Mr. Ragtag

5:27 PM

"Now remember.. Jessica is allergic to pollen, so don't let her outside today. It's awful this time of year. Her bedtime is around eight o'clock. Do not give her any sugar past 7:30. I've made that mistake before and I can assure you that you do not want to make it as well. After she has gone to bed, feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge that is not specifically marked other wise. If you need absolutely anything, feel free to call me."

"Sure thing, Ms. Thompson."

"Whatever you do, don't let her go into the basement."

"But wh- Of course Ms. Thompson. Basement is off limits."

"Thank you so much for coming in on such a short notice, Agnes. Normally I would have Jessica stay at a friend's house, but it was too late to arrange anything. She could have came with me if it was not a work situation and what with- "

"Don't worry, it's no problem at all. I'm happy to look after her."

"You are too kind. Oh.. the taxi is here. I best be going. Again, thank you so much."

"No issue Ms. Thompson. Goodbye!"

7:39 PM

"Hello?"

"Hello Ms. Thompson."

"Ahh.. yes.. Agnes. I was wondering when you would call me. How is my daughter doing? I hope that she hasn't caused you too much trouble has she? That girl can be a right pain in the behind when she desires to be."

"Oh... no Ma'am. She's been behaving. We are really getting along. I just have a question for you.."

"Please, feel free to ask away."

"What exactly is.. in the basement? Jessica keeps putting her head on the door and talking to something? She keeps referring to it as a.. as a Mr. Ragtag? I'm not exactly sure what to do... she keeps wanting to go down to the basement to see him.."

"Oh... just ignore her. She's a child. All children have imaginary friends. Mr. Ragtag is... he's imaginary. Just don't let her go down to the basement. She shouldn't go down there. Especially not for that.. that thing that doesn't exist."

"… Alright Ms. Thompson. I'll keep her away from there. I'm putting Jessica to bed in a little bit. Have a nice evening."

"Yes.. thank you. Goodbye."

11:42 PM

"Hello-"

"M-Ms.. Thompson?"

"Yes Agnes? Are you alright? What's going on?"

"I'm so sorry Ms. Thompson I- I fell asleep on the couch and.. and then Jessica she..."

"Jessica? What about Jessica? Agnes.. Agnes calm down and tell me exactly what is happening."

"I feel asleep on the couch and Jessica.. well I woke up because I heard a loud noise and when I rushed over to her room to see what happened she.. she wasn't... she wasn't there and now I don't know where she is, Ms. Thompson I'm so sorry it's all my fault I can't believe I could be so carless as to.."

"AGNES."

"..."

"Alright.. I'm sorry I shouldn't have raised my voice but you have to calm down alright? My daughter she.. she has strange habits. She's probably just.. gone for a walk or something. No.. she couldn't have.. her windows are locked. The windows are still locked right?"

"Uhh.. yes, yes they are still locked."

"Alright, well then she must still be somewhere in the house right? She can't have gone out.. wait is the front door still locked?"

"I locked it before I fell asleep. It should still be closed... yeah it's still locked."

"Have you checked the side doors?"

"Yeah... nothing has changed."

"Oh god... then she has to be... oh no I god I never should have left."

"It's okay Ms. Thompson... I'll just go down to the basement and get her... she's probably down there right? Hey, I might even get a chance to meet this Mr. Ragtag fellow."

"... I- I suppose you are right. Okay, Agnes, keep me on call. Please, go find my daughter. Just- just get her out of the basement. And be careful."

"I'm going to be fine Ma'am. I promise."

12:01 PM

"Are you still there Ms. Thompson?"

"Yes, I am."

"Alright, well, I'm going to the basement right now.....

Uhh.. Ms. Thompson? Has the door always had a sort of hole in it?"

"What do you mean by a hole?"

"Like a sort of big, hole that maybe a small child could- oh.."

"Go and get my daughter Agnes."

"Yes Ms. Thompson."

12:08 PM

"Alright.. I've found the key.. it's the one with the brass head right?"

"Yes, that's the one. Stop stalling."

"I'm not- alright I'm sorry Ms. Thompson. I've unlocked the door and now I'm going into the basement.. okay yeah.. AGH!"

"Agnes? Agnes!?! Agnes, what's wrong?"

"It's alright Ms. Thompson... it was- I just took a misstep or something. It's really dark down here."

"Alright... let's just... be careful from now on."

"Okay, okay I've reached the bottom of the staircase.. ugh the ground is super nasty.. it's like.. sticking to my shoes and stuff."

"Just ignore that and keep walking."

"Urhh.. nhh.. I think I'm out of it now... can I switch you onto speaker phone? I could really use my flashlight."

"Yes, alright.. just don't have it up to loud. You don't want to bother- you don't want it up too loud.."

"... okay you are on speaker phone now.. volume down just like you said.. let me turn the light on and.. oh..... god."

"Agnes? Yes what is it? It's probably fine, whatever it is, things always look scary in the dark you know.. you can never properly make out-"

"N-no... it's not that... it's most definitely not that. Blood. There's.. there's blood all over the floor... oh my god I think it's fresh and I just walked through it and- ... AGHHH!"

"Hello? Agnes? Agnes?!? Agnes oh god please pick up the phone.. please answer me Agnes come on be alright Agnes!!"

"...."

"Agnes? Agnes oh my goodness, you are alive! Agnes it's okay to talk Agnes..."

"Hello mommy."

"Jessica?!? Jessica oh my god baby thank god... I didn't think I would hear your voice again! Jessica please tell me, where is Agnes? Is she okay? Are you alright? What's going on?"

"Oh mommy. You are so silly. Agnes is fine. She has met my friend."

"W-what?"

"My best friend mommy. Mr. Ragtag."