Page 137 of 12 Months of Mayhem

“Okay,” she whispers. “Maybe...maybe you’re right. We should go.”

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived as I remember our current situation. “The kids,” I say, glancing at the funhouse entrance. “We can’t leave them here.”

As if on cue, we hear excited shrieks and laughter from inside the funhouse. Under normal circumstances, the sound would warm my heart. Now, it just adds to my growing anxiety.

“I’ll go get them,” I say, already moving towards the entrance. I duck into the funhouse, my heart pounding in my chest. The narrow corridors are a maze of distorted mirrors and flashing lights, disorienting me as I push through. Kids’ laughter echoes off the walls, but none of the voices belong to Beaux or Birdie. With each step, my panic grows.

I emerge from the exit, blinking in the harsh light of the street. A bored-looking teenager in a clown costume is manning the exit, lazily collecting tickets.

“Hey,” I call out. “Did you see two kids come out of here? A boy and a girl, about this tall?” I hold my hand out to indicate their heights.

The kid looks at me, his painted-on smile a stark contrast to his disinterested eyes. “Lots of kids come through here, man.”

“Please,” I say. “The girl was in a pink princess dress, and the boy is dressed as a grim reaper.”

Something in my tone must get through to him because he furrows his brow, thinking. “Oh yeah,” he says after a moment. “I remember them. Cute kids.”

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived.

“They left a few minutes ago,” the kid continues, jerking his thumb towards the crowded street. “With some lady. Blonde, I think.”

The world tilts sideways. My vision narrows, and for a moment, all I can hear is the pounding of my own heart. Blonde. Some blonde lady took my kids. Meredith. It has to be her.

“Which way did they go?” I demand, grabbing the kid’s shoulders. He flinches eyes wide with sudden fear.

“I-I don’t know, man! They just walked off into the crowd!”

I release him, spinning around to scan the sea of costumed revelers. The parade is still in full swing, the streets packed with people. Finding two small children in this chaos seems impossible.

“Beaux! Birdie!” I shout. Panic claws at my throat as I push through the crowd, searching desperately for any sign of my children or Meredith.

Suddenly, I remember Rem. Shit. I left her alone, in pain. I turn back towards where I last saw her, only to find she’s no longer there. My heart races even faster. Where is she? Did she go after the kids? Or did something worse happen?

I’m about to charge back into the crowd when I hear a familiar voice calling my name. I whirl around to see Rem pushing her way towards me, her face pale but determined.

“Rex! What’s going on? Where are the kids?”

I grab Rem’s arms, steadying her as another contraction hits. Her face contorts in pain, but her eyes are locked on mine. The world around us seems to fade away as I struggle to find the words.

“They’re gone,” I finally manage to choke out. “The kids...they’re gone.”

Chapter Five

Remy

“Gone? What the fuck do you mean they’re gone? No,” I whisper. “No, Rex, they can’t be gone. They were just here. They were just...”

My words trail off as another contraction grips me. I double over, clutching at my swollen belly, a low moan escaping my lips.

The pain subsides, and I straighten up, my eyes wild as I scan the crowded street. But I can’t see them. I can’t see my babies.

“Rex,” I gasp, gripping his arm so tight my knuckles turn white. “You have to find them. Beaux and Birdie were right here. Right fucking here!”

My voice rises to a shriek, drawing curious glances from nearby revelers. Rex’s face is a mask of conflicting emotions. “I can’t leave you like this,” he says, his deep voice strained.

“Please,” I beg when I can speak again. “Please, Rex. Find them.”

I see the moment he makes his decision, his jaw clenching as he nods. But before he can move, I catch a flash of familiar leather cutting through the crowd. Cheyenne, her Voodoo City Queens cut, a beacon in the chaos pushes her way towards us.

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