17th November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
"Auggie..."
"August"
"Auggie!" Lux whispers right into his ear, trying to get the older boy to wake up.
She was meant to be napping right now but her mind was wide awake and buzzing with mischief. She wanted to do something else instead of taking a boring nap.
"Auggie," she whispered again, nudging him gently. His dark curls stuck out in all directions, and a pacifier rested in his mouth, bobbing slightly as he breathed.
He stirred slightly, his nose scrunching up as if her voice had tickled his dreams. But he didn't open his eyes. Lux frowned and gave him a firmer nudge.
"Wake up," she whispered, glancing nervously at the baby monitor sitting on the shelf across the room. Vincent and Sebastian could probably hear her if she wasn't careful. She reached out, angling the monitor in the other direction so at least they couldn't see them.
"Come on," Lux pleaded in a hushed tone.
Finally, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing hazy brown eyes that looked far younger than seventeen. "Luxie?" he mumbled around the pacifier, his voice thick with sleep. "Wha'?"
"Come on, come on!" Lux says, her voice still quiet but there was an obvious element of excitement and anticipation in her tone. "I don't wanna nap anymore! I wanna so something fun! Let's go exploring."
Auggie blinked at her, his expression groggy but curious. "'Splorin'?" he echoed, like he was trying out the word for the first time. "But... Papa said we gotta nap."
"Papa's not here right now, is he?" Lux said quickly. "And they won't check on us if we're quiet. Come on, Auggie. Don't you wanna have an adventure?"
Auggie sat up slightly, his curls tumbling over his forehead, and he chewed his pacifier thoughtfully. The word "adventure" seemed to light a spark in his sleepy eyes. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his sock-covered toes dangling just above the floor.
"Where we goin'?" he asked, his voice still soft and laced with hesitation.
Lux grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I dunno yet! That's the fun part. We can go anywhere we want. Maybe the kitchen to find snacks? Orâoh!âwe could watch a cool movie on the TV!"
"But... what if Daddy n' Papa gets mad?" August whispered, slipping his pacifier out of his mouth and holding it in one hand.
"They won't get mad if he doesn't know," she reasoned, giving Auggie her best conspiratorial smile. "We'll be super quiet, like ninjas. They won't hear a thing."
Auggie looked at Lux for a long moment, his fingers playing nervously with the pacifier in his hand. He seemed torn between the promise of adventure and the fear of breaking the rules. Finally, he gave a small nod.
Lux beamed triumphantly, taking the older boys hand and pulling him out of the bed.
They tip-toed across the floor of August's bedroom making sure to be extra stealthy. The soft glow of August's nightlight illuminated the room enough for them to see clearly as they made their way. Auggie clung to her hand, his grip warm and slightly sweaty, but he followed her lead. His steps were hesitant, his socked feet barely making a sound.
They paused by the door, and Lux peeked out into the hallway. It was empty, the faint hum of a fan filling the silence. "Coast is clear," she whispered, glancing back at Auggie. He nodded solemnly, clutching his pacifier like it was a magic charm that would keep them safe.
The two of them tiptoed down the hall, Lux leading the way with an eager grin while Auggie shuffled along behind her, his wide eyes darting nervously around.
The house was oddly quiet and Lux couldn't even hear any sounds from Sebastian and Vincent making her wonder where they were. There was no chatter or movements from the kitchen. Not even the TV was on. There was just this eery silence which both excited her and frightened her at the same time.
Unbeknownst to her, the two men were all the way at the other side of the house, getting in a gym session like they usually did when the littles were napping.
They continued to make their way toward the stairs, the only sounds coming from their own soft breathing and the faint creaks of the floor beneath them. Lux glanced back at Auggie, who was clutching her hand even tighter now. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and he was glancing nervously at every shadow, as if expecting Vincent or Sebastian to materialize out of thin air.
"It's fine," Lux whispered, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "They're probably busy doing grown-up stuff. We just gotta be super sneaky, okay?"
Auggie nodded, his lips pressing into a small, determined line, but he didn't let go of her hand.
