3:06am

PANEL:
Window shutters quickly close.  The night through the window is dark with hues of dark blue, just like any other night.

DAD

Darla?

PANEL:
DARLA wakes from her sleep, much to her annoyance.  The look on her face shows she hears her DAD as he grabs her by one shoulder and jostles her a bit.  Her closely-shut eyes show she doesn't want to.

DAD

Darla, baby.  Wake up, honey.

DARLA

What?  Dad?

PANEL:
DARLA sits up and rubs her hand against her face.  DAD motions a finger across his lips with a hand on her shoulder.

DAD

Sssshhh.

You gotta whisper, sweetie.

DARLA

What's wrong?  What's going on?

DAD

Don't worry, baby.  We're just gonna go for a little drive, okay?

PANEL:
DAD walks away from the reader, DARLA hoisted over his shoulder.  She leans her head lazily against his neck.

DAD

Don't look out there, baby.  Come on.

PANEL:
DAD is bent down on a knee in front of the front door.  DARLA looks at him, still and slightly afraid.  She's wearing her favorite pink winter jacket.

DARLA

Where are we going?

DAD

Don't worry, honey.  Help me put on your shoes.  You can sleep in the car, okay?

PANEL:
A change in angle, DAD puts on DARLA's shoe for her and hides his face, his head lowered.

DARLA

Where's mom?

DAD

She-- Mom will meet us there.

PANEL:
DAD now has both hands on his face.  DARLA just looks at her father worringly.

DARLA

Where?

DAD

Darla, I need you to put your hands up like this, okay?  Just like we're playing "Hide and Seek".  But you can't peek, okay?

DARLA

Why?

PANEL:
DAD puts up DARLA's hood for her, looking her straight in the eye.

DAD

I'm going to put up your hood, and I'm going to carry you out to the car.  I want you to bury yourself into my chest reeeaaally tight, okay?  And when I put you in the car, you still have to cover your eyes until I say it's alright, do you understand?  No peeking.

DARLA

But--

DAD

Promise me, sweetie.

PANEL:
A bigger and smaller hand meet at the pinky.

DARLA

Okay.

DAD

Pinky swear?

DARLA

I swear.

DAD

Okay.

PANEL:
DARLA has her hands tucked under her hood, her face buried deep into DAD's shoulder.  He looks over at her as he holds her close to his chest.  He's wearing a hat low over his brows.

DAD

Can you see anything?

DARLA

No.

DAD

Good girl.

PANEL:
The front door opens, and DAD walks out with DARLA held close, a hand on top of her hooded head.  His head is turned down to see where he walks, without risk of looking anywhere near the horizon.

DAD

Just listen, Darla.  Whatever happens, and whatever you hear, don't look at the sky.

THE END