spotlight. (book two of missing melody) // katy perry

nine.

{Taylor's POV}

"Where are we anyway?" I ask, placing my hands on either side of my hips. Nico chuckles, shaking his head at my question as if I'd ask him the stupidest thing he ever heard. I raise my eyebrow, looking at him as I wait for his reply.

"Don't you recognize this place at all?" He asks, making me desperately look around to potentially remember this place and know what he is talking about.

"Don't you remember this room?" He questions me again, igniting the fire that once blazed inside my mind, a million bittersweet memories rushing through my head like a tragic movie playing over and over without end.

Laughter, what a pleasant sound to hear. You would always here it in every corner, every inch of this huge home, housing a family of four. This house was once filled with spirit and so much happiness. But on a single night, all of that was wiped away.

Nico and I are running around, playing a game of tag. I currently am six and he is nine. I always adored this place. I never want to leave. This house is my castle, a place where I can be anyone who I want to be. I keep giggling, running as fast as my little feet could go. I notice how the light casted upon that big old window slowly turns to orange, a color I love to see. I smile, still running away from my big brother. It's almost night time.

"I'll catch you, Tay." He laughs, making me squeal and run faster. I hear our mother shouting for us, calling us for supper. I quickly turn around, heading towards the stairs so I could go to the kitchen and have dinner.

"I'll beat you there." I say, challenging Nico as I go down the stairs.

"I doubt that." He replies jokingly, picking me up and place me on his back. I squeal as my feet leave the ground, carefully placed on my big brother's back. I wrap my legs around his waist as he run towards the kitchen, carrying me on his back. I keep giggling, not being able to hide the excitement I have inside.

"Now, go wash your hands." My mom holds me, putting me down from my brother's back. I nod, rushing towards the sink. My brother helps me reach it, lifting me up so I could wash my little hands properly. As soon as I finish, he sets me down and washes his own. He smiles at me, making me do the same.

"Mom, where's Daddy?" I ask as I sit down, my feet not being able to touch the ground. My mother hands me my plate, filled with tonight's food. Spaghetti. I smile as my mother looks at me, sitting on her own chair.

"He'll be home soon, honey. Don't worry about your father, okay? He'll come home." Mom replies to my question, smiling warmly at me. We start eating, talking once in awhile if a topic worthy of discussion surfaces.

As I finish my meal, the front door loudly opens. I jump on my seat as I hear the sound, my heart rapidly beating. My mother picks me up, holding me tightly in her arms. I notice my father walk towards us, smiling menacingly as he inches closer. He looks like a zombie when he does that kind of walk. My mother steps away with every step he takes, making me furrow my eyebrows. I thought mother wanted father home.

"Daddy?" I call for him, looking at him as he stops walking.

"Come here, Liz. I have a little something for you." My father mumbles, making my mother shake her head vigorously.

"Please, don't do this Mark." My mother pleads, her voice fragile as she stands there, unable to move.

"I won't hurt you, Liz. Come here." My father instructs again. I look at my mother, seeing silent tears staining her cheeks as they trickle down.

"Mommy?" I whisper, wiping her tears away. Why is she crying?

"Mark, please do-" I jump as I hear a loud bang.

"Stop pleading!" My father shouts, scaring me. I cry in pain as my mother let goes of me, dropping me to the ground. My brother picks me up quickly, my tears still trickling down.

"Shush, Tay. . . Shush. . . " Nico whispers, trying to calm me down. He wipes my tears, clearing my vision. I turn my head towards my mother, seeing her lying on the ground with red liquid surrounding her.

"Nico, what's wrong with mommy?" I tug on his shirt, demanding an answer. He shakes his head, walking away near the kitchen table. He places me inside a cupboard, telling me to stay quiet. He soon steps inside, the little space tight for the two of us. We stay there for awhile, hearing our father sob loudly.

"What's going on?" He stays silent, looking at me as he was. . . scared. He never gets scared. He's my superman.

"I need to go outside." I tell him, slowly moving out. He grabs my hand, stopping me instantly.

"No no no no Taylor, don't. Don't go outside Daddy might hurt you. Don't go. Don't go." He pleads, tears slowly trickling down his cheeks. I wipe them away, looking at him like this makes me cry too.

"He won't. I'll be right back." I yank my hand away, quickly stepping out of the little cabinet. I crawl towards Mommy and Daddy, seeing Daddy cradle Mommy in his arms as he sobs.

"D-Daddy?" I stutter, seeing him cry for the first time. His head quickly turn towards me, looking at me with so much hate. He stands up, leaving Mommy's body on the floor as red liquid surrounds her. He walk towards me, grabbing something from his back pocket. I cower back, my little body shaking with fear. He smiles, that kind of smile he flashed when he shot Mommy. I close my eyes as he inches closer, not wanting to look.

Bang!

That same sound rings in my ears again. I cry, sobs loudly escaping my lips as I stay still. I'm scared, really really scared. I slowly open my eyes, the noise barely audible. I notice Daddy lying on the kitchen floor like Mommy is, surrounded by the same red liquid. A man slowly approaches me, offering his hand. I haven't noticed Nico next to me until I look around.

"Come with me. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

-a/n-

tadaaaa! taylor and nico's past everyone! some tragic shit happened in that house.

p.s.

it makes me kinda sad that i don't get that much feedback anymore :( is my story getting bad or