Prodigal Son
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Kelly Blaisdell shivered in the dark of her locked prison cell. Fear and hunger drove her mind to wandering, bringing her close to despair. Hunger gnawed at her belly. She tried to remember when she last ate. She knew it was before she had gone to see Peter, but could not remember what day it was, the darkness knowing no passage of time.
Kelly hugged her body, trying to keep warm, but it was no use. Without her shirt, she continued to shiver. Her thoughts drifted in and out of consciousness until she could no longer stay awake. At least in dreams she could escape her predicament, at least for a little while. As she dreamed Kelly's thoughts drifted to a far happier time.
**
"Wake up Kelly," a new and yet familiar voice gently entered her mind. "Come on it's Christmas. You don't want to miss opening your presents."
"Go away, Peter," Kelly grumpily swatted at her new foster brother of six months.
"Stayed up hoping you'd see Santa Claus?"
"Yeah, I stayed up until after one, and he never showed," Kelly pouted, disappointedly.
"You know Santa doesn't work that way," Peter said. "Besides, I don't believe in Santa. He's not a real person."
"Then how is it that at Christmas there are a lot more presents under that tree than there are the night before. Just because you didn't get what you asked for doesn't mean he's not real."
"What do you know what I asked for," Peter countered. "Anyway, no make believe fat guy in a red suit can give me back what I want."
Seeing the sudden hurt in Peter's eyes softened Kelly's heart, “I’m sorry Peter. I didn't mean it. Let's not fight on Christmas. I promise I won't talk about you losing your Daddy if you won't talk about not believing in Santa Claus."
"It's a deal."
Kelly's dreams remained pleasant enough, but soon took a darker turn.
"Why do you have to go?"
"You know I can't stay," Paul Blaisdell tried to console his youngest child.
"Just tell me why. Stop treating me like I'm six years old, Dad. I have a right to know. I'm an adult."
"I need you to look after your mother while I'm away."
"Does this have to do with the fact that you were nearly framed for murder?" Kelly questioned. The silence that fell between them grew every second. "You have always said that the family will be together, that nothing would drive us apart, so long as we were there for each other. With you going away, what's to stop us from drifting apart?"
"Kelly, I'm doing this to keep my family together. If I stay there are those who would use you, Carolyn, your mother, and even Peter against me. I can't let that happen."
Kelly stared at her father long and hard. "I don't care. All I care about is you. I don't want you to go."
"I know sweetie, but I will be back, I promise."
But that promise had yet to be kept. Kelly woke up to the sound of her own weeping. Deep racking sobs filled her as the thoughts of her father, Paul Blaisdell, still echoed in her mind.
"Oh daddy, I miss you. Please, help me. I need you."
"Your father can't help you, little girl. No one can," a sinister voice echoed in the darkness leaving Kelly once again chilled to the bone from more than just the cold.
Continues with Part 18
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2006.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
Synopsis / Previous Part / Next Part
Back to Temple Tales / Contact
Alisa