Page 3 of Dreadful

“…drivercapoandpriest. Thejudge—”

“Princess…I’ve missed you.” Her song cuts off with a whimper. The door creaks open and I hold my breath. “I had to work on a Sunday, so don’t give me a hard time now. Come take your medicine.” His gravelly voice grates at my nerves as his words slur through the walls.

I don’t understand exactly what goes on in that room, but I don’t need to. The sounds alone feel wrong as they crawl underneath my skin, keeping me up hours after it’s all over. I’d rather chop my ears off than listen, but I have to know the girl is okay. Even after he’s gone, we sit in silence together, separated by the wall between us. I hate her almost-silent sniffles the rest of the night, but at least I know she’s alive.

My ears ring to hear her now, to find out some clue about how she’s going to stop him. But it’s like every other night he’s been here this past week, and she doesn’t say a word. My stomach flips, and I slam my eyes shut in prayer.

Please let this be the last time, God. Please let us go.

Before long, I hear the dreaded noises that make me want to claw my eardrums out. I wrap my arms around my bent knees and will myself to get through it with her, wishing I could save her instead. My eyes won’t stop burning, and shame flushes my skin.

She’s not crying right now, so I won’t either.

I won’t cry.

I won’t. I won’t. I won’t.

Her quiet lyrics break into my mind.

Great…now she’s got them stuck in my head—

My heartbeat stops.

She’s singing them out loud.

The girl has never once made a peep while my uncle’s friend is in there, but she’s singing now.

Is this my signal? What am I supposed to do? Does she need me?

“Shut up.” The man’s gruff words tumble through the vent. They’re slower than before and harder to understand.

What’s going on?

My ears perk as her song turns tearful, her voice watery like she’s choking back a sob.

I hop up from the bed and slip into the shoes I had on when the capo took me. After I lace them up, I pace the room, my fists at my sides while I look around to see if there’s anything I need. One of my father’s favorite curse words slips under my breath.

I should’ve figured all this out already. I should’ve packed. I should be right at the door. Whatever she’s doing in there is forourescape, and I’ve been crying like a baby while she suffers.

After a few moments, the song becomes a low wail, and all the noises seem to echo against my brain. I scream at the top of my lungs and bang against the wall between us.

“Stop it! Stop! You’re hurting her! Stop! Stop! Stop!”

I trip away from the wall and slam my hands over my ears, unable to take it anymore.

Coward, coward, coward. I’m such a coward.

What would my father do if he saw me like this? Why isn’t he here already, saving me? Savingherfrom what’s happening?

My tears are cool as they fall freely down my burning cheeks. Honestly, I don’t have to wonder what my father would say to me. The answer is nothing, but if he found me now, he’d box my ears off. The sides of my head already hurt from how hard my hands are trying to block everything out. My heartbeat whooshes loud in my ears, and my pacing footsteps get faster and faster until a hand wraps around my wrist.

I stutter step away from it. My eyes widen in the darkness to see the girl who’s kept me from going crazy since I got here.

“It’s you. You’re…you’re okay—”

She suddenly squeezes me so tight I can barely breathe. I’m too shocked to return the hug, but she lets go too quickly anyway. When she steps back, she smooths down her nightgown and gives me a big, toothy grin. Her fair hair is in a messy braid, and her eyes shimmer in the dim light as she looks me over, too.

Does she see the boy who let her sacrifice herself to save us both? That I’m a coward for letting her get hurt? Because that’s how I feel right now, and I can’t help but wonder why she’s bothering to save me at all. It’d be safer for her to run away alone.