ROCK-A-BYE (NaNoWriMo Day 20 HWR)

ROCK-A-BYE

The car juddered to a halt and refused to budge an inch forward. "Luke, I thought we had a full gas tank and the car was serviced just this weekend…what's wrong?"

"I have no idea, Amy…We're in the middle of nowhere and my phone has no signal! But look there. It says 'Baby Museum' on the signpost. Shall we go in and see if they have a landline to get us out of this mess?"

"Guess we have no choice. But I'm very uneasy, Luke. I just want to go home and rest. Our baby's due in a couple of weeks."

"I'm so sorry, honey. But look at the brighter side. We can check out this place in advance."

At the entrance were standees of Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. The lobby glowed with pastel pink shimmering lights. Mannequins of fairies lined the walls. Luke approached the front desk.

"Yes sir, we will have it arranged. Meanwhile, why don't the both of you take a tour of our museum?"

Amy took Luke's arm and hobbled into the room beyond. It was done in darker pink. Playpens and trampolines occupied the room. Why is the museum vacant– a thought did cross her mind but she brushed it off. The room further in was crimson. "Luke this looks very disturbing. I want to go out. I don't have a good feeling about this. Do you see these portraits on the walls? They hardly look human!"

"They're foetus for god's sake! This is a baby museum! There's one more room and then we're done…okay?"

Amy was unsure but agreed to go along.

The room was deep scarlet with hives of foetus…

Outside, Luke bade goodbye and stashed rolls of money into his pockets. Amy's cries for help went unheard from the soundproof walls.

Pic Courtesy: Pixabay

©️ Sangeetha Kamath

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