Page 77 of Twisted Violet

Into a place where his grunts are nothing more than whispers in the wind.

Into a realm where his touch can't reach me.

Into a world where my innocence isn’t gone.

My body jerks upright.

I blink hard, trying to make sense of where I am.

The ceiling is smooth. Whole. The mattress isn’t stained. The walls aren’t metal.

It’s Rome’s room.

I’m safe.

I repeat the words to myself like a prayer.

You’re safe. You’re safe. You’re safe.

Something nudges my arm.

I flinch, then freeze.

A warm snout presses gently against my wrist and I blink down to find Ollie staring up at me, his wide brown eyes filled with worry.

He lets out a soft whine and crawls closer on the bed, burying his head beneath my arm like he’s trying to shield me from whatever I saw in the dark.

My face softens.

“Hey, Ollie Ollie Oxen Free.” My voice is raw. “What are you doing in Rome’s room?”

I run my fingers through his golden fur, grateful for the anchor, for the steady weight of something real.

He’s soft,solid, and warm.

My heart finally begins to settle, each beat thudding slower beneath my ribs. I press a kiss to the top of his head and close my eyes for a second longer, letting his warmth chase the nightmare back into its corner.

But then I hear them. Voices. Low, urgent, and real.

My eyes snap open and I see Ollie’s ears perk up.

I glance at the clock - 1:46 a.m. Way too late for a casual conversation.

I slip out of bed, careful not to jostle Ollie too much, but he hops down behind me anyway, keeping his body glued to mine like he knows I need him.

The voices grow clearer as we step into the hallway. Still muffled, still low, but sharper now, like whoever’s talking is angry, but doesn’t want to be overheard.

Something’s wrong.

Ollie nudges my leg again, almost like he can sense the shift too.

We move together toward the sounds and stop just before the doorway to the office. The door isn’t fully shut; it’s cracked enough so that the sounds slip through.

I hear Rome first. His voice is low and inflectionless. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“And you don’t think you are?” A feminine voice snaps back.

Recognition clicks and my body goes still.