The Metropolitan Children's Borough loomed ahead, its bright red paint job standing out amongst the rows of dull grey to beige-colored buildings. We pulled up in front of it and we stepped out, the stress of my impending responsibility weighing on me. I fiddled with the coins and keys in my pocket, unsure how I was going to approach this.

We pushed the double doors open, the warm scent of air freshener and disinfect coming over me. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed up and above, and children's laughter could be heard all around. We glanced at each other with uncertainty, unsure of where to start. We spotted a receptionist's desk and walked towards it, where a gentle-faced young lady had been typing away at her computer.

"Excuse me," I called out to her as I approached.

"Yes! How can I help you?"

"Um, my name is Jamie McKim and I believe you have my daughter in your care?" I asked.

When I mentioned my name, her pleasant expression was immediately wiped from her face.

"Y-You're Anna's dad?" She asked softly.

"Um, yes? I was told you were trying to reach me?"

She glanced upwards with hesitation. "Can I speak to you somewhere more private, sir?"

Confused by the sudden urgency of the matter, I obliged her request. We walked off to what seemed like the employee break room, which was empty during this busy hour. Dave and I stood idly as the receptionist was trying to gather her composure.

"Mister McKim, we've been trying to reach out to you, where have you been?"

"Pardon me, I was in prison for the last few years or so," I responded sardonically. "I've been brought up to speed regarding the whole situation now, I just want to see my daughter."

"Mister McKim, you need to understand something. We don't just give a child away to anyone without running a rigorous review process." She crossed her arms. "Quite frankly, you weren't even on our radar when we received her. I hope you do not take it personally that we would rather not have this child be raised by someone on parole."

"I sense a 'but' from this hail of insults."

"That child..." Her voice trembled. "She's not normal."

I glanced at Dave with a look of confusion before looking back at the receptionist. "Okay, what, she's got some learning disorder or something?"

"No, s-she..." The receptionist shivered, facing away from us and breathing heavily. "I-I can't describe it, when I'm near here, I feel this unmistakable chill. Every time I'm with her, I feel the air get heavy and I feel something suffocating me. W-Whatever's there, it's watching, waiting, weighing me down with its gaze... I-I couldn't see her anymore after that without that same terrible feeling."

I thought this woman was messing with me. Sure, terror children were unbearable to deal with but with the way she was breathing and trembling, she was downright afraid of her. I had no time for theatrics and soliloquies.

"Alright, that's all good and fun but can I see her now?" I asked with a deadpan.

"...Fine, here's the key to her room. Room 203." She said, massaging her forehead.

"You're not taking me there?"

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"I'm not ready to face that child yet." She sighed, her breathing still panicked even after a few minutes. "Take her whenever you're ready, the sooner she's out here the better."

I shrugged and looked at Dave as we left the room. We scanned through the halls of the first floor, whose numbers were in the 100s so naturally, we assumed Anna's room would be in the 200s. We climbed up the stairs and weaved our way past rambunctious children until we found ourselves in front of door number 203. Sighing, I slip the key into the lock but notice Dave standing a little further back.

"What's up with you?"

"I don't think that receptionist was lying, I'm sensing some bad juju behind that door."

First the receptionist and now Dave? Well, Dave, I trusted. When I was still young and reckless, Dave's intuition was pretty much my guiding light my entire life. Every time his gut told him something, it turned out to be right, so I wasn't going to completely dismiss his concern.

"Alright, stay out here then, I'm going in."

The door squeaked as I pushed it open, revealing a space filled with soft, pastel colors. A simple bed, a worn teddy bear perched on it, occupied one side. On the walls were crayon drawings of various objects, animals, and even people. My eyes settled on the edge of the bed, where a young girl with pink-shaded hair sat, quietly observing the world out through her window.

The sound of the creaking door caught her attention, and she turned towards me, her dull eyes sparkling as she jogged on over.

"Daddy!" She smiled, tugging my arm.

I kept a sharp eye out for anything that Dave and the receptionist were referring to, but as far as I could see. She led me over to her bed, inviting me to sit next to her.

"H-How are you?"

"I'm fine, daddy. And are you good?" She asked innocently.

"I'm... fine..." I sighed, rubbing my neck, still unable to face her after being absent from her life for so long. "...Are you okay?"

"Yes I am, why wouldn't I be?"

"Your mum..." I grimaced.

"Mum is gone, yes but daddy's here now! She told me you'll take me to our new home!" The young girl beamed at me.

I was surprised at her willingness to trust me to take care of her, especially since I'd been gone for so long from her life. She walked over to her wall and took.

"Mum told me about you, she told me that you were a very nice man and that you were very kind!" She said, showing off her drawing of a family, including me, her mother Rhonda, and her Anna. "Now I can live in a house like a proper kid!"

"Y-Yes!" I nodded along with her. "I-I'll just check with the orphanage on the process of adopting you."

Her bright smile instantly faded and her gaze turned impassive, her sparkling eyes now dull. "Oh. Don't do that. They don't want me to come with you."

"What? What are you talking about, love?" I asked, a little unnerved by the change in her expression.

"They told me that daddy was a criminal and irresponsible." She hung her head and clenched her fists. "They told me that they would find me a better home. But I told them I didn't want a better home, I wanted Daddy. I wanted the daddy my mum told me about! And that's why you're here to take me!" She said, stamping her foot indignantly.

I wasn't expecting such a tantrum from her and I held her down by her shoulders to try and get her to calm down.

"Shhh, shhh. It's okay." I comforted her in a hushed tone. "I won't let them take you, okay? I won't budge in trying to take you back home, okay?"

I ruffled her hair as she giggled at the gesture.

"Okay." She smiled.

The door abruptly opened, and a man in a suit walked in on us with a bundle of files in hand. "Mr. McKim, I heard you were here today for your daughter and I'm obligated to inform you about your own legal predicaments."

I stood to face him, frowning at the prospect of a long lecture. Legally speaking, he was right. I had no business aggressively pursuing custody like this when I was in a rather huge predicament myself. But still, I was no rookie, and I should be able to find a way to get my daughter.

But as I continued to contemplate my options while only half-heartedly listening to the official's lectures, I suddenly heard an echo of the child's voice utter the words. "Be quiet."

Amidst his long-winded lecture, the man suddenly became mute, attempting to speak, moving his mouth and lips but no sound came out. As he tried to get his next words out, Anna walked past me and towards him with an arm stretched, her impassive gaze now completely stoic and full of contempt as she looked at the court lawyer, who slowly collapsed to the ground in a panic underneath her gaze.

"Leave daddy alone." She said firmly, and to my shock, the lawyer obeyed, scrambling upwards and out of the room, leaving behind the documents he brought in. And promptly, her normal expression returned and she looked up at me with her usual smile. I stood there, dumbstruck as I gazed out the open door at Dave who was just as dumbstruck at the whole display as I was. We looked at each other with a dawning realization that my daughter was far from normal in the most disturbing way possible.