Page 187 of Severed Heart

“What’s happening, Delphine? Where are you now?”

“I’m in the bedroom, calling Celine to come because Ormand is leaving. The front door just closed. Alain is coming for me. He’s coming.”

“Delphine, breathe with me,” Regina coaxes. “Inhale. Good. Exhale. Good. Where are you now?”

“I’m in the bedroom. I’ve locked the door and ... I’m staring at the knob. There’s no way out.”

My entire body shudders as Alain bursts through the bedroom door, his expression...“He’s going to kill me.”

“Delphine, listen to me. You are home, in your homewith Tyler. You are safe.”

My mind races with images of Alain’s fury as flashes of pain follow. Visions that refuse to be brought into focus, refusing to reveal themselves to me.

“Delphine, can you tell me where you are now? What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see anything.” Just as I say it, I see myself gripping Alain’s hands, clawing at them as the carpet burns my back, my scalp screaming.

“He is dragging me through the house, into the kitchen.”

Screams,my screams, echo through my mind, filling my ears as Alain delivers one vicious blow after another, spittle dripping from his mouth and onto my face as sounds start to muddle, only a few ringing clear. The sound of ripping clothes ... and pain. So much pain. Burning and tearing. Darkness follows briefly and my breath stops altogether... it’s then the image I had weeks ago becomes clear. The sight of Alain standing at the kitchen table feet away. Death in his eyes,my death, clear and imminent from where I lay on the floor. Seething, he stares down at me with pure hatred and malice as he starts to reach for . . .

Darkness encompasses me, utter and complete darkness as only muddled sounds make it through. Awareness and then none. It’s then I realize I’m going in and out of consciousness as the voices continue to cascade in sound. It’s my sister’s voice which rings through first. A voice that I cling to.

“Sister, can you hear me?”

“Celine...” I wheeze, my voice broken. “I can’t see.”

“Delphine, where are you?” Regina asks urgently.

“What,” I croak.“...What happened?”

Beau’s voice booms throughout the kitchen as my sister cradles my head in her lap, sobbing uncontrollably.

“It hurts so much, and I can’t see anything.”

“Where does it hurt?” Regina prods.

“Between my legs ... my side, my hand, my throat, my head. I’m bleeding. I’m ... naked below the waist. Beau is screaming so loud it hurts.”

“What is he saying, Delphine?”

“I will fucking kill you!” Beau shouts. A loud thwack sounds against the glass of the sliding door before Alain screams out in pain.

“Beau, stop!” Celine cries out in panic. “You’re going to kill him!”

Alain

Alain is what happened.

The boots. The fucking boots.

Darkness ...

Ezekiel’s voice sounds from somewhere at the front of the house as I come to. “Papa, what is happening? Why are you yelling at Alain?”

“Celine,” I manage to croak, forcing the words out around the pain. Every syllable coming out cracked, broken, my voice foreign. “Do ... not let Ezekiel see.”

“Tobias, get your brother and get back in the car! Right now!” Celine shouts.