While Milla ate her breakfast Jonathan remained hyper focused on the screenshot. He found himself going down the rabbit hole. Or at least trying to. The internet always seemed to be the greatest source of information. Things the schools are too afraid to teach their students are just a few clicks away. Just need to know how to ask the right questions. But today, the internet had failed Jonathan. Today the internet took him on a merry-go-round of false information and speculation.
Many articles about the Gray family always prefaced their writings with 'The Gray family were a private bunch.'
"Daddy are you okay?" Milla asked. She had finished her food and had thrown her plate in the sink. Her hands were sticky from the syrupy pancakes.
"Daddy's trying to find something and it's very hard." He said trying not to sound so annoyed. His hands shook like he had just downed five cups of coffee. He's working on only a few hours of sleep and a startling high levels of stress and anxiety. All for the sake of getting justice for his friend.
Jonathan caught the confused look on his daughter's face. She's still so young, she doesn't yet understand the weight that has been put on his shoulders. Nor does she get the fear he has poking and prodding at him.
"Hey, do you want to go on an adventure to day." Milla lit up. Nodding so excitedly her barrettes clacked against each other.
Jonathan got them both ready and called an uber to take them both into town. Jonathan came across a park that was already occupied with several parents and their children. Milla was eager to play with the the other little boys and girls she nearly took off. Jonathan's grip on her was firm.
"Alright, before I let you play what are the rules?"
"Um..." Milla tried to think, though her eyes kept darting over to the other children.
"Dont..." Milla's attention snapped back to Jonathan.
"Wander off. And..."
"Talk...."
"To strangers."
"Good, stay where I can see you."
"Okay!" Milla was off. Jonathan sat at one of the benches, in clear view of Milla. He pulled out his phone and started recording a video to send to June. Normally, he wouldn't find himself doing this. he'd always thought that if he'd won custody battle, he'd stoop to June's level and treat her like she treated him.
He's a changed man now. Unable to put his finger on what that was, a vision, a really bad nightmare... whatever it may be, it was enough for him to realize that he still loves her.
Jonathan sent the video or Milla playing tag with the other kids to June.
-Aww. Where is that at?
-Little Cove Children's Park
June sent a picture. It was of the Little Cove sign welcoming her into the town. Jonathan called.
"You're in town?"
"Yeah. I told you I was coming when I said it was okay for Milla to visit you." There was a short pause. "Jonathan... are you good?" Jonathan rubbed his hand over his coily hair with a sigh.
"No, No I'm not. I don't know what's happening to me. Nothing is making since, June. I... I thought you died. I mean I was at your funeral..." Jonathan eyes watch Milla, she held her hand like a gun and was shooting a boy who collapsed dramatically, making her burst into giggles. "I feel like I'm losing myself, June." Someone's hands rested on Jonathan's shoulder. He turned to see June, with the phone still to her ear. He'd never been so happy to see her.
"Mommy!" Milla came running- stopping abruptly looking up at June as if trying to see her face through the shadows. June knelt down with her arms outstretched.
"What's wrong, baby. Don't you want to give your mommy a hug?" Milla took a cautious step back.
"You're my mommy." Jonathan looked back at June, he couldn't see what Milla could, but... he could feel it. June stood wiping the dirt from her knees. She glanced Jonathan's way with a smile.
"Smart kid." June snapped her fingers and the little boys and girls Milla was just playing with surrounded her in seconds. They lifted her and began carrying her away.
"Hey!" Jonathan reached for Milla's outstretched arm. The children looked back at him, their faces blurry where eyes and mouths once were, were black holes leading into nothingness. They hissed and growled at him. However Jonathan wasn't deterred from them. They swiped and clawed at his wrists and ankles. Jonathan reached for his service weapon aiming at one of the children.
"Jonathan stop!" Brenda's voice shook him. His gun knocked from his hands. Jonathan blinked, the little monsters were innocent children again. Tears rolling down their cheeks, trembling in the arms of their parents shielding them from him. Milla wasn't amongst them.
"Milla?" Called Jonathan. "Milla where are you sweetie?!" Brenda was trying to get his attention, one of the parents have called the police. Their sirens wailing in the distance, Brenda turned Jonathan to her and slapped him so hard her nails grazed his skin.
"Snap out of it! Milla's not here!" Jonathan stared down on her dazed.
"What? No... no... she was just here. No that's not right." Brenda sat Jonathan down, the police were close.
"Jonathan, Milla couldn't come. June... she passed. Milla's with June's sister. I told you." Brenda searched Jonathan's face in search of some ailment, something that can be pinned down by just a look. But the only thing she could see was a man who was quickly losing his mind.
Jonathan blinked slowly. His mind couldn't process what was being said to him. The world was hazy, voices were muffled. Jonathan was sinking, leaving his sanity at the surface. Brenda backed away from him as the police approached. They threw him on the ground and cuffed him. Everything happening felt surreal. An out of body experience.
The ride to the station was long and fuzzy/ The two police officers were a chatty bunch, but nothing they were saying could stick. Even if he tried to squint and listen, nothing was registering. The questioning, the bars closing before him. All a strange, terrible dream. "What's happening?" His voice thin and weak, he sat on the bed staring at his dry, shaking hands. His nails were filthy and over grown. There was a mirror in the little cell, Jonathan got a good look at himself.
The man staring back at him was a sickly stranger. It had taken him so long to regain his sanity. So long to keep afloat. And now... he fell of the wagon and was watching it go on leaving him in the dust. So quickly, everything one can work for slips away.
Jonathan sank down onto the rough cot, dropping his head into his hands.
"Having a rough time, buddy." Jonathan assumed it was a policeman being sarcastic, when he lifted his head there stood Thomas on the other side of the bars. A smug look on his face. Jonathan blinked and rubbed his eyes certain this was yet another trick of his mind, but the vision never faded away.
"Aw fuck. What now?!" groaned Jonathan. He looked to see if Thomas was still standing there, and when he was; Jonathan turned over and closed his eyes. The incessant chitter chatter of Thomas sent sharp pains through Jonathan's brain, forcing him to cup his ears. And damn near beg to never wake again.