Page 31 of Albel

Excitement flows through my body as I look up at Daddy. “Really?”

He nods. “Yes, Little Pet. Tomorrow afternoon. You have to promise to be a good girl until then.”

“Promise!” I yell, bouncing up and down on his lap.

“She’s gone through something similar. I think you will be able to help each other,” Daddy gently explains.

I wrap my arms around his neck, squeezing tightly. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

THIRTEEN

I shake in Daddy’s arms as the alarm goes off again. Everything was going smoothly this morning. He gave me the same green fruit from yesterday with some formula, and it filled me up so much more than normal.

“You’re okay,” Daddy coos. “I know it was a scare, but nothing happened. The security guards have already looked and said it was just a malfunction with the system. They looked at the cameras and saw nothing.”

But even with that reassurance, I still feel so shaken up. What if it’s all that customer’s doing? No. I can’t think like that. Daddy doesn’t like it when I think about him.

“I know, I’ve got you,” Daddy gently says.

“I don’t feel safe,” I choke out. “I don’t feel like this is a safe place any longer.”

“What will help make it safe again?” Daddy questions. “Daddy is willing to do anything for you.”

I bury my face in his chest, taking a handful of his shirt and holding on tightly.

“Come on, Little Pet. Talk to me. What can I do to make it better for you?” Daddy asks once again.

“I don’t know,” I wail. “I don’t know how to get this better. The medicine seemed to be working this morning, but now it’s not. It just feels like I never took it, and I just want all of this to go away.”

Daddy bounces me in his arms, soothing me with comforting words as he tries to calm me down.

“I know, Little Pet. I know it’s frustrating, and you don’t know what will help, but we’re going to figure it out. We’re going to get through this. Everything is going to be all right in the end,” Daddy gently says. “I know you don’t really believe it right now, but I’m going to show you that I mean what I say.”

“Why does this keep happening?” I whimper. “Why is it only happening to us? Why am I feeling like this? Why? Just why!”

Anger courses through me. I don’t want to feel this way, but I can’t help it. Whoever is doing this is making me paranoid, always looking over my shoulder and wanting to cling to Daddy.

“Everything is going to be all right,” Daddy says. “I can’t tell you why this is happening, but I can tell you that we are trying our hardest to figure out how this is happening. I have Galar on it and some of his best men. They are going to figure this out,” Daddy states. “Trust us.”

Daddy rubs my back in silence for several seconds.

“How about we go visit Nora and Ronal?” Daddy suggests. “It’s almost time to head there. I think it will help keep everything off your mind. What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” I mumble.

“I think it will do you good. I think even if you sit on my lap the whole time and talk to her, you’re going to find yourself being a little happier. I think you’re going to find yourself enjoying the time with her and relaxing,” Daddy continues “Let’s get a shirt on you and head over. Do you need a diaper change?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Nora!” I scream when she comes into view.

“Ella!” A wide smile flashes across her face.

Daddy is still holding onto me tightly in his arms, and I wiggle, trying to be set free.

“Stop moving, I don’t want to drop you,” Daddy gently says, patting my bottom firmly.

“I want to go to her. Can you put me down?” I ask.