Memory (sequel to robots)

Chapter 1

Sam had fallen asleep peacefully in her bed. Mark rubbed his eyes as he tip toed out of her room, making sure the door didn't squeak. He expected Sean to be sitting on the couch when he returned, but he wasn't there.
"Sean?" He called out into the empty house. Maybe he's in bed Mark thought, returning up the stairs. He cracked open the door, seeing a lump in bed. Mark shrugged, assuming that Sean was fast asleep in bed. Mark made his way back downstairs, shutting all the lights off. He had a bit of energy left in him, enough to play a few video games. When he married Sean he moved all the computers and camera equipment into the spare room. He had them all ready to be used, but Sam had consumed most of their time.
Mark slipped on his old headphones and turned on his computer. A relaxing feeling settled over him. Part of him wanted to record a video while he went on Steam to find a game. He shook the feeling off, picking a indie horror game.
After quite a few jump scares, Mark decided to go to bed. He shut off his computer and turned off the lights in the room. He double checked around the house, making sure every light was off. Using the dim lights from his eyes, he found his way back to his room, ready to curl up beside Sean. Mark took off his clothes, staying in his underwear.  He smiled as he lifted the covers and flopped down. Mark turned to grab hold of Sean but only came into contact with a pillow and clothes. Mark bolted up, ripping the blankets off the bed.
"Sean!?" He whispered into the dark. Mark jumped out of the bed, beginning to look around the room. He flipped the light switch on. "Sean this isn't funny" Mark grabbed some pj pants out of his dresser. He ran out of his room, rushing to check each room. He nearly fell as he jumped down the stairs. As he scoured the rooms on the first floor, he had accidentally woken up Sam. She groggily scooted down the stairs with a Tiny Box Tim in her arm.
"Daddy?" She called out, looking for him. Mark heard her call from the kitchen, rushing over to her.
"Sam what are you doing up?" Mark asked, trying to shoo her up the stairs.
"I heard sounds" Sam sat on the first stair.
"Sammy you need to go back to sleep now okay? For daddy" Mark picked her up, rushing up the stairs.
"Daddy what are you doing?" She leaned her head on Mark's shoulder.
"Daddy is looking for something right now" Mark got her in her room, laying her down again.
"I can help" she offered.
"You can help by staying in your bed alright sweetie?"
"Okay daddy" she shut her eyes. Mark ran out of her room, rushing to get outside. The last time he knew where Sean was, was when he threw out the garbage.
"Sean!?" He yelled out, running down the alleyway towards the garbage. There was no one in the alley. The light above the garbage had been knocked out creating a dulling darkness.
"SEAN" he screamed, scouring every inch of the alley. He opened the top of the garbage, seeing the trash bag from their house sitting there. He was here. Mark spun around looking down each end of the alley. All he saw was a single light post a good five hundred feet away. As he spun around again, he stepped on something rubbery with his bare feet. Mark looked down, seeing a dimly lit up bracelet on the ground. He leaned down to pick it up. He lifted it, recognizing it was Sean's. He began panicking more. Someone must have taken him.
Mark turned to see a person walking down the alley under the lamp post.
"Hey!" Mark ran towards the person. They seemed to stop, turning to face Mark. But when they saw Mark's glowing eyes in the dark, they screamed, running for it. "No! Please! I need your help!" Mark stopped in front of his house.  With his brain in a scattered mess he ran into his house, picking the phone up, and dialling 911.
"911 what's your emergency?" The operator asked.
"Please help! My husband! H-he's missing!" Mark yelled into the phone, running out of the front door.
"Alright sir, calm down. How long has he been missing?"
"Ah. Since seven! Uh- he was bringing out the garbage while I was putting my daughter to bed- oh god please just send someone here!" Mark ran up the street, seeing if Sean might be broken down anywhere.
"Okay. What's your address?" Mark quickly spoke his address as he looked down a connecting alleyway. His battery was on the brink of dying as he rushed around. Mark ran back to the house before something more could happen. He was in Sam's room as his battery finally gave in. Sam screamed when he fell unconscious on the ground.

"Sir? Sir?" Mark began hearing. An officer was gently hitting his face, trying to get him up.
"D-did you find him?" Mark slurred as he opened his eyes. The officer had his flashlight shining in his eyes. He pushed it away. The officer backed away, seemingly scared of Mark.
"Your husband correct?"
"Yeah" Mark pushed himself up.
"Well you see when we came to your house, we couldn't find you. We heard your daughter crying upstairs so we followed the sound, finding her curled up on your chest as you were well, unconscious. But may I ask, are you drunk or on any drugs?"
"What? No. I just want to find my husband" Mark stood up, hurrying down the stairs to find Sam. The officer followed him. He was in a daze when he didn't see Sam in the house. "Where's my daughter?" He turned to the officer.
"Calm down, she's outside with my partner. And sir, I advise putting a shirt on" Mark ignored him, jogging outside the door to find Sam. When he got to the sidewalk, he heard her.
"Daddy!" She screamed in a tear filled voice. She ran out of a police car, making a mad dash towards Mark. Mark scooped her up, letting her cry into his shoulder. "Daddy what's happening?" She whimpered.
"Daddy is trying to find daddy" Mark felt like crying. The officer that seemingly had helped Sam walked up to Mark.
"I'm sorry sir, but for the time being, I have to take your daughter so you can provide accurate answers to my partner" Mark nodded. He kneeled down, setting Sam on her feet.
"Sammy I need you to go with this nice officer lady okay? She's just going to keep you safe while I try to help these nice officers" Mark explained to Sam. She wiped her eyes, still sniffling. She hugged Mark tightly, clearly over tired.
"Is daddy going to be okay?" She frowned.
"I'll be fine sweetie" Mark smiled apprehensively. Sam turned to the officer, reaching for her hand.
"Are you going to find my daddy?" She asked, walking away with her.

It felt like hours later before there were no more questions. They alley behind the house was packed with officers and a search and rescue team. Mark was sat on his stairs, crying. His sobs, although not capable of creating tears, were heavy and hard. His face was buried in his hands. He thought that after everything, him and Sean had peace with the world. He still held Sean's bracelet in his hand. He took it in his palm, deciding to slip it on his wrist as a reminder.
Sometime later, an officer came into his house with an asleep Sam in her arms.
"Poor little things all tuckered out" the officer approached Mark. He opened his arms for the officer to place Sam there. Mark cradled her in his arms like when she was a baby. "She's a smart one I'll give you that. Spent a few hours drawing missing posters with a description of your husband on them. I was convinced" Mark smiled gently looking down at her peaceful face.
"Yeah she is. Anyway, I think I'm going to be going off to bed" Mark's voice was hoarse.
"Alright. You have questions later, one of us will be here standing watch. This disappearance was most likely a kidnapping and we don't need another family member disappearing too"
"Thank you" Mark stood, walking up the stairs. He didn't bring Sam to her room, instead brought her to his, where he placed her in Sean's spot. He curled up beside her, falling asleep as well.