Chapter Text
August 22nd, 2009
Ellie awoke to the sound of muffled thuds. She held her breath and focused on the noises coming from down the hall. Something was wrong, but what? It felt different from when she would wake to the sound of the door creaking open, Mr. Parker walking in, his hands everywhere-
No, this was different. Mr. and Mrs. Moore (or Alan and Nancy, as they insisted she call them) wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her. They promised. But now, in the dark of the night, she wasn’t so sure.
And then- everything was silent. Crisp, sure footsteps grew louder. Ellie muffled a whimper, tumbling onto the floor of her bedroom and worming her way under her bed. She clutched Brownie, her stuffed dog, to her chest.
Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt-
The door creaked open.
“Ellie…” a southern drawl called out, almost song-like. “I have a friendy-wend for you to meet.”
As he spoke, Ellie’s fears began to drip away. This was a nice person; they wouldn’t hurt her! To think she had ever been scared…
Ellie shook her head. She wanted to meet the friendy-wend.
Uncle Wiley smiled, watching a little girl in Sesame Street pajamas crawl out from under the bed, clutching a stuffed dog. He knelt down in front of her and smiled.
“Now, now, Ellie, you don’t need that,” he said, taking the dog and setting it on the floor next to them.
“I have a better one for you.”
Ellie watched the man out a green stuffed toy from behind his back. Taking it into her arms, she giggled as the toy said, “We’re going to be bestest buddy-wuds.”