They reached the top of the stairs, and Lux paused to look down. The sun shone brightly through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long beams of light that dappled the hardwood floors below. It felt like they were sneaking into another world entirely. Lux couldn't help the grin that stretched across her face. She turned to Auggie, who was still clutching her hand like his life depended on it.
"Okay," she whispered, her excitement bubbling over. "One step at a time, super quiet, like ninjas. Got it?"
Auggie nodded solemnly, his curls bouncing as he did. "Like ninjas," he repeated in a whisper.
Step by step, the pair made their way down the stairs, pausing every so often to listen for the sounds of their daddies approaching. They were met with silence each time.
Lux felt a thrill rush through her veins as their little rebellion unfolded step by cautious step. By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, her grin had only grown wider. The house stretched out before them like a treasure map waiting to be explored.
"See? Easy," she whispered, squeezing Auggie's hand before letting go to spin on her heels, her socks sliding slightly on the smooth floor.
"What now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lux placed her hands on her hips, her gaze scanning the possibilities. "Kitchen first," she decided. "We need supplies for our adventure. Like snacks. Maybe cookies."
Auggie hesitated, glancing nervously down the hallway toward the kitchen. "But... cookies is only for after dinner," he said, his voice tinged with worry.
Lux rolled her eyes. "That's just a rule they tell us so we don't eat all the good stuff too early," she reasoned. "Trust me, Auggie. One cookie won't hurt. Besides, we're on an adventure. Rules don't count during adventures."
Auggie seemed unsure, but the confidence in Lux's tone gave him just enough courage to follow her. Together, they crept down the hallway, the sunlight spilling through the windows making the silence feel less intimidating.
When they reached the kitchen, Lux peeked inside, scanning for any sign of Vincent or Sebastian. The coast was still clear. She motioned for Auggie to follow, and they slipped inside.
The kitchen was spotless, with gleaming counters and a faint lemony scent lingering in the air. Lux immediately headed for the pantry, opening the door with a quiet creak. Her eyes lit up as she spotted the prizeâa bright red cookie tin on the top shelf.
"There!" she whispered excitedly, pointing at it. "That's the good stuff."
Auggie stood a few steps behind her, his fingers twisting nervously in his shirt. "Luxie... maybe we shouldn't," he said, but there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Lux grinned back at him. "It's fine. They'll never know," she assured him, dragging over a chair from the kitchen table to stand on. She climbed up carefully, her socked feet gripping the wooden seat as she reached for the tin.
"Told you. Easy." She said, grabbing the tin and hopping down from the chair.
Auggie peeked out from behind the counter, his eyes widening at the sight of the tin. "What if they come in?" he whispered.
"They won't. Now come on, help me open it," Lux said, prying at the lid. It popped off with a satisfying snap, revealing rows of perfectly round cookies nestled in wax paper.
"Whoa..." Auggie breathed, his nervousness melting away at the sight of the treats. He stepped closer, his eyes sparkling like a little kid on Christmas morning.
Lux handed him one and took one for herself, biting into it with a satisfied hum. "See? Totally worth it," she said through a mouthful of cookie.
Auggie took a cautious nibble, then a bigger bite, his shoulders relaxing as the sweetness hit his tongue. "Yummy," he said, his voice soft but happy.
Lux grinned, leaning against the counter as she polished off her cookie. "Told you this would be fun," she said. "Now, what next? Living room for a movie?"
August nodded, his anxiety around the situation slowly fading and being replaced with a growing sense of excitement. "Movie," he said firmly, his voice a little more sure now as he wiped some stray crumbs from his shirt.
Lux nodded, taking August's hand again and guiding him over to the living room all whilst holding the cookie tin in her other hand.
The living room was bathed in soft afternoon light, the plush sofa and neatly arranged throw pillows inviting them to sink in and get comfortable. Lux plopped down first, setting the cookie tin on the coffee table and patting the spot beside her. "Come on, Auggie. Get comfy! What movie should we watch?"
August hesitated at the edge of the couch, glancing nervously around the room like the walls themselves might tattle on them. But Lux's infectious excitement was hard to resist. He climbed up beside her, tucking his legs underneath him as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "Umm... somethin' fun?" he offered uncertainly.
