COMPETITION PROMPT
Write a story about a babysitter who learns a dangerous secret about the family they work for.
I Got This. . . Maybe
Jumping up from the couch, I hurried myself upstairs with the baby monitor flashing in my hands.I pushed through the door not a second later and picked her up in one fluid motion. I swaddled the baby in a blanket, brushed back her curly blonde sprouts, and bounced her lightly, her sobs hiccuping with every bounce.
"Shh, little Paisley," I tried to coo, but my beautiful lullaby wasn't up to par. I stared awkwardly at her scrunched up face and sighed, heading back to the couch. "Why the hell are you crying? Hush, you little alien baby. Quiet down."
It was pointless. She was wriggling heavily in my arms, and a small headache began to brew. I plopped down on the couch, rocked her back and forth, and tried to sing more lullabies. Then, I decided to go through the mental list that I remembered in the exact order.
"You weren't hungry. I just fed you. Your diaper was dry. God knew you were just asleep."
It was then that I needed to burp her again. I swatted at her back a few times and she started to simmer down by the second. I blew out a long breath at the silence that followed. I rocked her a couple of times until her eyes vanished beneath her lids, I placed her on the couch and got up.
"Jesus. I needed a break," I murmured as I searched through the cabinets of the kitchen. I was looking for something...alcohol, pills, or just about anything that would give away their 'perfect family' act. I didn't trust Annabel and George Gish about their rounded personality. It was all a front to me.
When I found nothing in the kitchen, I remembered some stairs that led down to the basement. I nearly choked on my stupidity. All the useless thoughts that ran through my mind just for this obvious discovery. I merely cackled as I twirled towards the flight of steps.
"Let's see what you liars are hiding," I grinned broadly. "The juice better be worth the squeeze...Nobody likes a bad lemon."
A loud click of the lock echoed into the small space, and I entered with every intention of being nosy. Immediately, my eyes bugged out at the wine cellar that presented itself before me.
It was a cramped room, to say the least, but tens of hundred colors of fancy wine bottles glistened in my eye. A small crafted table sat awkwardly in the middle of the space, and a pile of magazines littered the surface. Curious, I went in to further investigate. Swiping the first one from the top, I almost choked in surprise.
"Mr. Gish," a devilish grin on my face. "What would Annabel think of you."
I snapped a few pictures of the women dressed in clad bikinis and sent both of them a text with the pictures.
“I guess the inspiration comes from somewhere?”
As soon as the text message was sent, a satisfied smirk on my face, I heard a loud crash and thought of the baby. I ran out of the basement and up the stairs. "I'm coming Paisley...Paisley Gish...Her name sounded more like a pastry dish."
The minute I bolted into the living room, she was gone, and the front door was busted open. That's when I smirked, tossed my phone, and ran outside. I hopped into a black car idling in front of the house and sped off.
Just wait until they behold their ransacked house...It's a good thing I have buddies who specialize in makeup and fake IDs. They won't ever see Lucia de la Cambria, a certified babysitter and childcare clientele, again...if that's even my real name.