Hide and Scream

Candy-coated lies in his silver van

Promised me a dollhouse, took me by the hand

Skippin’ down the sidewalk, red bow in my hair

Didn’t see the monster hiding in his stare

Twinkle, twinkle, little trick

He moves in shadows, quiet and quick

Told me I was special, said I’d be his queen

But now I’m locked inside a nightmare dream

Hide and scream, he’s coming for me

Syrup-sweet words but his eyes don’t agree

“Come out, come out,” he whispers so low

I cover my mouth, don’t let it show

He says, “Tag, you’re mine,” as he turns off the light

And I pray I don’t lose the game tonight

Music box spinning, off with the tune

Broken lullabies under the moon

Scribbled hearts on the walls of his cage

A princess trapped, swallowed by rage

Eenie-meenie-miney-moan

He likes to play when you’re all alone

Lipstick smudged and socks mismatched

He says I’m pretty when I’m scratched

Hide and scream, he’s chasing again

With candy trails and promises thin

“Come out, come out,” like it’s just pretend

But this game don’t stop and it never ends

He says, “Tag, you’re mine,” and the door creaks tight

My shadow curls in fear of the night

My teddy bear has button eyes

He watched me cry a hundred times

My voice is stitched into the seams

Of every one of his haunted dreams

He sings a rhyme, I count to ten

But I don’t think I’ll wake again

Hide and scream, it’s my only play

Another lost girl, led astray

“Come out, come out,” the dark replies

But no one hears the silent cries

He says, “Tag, you’re mine,” as I lose my fight

And he turns my lullaby into fright

One, two, he’s watching you

Three, four, you’re not safe anymore

Five, six, his lips are slick

Seven, eight, you took the bait

Nine, ten…

Never sleep again.