Lux ginned, picking up the romote and fiddling with the buttons, trying to get the TV to work. How did Sebastian and Vincent make this look so easy?
"Come on, come on..." She muttered, pressing the buttons harder as if the remote would respond to her determination. "Why can't I figure this out?"
Auggie shifted beside her, leaning in to watch her with rapt attention. "Luxie... maybe we should just wait for Papa and Daddy," he said quietly, as he slipped a little out of his headspace.
"No," Lux whispered firmly, shaking her head.
Auggie hesitated, his fingers nervously picking at the sleeve of his shirt.
She lifted the remote again, pressing the buttons with renewed determination. This time, the screen flickered to life, and the TV flashed its welcome message, followed by the logo of a streaming service.
"See? Told you," she said, giving Auggie a confident grin.
Auggie nodded, his expression softening as he finally seemed to relax again. He snuggled into the couch beside her, curling up like a little child, his pacifier back in his mouth. Lux picked a movieâa fun animated adventureâand hit play.
For a while, the only sound in the room was the soft chatter of the characters on screen and the occasional crunch of cookie crumbs. Lux felt her nerves start to unwind as the tension from earlier melted away. The movie was just light enough to keep her mind distracted, and the warmth of the living room, combined with the comfort of their small rebellion, gave her a sense of control she rarely got to feel.
But even in the cozy bubble they'd created, a part of Lux couldn't shake the thought that they were playing a dangerous game. She glanced over at Auggie every now and then, watching his eyes fixate on the TV screen.
"Do you think they'll be mad?" Auggie whispered suddenly, his voice soft, his gaze still on the screen.
Lux shifted beside him, feeling her heart race at the question. She had been trying to ignore it, but she knew that sooner or later, they'd have to face the consequences. She couldn't promise Auggie that nothing would happen, but she didn't want to admit the truthâshe didn't want to ruin the moment for him.
"Not if we're careful," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of thoughts brewing in her mind. "We just have to stay quiet and make sure we're back in bed before they even know we were gone."
August nodded slowly, reaching for another cookie. "Need a drink, Luxie" He murmured.
Lux nodded, wriggling away from the boy and hopping off the couch. "I'll get you one." She says, eager to help out in true Lux fashion.
August smiled, whispering a small 'thank you' as Lux disappeared out of the room and over to the kitchen to grab him some water.
She looked around, trying to remember where Sebastian and Vincent kept the sippy cups. She checked a few cupboards but found nothing. Then, as her eyes scanned the room, they fell on the back of a high cabinet where she knew they stored all the cups and bottles. Lux grinned to herself and walked over to the counter, climbing up onto the marble surface so she could reach.
She stood up, opening the door to the cabinet and pulling out a glass cup. She couldn't remember the last time she'd used a glass up or even held one. It felt so... grown upâlike a little piece of normalcy.
She carefully balanced the glass in her hands, the smooth, cool edges pressing against her palms as she stood on the countertop. Her heart pounded with excitement, but her focus was on getting the water back to Auggie and keeping their little adventure going.
She shut the cabinet again, completely focused on the task at hand.
A little too focused.
She didn't realize how precariously she was standing. Her socked feet slipped slightly on the marble counter, but she quickly adjusted her stance, gripping the edges of the cabinet door to steady herself. The glass felt heavy in her hands, but she didn't mindâher mission was clear, and she wasn't going to let a little balance issue stop her.
She stepped backward, trying to get down, her eyes still locked on the glass in her hands, eager to deliver it to Auggie. The idea of being a grown-up for a momentâhandling a real glassâfelt so important.
But as she shifted her weight, her foot slipped again. This time, there was no saving herself. Lux felt a sharp, sudden sense of panic as her body pitched backward. The smooth marble countertop offered no grip, and before she could react, she felt the dizzying sensation of falling.
A sharp, painful thud rang out as she hit the floor. The glass slipped from her hands and shattered into a hundred pieces around her.
Ouch.
~~~
Dun, dun, dun... cliffhanger :)