Page 26

Her breathing got easier, and her muscles slowly unclenched as they talked softly to her and touched her.It was just them in the room, no one else.

“What scares you?”Ry asked, his fingers massaging her arm in the restraints.

“I…” How could she tell them?This was something no one knew about, not even her grandmother.

“You can tell us,” Jed whispered.

“I can’t talk like this.”She couldn’t.She wanted to see their faces when she spoke about what happened.To know they didn’t take her fear lightly.

Ry and Jed released the restraints and helped her sit up before the blindfold was removed.Katie blinked several times.

Jed scooped her up and they walked across the room to the bed.Ry sat and Jed set her next to Ry before he sat beside her.Jed slipped his arm around her shoulders while Ry’s arm encircled her waist.

“Tell us,” Ry said.It was a gentle command, but a command all the same.

“It happened when I was nine.”A shiver dashed up her spine.She really didn’t want to remember, but they needed to know.“I don’t know if you two remember the horrible storm we had that spring.”

Jed’s lips brushed her temple.“I do.Lots of thunder and lightning.”He glanced over at Ry.“Remember the lightning struck the old barn, and we were all out there making sure the fire was out.”

“Yes,” Ry said.

Another shiver hit her.

“What happened, little one?”Ry squeezed her waist.

“Mom and Grandma were both out.”Her voice trembled.You’d think by now that she’d be over this, but there was something about it she couldn’t get past.“The storm started, and I hated storms.I went up to my room and curled up in my bed, hoping it would pass quickly.”

“And if I remember, it didn’t,” Ry said, his arms giving her a squeeze.

“No.”She closed her eyes, trying to force back the fear.“And then the power went out.”

Their arms tightened around her, trying to give her comfort while encouraging her to continue.

“It was so dark I couldn’t see anything.I crept out of bed, carefully making my way to the door.I figured if I could find my mom’s room, I could find the flashlight.”Her breath hitched.She’d been so scared, so alone.

“You’re safe, baby,” Jed whispered.

“I’d just gotten into the hallway when I heard a noise.”She’d frozen in place, afraid to move.Afraid of the noise.Her heart raced with renewed fear.“Then I heard footsteps.I didn’t know what to do.”

Ry and Jed moved together, maneuvering her and themselves up the bed, propping her up with pillows against the headboard.Their faces held concern as they sat on each side.Each picked up one of her hands.

“I was so afraid,” she whispered.“It was so dark, and there was someone in the house.I wanted to call out but was afraid it wasn’t Mom or Gran.”Her stomach roiled as the fear coiled there.

“The bottom stair creaked.”She couldn’t stop the quiver in her voice.“I somehow scooted back into my room, but the steps were coming closer.”Tears filled her eyes.

“Fuck,” Ry whispered.

“How could we have not known this?”Jed asked.

“Because no one knows,” Katie whispered.

“What do you mean, no one knows?”Ry asked.

“I was trying to find the closet when the lights flickered back on.”Her voice was a bit steadier now.“I saw a shadow outside my room.”She fought against the fear.

“Who was it?”Jed asked softly.

“I don’t know.The lights flickered, and all went dark again.But I knew where my closet was.I grabbed my teddy bear and quietly went into the closet.”