Page 6 of Penance

Kacey turns around and takes a few steps up, slowly, cautiously, silently. The big brute barely makes a creak on the wood as he approaches, like he’s closing in on a wild animal. He reaches out slowly, ever so gently laying his hand on her knee.

Lala flies to her feet, backing herself up on too-high heels, her palms raised out in front of her.

“Don’t touch me,” she shakily whispers.

Her voice breaking, Kacey drops a step back trying to show he’s not a threat.

“Darlin’?” Huxley calls stepping closer to the base of the stairs.

Darlin’?

Why the fuck’s he calling her Darlin’?

“Please, I don’t want to hurt anyone, just… just back up,” she chokes out between stuttered breaths.

Raising her palms higher in the air, her arms are shaking so hard, her fingers vibrating like the wings of a hummingbird.

“Charlie’s coming,” Tommy says calmly as he steps in front of me, “what else can I do, boss?”

Boss?

Tommy’s our mate from the army. He took leave and never came back; told us he got a better paying job. I see why now.

“Charlie’s coming,” she murmurs. Fisting her hands in her hair, yanking at the glossy strands. “Charlie’s coming,” she repeats, lost to herself.

“Sweetheart,please,” Kacey begs, and she slams her hands over her ears like she did when we were children, her head swinging side to side.

Tommy’s phone rings and he steps out the front door.

“No, no, no, no, no,” her chest is heaving up and down so rapidly I’m worried she’s going to pass out.

“Kacey, get her off the stairs,” I manage to say but it comes out as a bark, aggressive and demanding.

Huxley narrows his eyes on me before returning his attention to my girl, she wobbles on her heels and Hux rushes forward. Passing Kacey, he drops to his knees before her, his hands raised out in front of him, palms out, fingers splayed in submission.

“Come down from the stairs, Darlin’, please, you’re going to hurt yourself,” he pleads, his voice breaking like he really truly cares.

What the hell is going on here?

“I need you all to back away, I ne- I need to get to the kitchen,” Lala says, suddenly very calmly.

Like a switch has been flipped, she removes her hands from her ears, tucking her long silver hair behind them. Her gold hoops glinting in the yellow light.

A different monster inside her emerging now.

“Okay, whatever you need,” Huxley agrees.

He doesn’t turn his back to her. Instead, he stands, walking backwards as she moves forwards cautiously, both taking their time, descending slowly.

Kacey grabs my shirt in his fist, his eyes still tearing into hers. He hauls me into the dining room to the right of the stairs, essentially giving Lala a clear path to get to the living room and kitchen. He doesn’t release his grip on my t-shirt, like he’s using it to anchor himself. I’ve never seen him look so worried about anything before, not even in the field when we were walking through fucking landmines.

The whole first floor of our house is open plan, the stairs sit centrally opposite the front door, the dining room and bathroom to the right, the living room and kitchen to the left.

Huxley’s retreating form hits the landing, he backs up until he’s flush against the wall, sliding along it towards us.

Lala stops just before she hits the bottom step, her gaze locking with Kacey’s, a shiver runs up my spine at the cold, vacant look in her eyes.

“I’m going to need a sturdy chair, with arms,” she tells him without further explanation.