Startled, you quickly darted away from the door and back toward the main room. Scanning the area, it took a few seconds before you spotted Michael holding Evan above his head, the child was crying and screaming. you grabbed onto Michael's shirt, pulling him aside before taking Evan from his arms.
"What the hell are you doing?!" you snapped, holding the child protectively against you.
"The little brat was hiding behind the stage!" he retorted.
"Okay?! And that gives you the right to pick him up and swing him around like a kite?!" you yelled at him.
Michael had no response, only rolling his eyes and scoffing before making his way towards the exit. You tried to get his attention, shouting,
"Hey! Where the hell do you think you're going?!" But he simply ignored you, walking out and letting the doors slam shut behind him.
You knew it was your responsibility to watch him, but you couldn't be bothered, especially since you still needed to find Elizabeth.
"Hey, are you okay?" you asked Evan, looking down at him while continuing to hold him.
He nodded and you forced a smile back at him, trying to be comforting. You quickly walked around the room in search of Elizabeth, looking for any sign of her...
You went back down the hallway that you were in before but now that you had Evan on your hip, it felt less empty. Even if he was just a child and couldn't protect you in any way, it was still a comfort.
You turn into the kitchen. The fluorescent lights mixed with the smell of strong air fresheners, trying to mask the grease smell were now making you ill. You push through and walk further to see your sister sitting on the counter, her long hair blowing in the small table fan that they had on the counter. You quickly walk over to her,
"Have you seen Lizzie?"
She rolls her eyes and scoffs,
"No 'hello', 'how are you', 'I'm sorry I left you in this gross kitchen for 2 hours with somebody you just met,'?" She replies with a scowl.
"I don't have time for your nonsense right now—" you scoff, Evan started to shift on your hip from your voice getting louder so you lowered your voice. "Have you seen her?"
She rolled her eyes again and gestured over to Rose who was wiping down a counter. She had put her hair in a tight ponytail and she was wearing a stained apron. You walk up behind her,
"Hey—"
She jumps a little but calms down once she realizes it's just you.
"Oh, hey y/n, I'm just cleaning up, putting things away," she replies, trying to get over her startle.
"Oh okay, have you seen Elizabeth?" You ask, completely forgetting to thank her for watching your sister.
"Hm..." she holds back a smile, "nope, haven't seen her," she leans over the counter, putting her head in her hands. You give her a confused expression and she gestures over to a giggling box by the door that you had just walked in from, you mentally berate yourself for not noticing sooner. You thank Rose before moving towards the box with Evan on your hip. The laughter gets louder as you open the crate,
"Boo!" She yells, popping up like a Jack in the box.
You stumble backward, trying not to wake the sleeping child in your arms.
"How long have you been in there?" You smile, helping her out with your free hand.
"Hm...I don't know." She smiles.
"Well...you should probably get back to your father," you put your hand on her shoulder and she pouts.
