text: I am an American police officer and this is a true story. I’ve been needing to get this off my chest for a while. I’ve obviously changed the names and addresses in this story for legal purposes. I’ve got a glass of fine whisky and I think I’m ready to share this with you. &#x200B; Two summers ago was one of the busiest summers my jurisdiction has ever seen. That summer and the previous six months leading up to that summer were.... Hell. &#x200B; It seemed like there was just something in the water, something “going around.” We didn’t know why, but damn, people were killing, stabbing, raping, and dismembering each other at record paces. Everyone was burnt out and maxed out on overtime. &#x200B; My partner and I were nearing the end of our work week. We had thirty minutes before our relief arrived when the call went out. &#x200B; “I need a unit to respond to 1273 Maple Ave. in reference to a 4 year old child who is beyond parental control.” &#x200B; My partner was further behind in his reports than I was so I volunteered to respond solo. We joked a bit about how hard it could be to control a 4 year old. I got in to my patrol car and responded to the address. &#x200B; It was an incredibly hot evening in August the dash thermometer put it at 103 degrees. I pulled up to the address and noticed the front door wide open, along with all the windows. &#x200B; I began the ascent up the front steps to the house. I could hear soft sobbing coming from the other room. I announce myself and knock on the door frame. &#x200B; “Hello; Officer Garner here to speak with Cindy about a 4 year old.” &#x200B; I heard the sobbing turn to sniffling. &#x200B; “I’m coming.” &#x200B; “I’m Cindy.” She said in a quiet broken voice. &#x200B; I started like always “so ma’am what is it that’s going on today?” &#x200B; I could sense something was different..off... it made me damn nervous. Cindy’s eyes revealed months of distress. I was not there because the parents got tired of threatening to take away the ipads from their bratty kids. &#x200B; Cindy gave a slight head nod and stepped outside on the front porch to speak with me. &#x200B; “Officer Garner I don’t know what to do, we are at the end of our ropes.” &#x200B; Cindy then went on to describe everything they have been through since they adopted the little girl, Kelly... about six months ago. &#x200B; Cindy described Kelly was a little angel when they first met her. The adoption agency really wouldn’t say much about her past. They figured she’s so young how bad could her history be? &#x200B; In the last six months they have taken her to every doctor in the Pacific Northwest. They all just diagnose her with some new alphabet soup disorder and send us on our way, she explained. She’s too young to take any of the heavy medication... it would kill her. &#x200B; At this point my curiosity is struck. I explained to Cindy there really is nothing that I can do for her that she hasn’t tried already. I then said the words I later would come to regret: “But I’ll come and and talk to her.” &#x200B; Cindy motioned with her head for me to follow her inside. &#x200B; As soon as I stepped foot inside sweat began dripping down my face. &#x200B; “Why is it so hot in here?” &#x200B; “Oh, I should have warned you the air conditioner broke last week, we’ve called everyone in town but nobody seems to be available to come fix it.” &#x200B; The floor was wood, old wood. The kind of old hardwood floor that squeaked with every step you took. We rounded a corner and I could see a child laying on the couch, maybe a pre-teen, judging by the size. A blanket covered over his head but a faint glow shown through the blanket. It looked like he had some sort of tablet. It stood out to me because it was so damned hot in this house. &#x200B; “Thomas,” Cindy said to the figure under the blanket. “We are gonna have your father bring Kelly upstairs, you may want to go on a walk buddy.” &#x200B; Thomas didn’t think twice. He flung the blanket to the side and grabbed a basketball, laid down the tablet, face up , and practically ran outside. &#x200B; Cindy grabbed a kitchen chair and drug it out from the kitchen table. She faced it towards a set of stairs that went to a basement. &#x200B; “Have a seat Officer Garner.” &#x200B; “Oh ma’am, please; just call me Tyler.” &#x200B; Cindy’s facial muscles tightened ever so slightly. It was a glimmer of appreciation. Everything she had done up until this point was labored. Stepping out the front door to talk to me, walking into the kitchen, dragging out the chair. Everything she did looked like it drained the little bit of light flickering in her soul. &#x200B; I sat in the Victorian style wooden chair. &#x200B; “Mikey; Officer, Gar... I mean Tyler is here to speak with Kelly, could you bring her up please.” &#x200B; Cindy then maneuvered putting herself behind me. I don’t think she did this consciously. Her hand went up to her forehead. But she never once turned her back to that staircase. &#x200B; I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I saw the man I assumed was Mike, or Mikey. In his arms was Kelly. &#x200B; She had jet black hair and pale white skin. She was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. A trained observer, I caught a glimpse of bruises on her elbows and knees. Bruises on the joints like that are not usually a sign of child abuse, but I made a mental note. &#x200B; Mike set her down on the hardwood floor about five feet away from where I sat. She was facing away from me sitting with her legs crossed and head down. &#x200B; I stared in silence for a few moments. I watched her pick at the skin on her knees. Her fingers scratched at her skin in a rhythmic pulsating manor. I cleared my throat and said in a gentle, welcoming voice “hi Kelly I’m Tyler.” &#x200B; Her fingers stopped. Slowly her head rotated to the right until her gaze struck me over her shoulder. I instantly felt cold. &#x200B; The little girl, in one rapid, violent motion flipped around facing me on all fours. Shaken, I leaned back in my chair, eyes wide and mouth open. My gun hand twitched out of instinct. &#x200B; Staring straight at me... no through me, she let out a horrific, ear piercing scream. I locked eyes with her. Her eyes were black, no color at all, just black. &#x200B; Suddenly in an instant her head fixed down to the ground and her jet black hair hid her face. &#x200B; It was not human how she moved. She stood straight up and then let herself drop to her knees. She did this over and over and over. From a straight posture, to a short jump, and then falling straight on her knees. I thought my ears were going to bleed from the high pitch scream. &#x200B; The sound of her knees dropping on the aged wooden floors sounded much heavier than that of a small child. &#x200B; The scream changed pitches from high, to low. Deep, devilish, demonic. This went on for several moments. &#x200B; Then, out of nowhere it stopped. She turned back towards Mike who had made his way to the chair across from me without my notice. &#x200B; On all fours, like some kind of animal, she crawled and shuffled to a spot in between Mike’s legs. &#x200B; She looked up at him and said “daddy, please don’t let that man take me. I want to stay here with you.” The best way i can describe her voice was that of a grown man trying to sound like a feminine small child. &#x200B; I drove back by the house a few days later. Everything was gone. They had moved out and short sold their house. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to follow up with the family but it’s like they disappeared... fell off the face of the earth. All their phone numbers were changed. &#x200B; I’ll probably never know where they went. But I will say that things around town seemed to calm down after they left.