The Camera’s Rolling
She set her kids to bed with the camera rolling and bid them goodnight. She hurried to her room and waited, but nothing happened.
Were the twins onto her scheme? Was this all an elaborate prank? She couldn’t tell. But the prospect of it all made her heart race even faster.
On Her Own
When Alice decided she’d raise her kids on her own, she’d only wanted to give them the best lives they could ask for. After her untimely separation from her husband, Alice was left with all the responsibilities that came with parenting.
Although she was ready for all that was barreling her way, she couldn’t have been prepared for what she caught her kids doing that night.
Alice And Mark
Alice met Mark, her kids’ dad, right after college. Although they’d been two peas in a pod, with a fiery romantic life that was everything Alice could have wanted, they’d soon separate after their third child.
The separation came because of several quarrels between the love birds. It was soon apparent that the end of their journey was upon them. But there was something they couldn’t deny.
The Separation
Despite their love life floundering, Alice and Mark couldn’t ignore that their lives together had given them three of the best kids one could ask for.
Mark assured Alice that he’d always be in their kids’ lives, and although she didn't like it, she knew she couldn’t deny him or them an opportunity to bond.
Oregon
The separation saw Alice move with her kids to a new house in Oregon. She’d found work as a personal assistant and saw it as the perfect start to their new life. The family packed all their belongings and began their move.
Alice settled in one of the state’s small towns with her kids in tow. But although the move would be smooth, something that her kids were doing behind her back would threaten to break Alice apart.
A Lovely Family
Among Alice’s kids were two eight-year-old twins and a toddler. The twins, Kayla and Brian, were in middle school, while the last, Jean, was still too young for school.
To add to this, Jean had been diagnosed with leukemia, news that broke Alice at first but now made her ever vigilant with her little angel. She had no idea what the twins were doing to Jean while she was usually away.
A Typical Day
A typical day in Alice’s new life usually consisted of taking Kayla and Brian to school, Jean to the pediatrician and daycare, then going to work.
While she was at work, the twins would return home from school in the afternoon. A daycare worker would bring Jean over, and the two would watch over him until Alice came home. If only Alice knew what they were doing to her baby boy.
The Twins
Alice first noticed something was afoot when she realized the twins rarely left each other’s side. Those two rarely got along, always fighting over the most mundane things.
Although Alice knew she should be thankful that they were finally getting along, she couldn’t ignore that they were always together, cooped up in their room, and talking in hushed tones well into the night. She decided to install cameras in the house when she noticed they’d roped Jean into their activities.
A Mother’s Love
Although Alice loved her kids equally, she was extra tender when it came to her last born. The amount of cancer therapy Jean endured every week was heartbreaking, and Alice couldn’t bear to have him face any other pain in his young life.
When she noticed the twins sneaking around the house that week, whispering and giggling, she’d been happy that they were finally bonding. But then, the noises from their room at night raised her brow. What the cameras would reveal would wrench a cry from her.
An Elaborate Prank
Alice set her kids to bed with the camera rolling and bid them goodnight. She hurried to her room and waited, but nothing happened. Were the twins onto her scheme? Was this all an elaborate prank?
Alice couldn’t tell. And the prospect of it all made her heart race even faster. She didn’t know what she’d do if her kids were hurting themselves or their little brother.
A Slow Night
The night went by slower than usual. Alice had been up for almost two hours now with nothing compelling happening. She decided to throw in the towel and got into bed.
But she hadn’t even pulled her covers over herself when she heard whispers from her kids’ room. She hurried to her laptop, ready to uncover what was happening.
Night Vision
The camera in the kid’s room was set to night vision, so Alice could see clearly, although the room was dim. In the darkness, she saw Kayla shake Brian awake. They conversed for a few seconds before easing over to Jean’s crib.
Alice’s brows drew close, she couldn’t hear what the twins were saying, and she felt like rushing out of bed to them. But then something happened that made her lips part.
Hand In Hand
Brain took Kayla’s hand and led her out of their room. Alice quickly switched the camera feed into the hall. The twins were going to the kitchen. Brain switched on the kitchen light, and the two disappeared.
But as Alice was rushing up to see what they were doing, Kayla came into the feed’s view. In her hand was one of Jean’s milk bottles. What were they doing?
The Milk Bottle
Brain came and took her hand before turning the light off. They went back to their room and gently shook Jean awake, giving him the bottle.
Alice couldn’t believe it. Her eyes grew wet, and her breath caught. She pushed her laptop aside, holding back her tears. But then something happened that made her speed out of bed to her kids’ room.
Not In A Million Years
Kayla and Brian made sure Jean finished his bottle. They each kissed his forehead and whispered that they loved him very much. Alice rushed out of her room, finding the twins over Jean’s crib. They jumped back, startled. But she hugged them before they could start speaking.
“My beautiful kids,” Alice said mid-tears. “What’s happening here?” “We’re helping with Jean,” Kayla said. “We usually get his milk before he starts crying and wakes you,” her brother added. “Are you mad at us, mom?” “Never,” Alice said. “Not in a million years.”