Chloe and Mackie were escorted back to Vernon's car. They sat in the back seat, and Mackie hugged her Mommy tight and buried her face in Mommy's chest.
Chloe slowly released her arm around Mackie and said, "We're safe now in your Uncle's car. You can release me now, dear."
"Don't want to…" Mackie said. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I thought I was brave enough to protect you. But I was so scared when that scary old lady looked at us. I'm also scared when those big men come out, they are like zombies…."
Chloe sighed.
She gently patted the back of her daughter's head, lamenting the trauma Mackie must've felt.
First, she had to face the death of her Gran, and then she got ambushed by Maria and her henchmen. She had to see and hear so many gruesome things this morning, and Chloe could only blame herself for being incompetent.
'I'm so sorry, Dear. It's all my fault,' Chloe said with a shaky voice. 'I shouldn't have brought you here.'
