higher.
"Luxie, please!" he called, his voice breaking. "You don't have to run, baby. Just talk to me!"
Lux shuts her eyes tightly, as if trying to physically block him out.
She clings to branches, forcing herself up. Her palms were cut and bleeding from her earlier fall but she didn't care. She was so close.
"Lux Eloise!" Sebastian shouts, dropping the gentle and pleading tone from earlier.
Lux's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her full name. His voice was different now, colder, more authoritative. Her breath caught in her throat as she hesitated, perched halfway up the tree, her hands trembling from the strain of climbing. She could feel the bark digging into her palms, but she wasn't about to let it stop her now.
The tension in his body made her stomach twist, and she couldn't tell if it was fear of losing her or anger at her defiance. Either way, it sent a shiver through her. She couldn't stop now.
With one final, desperate push, Lux reached the top of the tree, gripping a thick branch with both hands. She took a deep breath, glanced down, and then swung her legs over the edge of the fence, readying herself to drop to the other side.
The alarm was still blaring in the distance, the shrill sound mingling with the pounding of her own heart. Her legs felt weak, like they might give out beneath her, but the only thing in her mind was the rush of freedomâthe weight of the world suddenly lifting from her shoulders.
Just as she was about to make the jump, she heard him again. "Lux come down this instant." He said, his voice calm yet held a silent tension - a threat. "Daddy's not mad at you, baby. I just don't want to see my little girl get hurt."
She didn't want to listen. She didn't have to listen. Not anymore. She lets go of the branch, dropping down onto the other side of the fence.
The fall is much harder than she expects. Landing heavily on the other side of the fence, her knees buckled under the weight of her small body. The ground beneath her was unforgiving, the dirt and gravel biting at her skin as she hit the earth with a jarring thud.
And for the first time, she sees Sebastian loose his calm and collected demeanour. A string of curse words leave his mouth as he punches in the code to the gate, walking straight through and over to Lux. He didn't think she'd actually do it.
Lux scrambled to her feet, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to push through the burning sensation in her limbs. She barely managed to stay upright, her legs unsteady from the fall.
But before she can make it more than a few meters, Sebastian has already caught up, lifting the young girl to his chest.
Lux gasped, her breath hitching as Sebastian's arms encircled her with a force she couldn't escape. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, but now it was from something more than the terror of running. It was the sharp realization that there was no running anymore. He had caught her, and now there was nowhere left to hide.
"Lux..." Sebastian's voice was softer now, but it didn't comfort her. "Baby are you hurt? Let daddy see."
She struggled in his grip, her small fists pounding weakly against his chest as he begins to check her over, his fingers tracing over her arms, looking for any more visible injuries aside from those on her palms and knees,
Sebastian held her tightly and tenderly, as if he hadn't just chased her down with a mix of fear and anger.
"Lux, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice soft and strained. "You're okay. You're okay, baby." His hand ran over her hair, pushing it back as though trying to calm her.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to control her breathing. She was so close, so close to getting away. But now that she was caught, the weight of the situation hit her harder than the fall.
She felt his hand, gentle yet insistent, on her back, coaxing her closer to him. "I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart," he murmured softly, his voice laced with that same false sweetness. "You just have to understand. This is for your own good."
She hated hearing that. She hated the way it made her feel small, like nothing more than a child in need of protection she didn't want or need.
"I just want to be free," she said, the words small and weak, tumbling out before she could stop them.
"You will be, Lux," he whispered, brushing her hair back from her face. "But not yet. You're not ready to be on your own. You're too small, too fragile. You need us. You need me."
"No," she whispers, her small hands balling into fists against his chest. "Y-you just want me f-for August's entertainment." She sniffles, all her pent up emotions finally releasing.
"Lux..." He whispered, his tone soft but firm. "I know you don't understand right now, but you're wrong. It's not just for August." His voice trailed off for a moment, as if he were choosing his next words carefully, then he continued. "We brought you here because we care about you. We want to protect you. You never had a proper childhood baby and you need somewhere safe where you can experience that."
"No," she whispered again, more forcefully this time, as if saying it louder would make it true. "I don't need this. I don't need you."
Sebastian's grip on her tightened for a brief moment before he gently cupped her face, his eyes searching hers. "Lux, I know you're scared. You've been through so much. But you have to trust me. Thisâthis is what's best for you."
Her heart raced, her mind spinning as she met his gaze. She wanted to believe him, but the gnawing doubt in her stomach told her otherwise. The feeling that they were all just keeping her here to soothe their own needsâespecially August'sâwas too strong to ignore. She felt like a puppet, and they were the ones pulling the strings.
"August isn't the only reason we wanted you here," Sebastian said softly, gently stroking her hair. "You're not just a playmate. You matter, Lux. You're part of our family now."
Her breath hitched. "I don't belong here," she said in a raw voice, her words trembling with emotion. "You took me. You t-trapped me. You're n-not my family."
The man doesn't respond immediately but Lux can feel as he begins to carry her back towards the house. He holds her tightly, his hand rubbing up and down her back in soothing motions.
"You're okay sweetheart, you're alright." He murmurs into her hair, gently pressing a few kisses to the top of her head. "We're just going to get you all nice cleaned up again, then we can have a little chat, hm?"
---
Pt. 2?