CHAPTER 20 - Noah Black
My heart melted to the floor, finding something true
And everyone's looking around, thinking I'm going crazy
But I don't care what they say, I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away, but they don't know the truth
Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis
Terror consumes my entire body when Gavin leans over and sets Sadie's drawing on the table.
The one with me, her, and Bryan.
I notice his eagle eyes land on my little girl.
I turn toward her, noticing her little eyes already glistening with fear.
“What is this drawing?” he asks quietly, but in a tone so cold that even I feel a shiver of fear run down my spine. “Who are these people?” he repeats, his voice even firmer.
Under the table, I stroke her leg, trying to reassure her, believing she'll find some excuse. But she's just a child.
A frightened child.
We never agreed on what she'd say if he found the drawing.
I was careless.
Irresponsible to have put the responsibility of hiding the drawing on her.
And now, as he stares at her with hatred, I'm afraid—no, terrified—when I think about what will happen to us when she tells him the guy is my friend.
“I asked who these people are, Sadie Black.” He slams his hand on the table, making her tremble.
Gavin only calls her by her full name when he's angry. Very angry.
“It's nothing serious,” she finally says, wiping away a stray tear.
I hate that she has to hide even her own feelings because she knows if she cries, they'll feed on her pain and mistreat her even more.
She leans in, pulling the drawing toward her, and he allows it, but soon moves to stand beside her.
“This is me.” She points to the smiling girl running free through what looks like the yard of a huge house. “Noah.” She points to me in the drawing, my hair down. “And this one…”
“Yes, who is that?” he interrupts, shooting me a questioning look. I just shake my head, trying to pretend I don't know anything.
If I admit I knew about the drawing, he'll get even more suspicious.
He'll think I was the one who told her to draw it.
That will plant a seed of doubt in his mind.
And that little seed might be exactly what makes him investigate.
“My imaginary friend.” When I hear her words, I have to fight back the sob of relief threatening to escape.
That's my little girl.
I don't know why I thought she'd give Bryan away.
She'd never do that because she knows he'd hurt us.
“Are you seeing aberrations?” Sarah says, horrified. “That's not of God!”
“They're not aberrations!” Sadie retorts, her voice trembling.
“I think we need to do a purification on you,” Gavin says, crumpling the paper while staring at me. “Have you been so negligent with your sister that she needs an imaginary friend now?”
“I only saw him once, and it was in my dream,” she explains, drawing everyone's attention. “I didn't know what to draw, so I did this.”
“Next time, draw me, not another man, understood?” he grunts. She nods, afraid. “And if you have dreams like that again, I want you to tell me,” he orders, returning to his seat at the table. “Greta!!” he shouts, and she quickly approaches. “Throw this in the trash!” He hands her the paper.
“Yes, sir,” she responds, already moving away. I wish I could ask her not to throw it out, but I stay quiet, showing no reaction.
“I still think a purification is necessary,” that wretch Sarah says again.
I tap the table twice, signaling no.
“You have no voice in this house,” she jabs, flashing me a sarcastic smile.
Neither do you, you miserable woman!
My mind screams, but I just turn my gaze to Gavin.
“If it happens again, I'll take her down to the basement to cleanse her mind and body of impurities that are not of God,” he warns. I nod, though reluctantly.
Is that what he did to me?
Was he trying to remove the impurities he believes exist in my body?
Lord, purify this house.
Eliminate rebellion with the force of your command.
May each member of this family recognize their proper place,
and may obedience be the pillar of our salvation.
May Sadie's mind not be invaded by ghosts and demons.
He starts the damned daily prayer, and Greta doesn't approach with our breakfast until he's finished.
“Greta, call Tilden. He should be down by now,” Sarah grumbles irritably.
“He already left,” Gavin says, and my heart races.
“Why?” she demands, her eyes locking onto mine immediately. “What did you do to make him give up on staying for the weekend?”
“He texted in the middle of the night explaining that he ran into some friends at the bar and decided to go hunting with them,” Gavin responds, and she frowns.
“He'll be at a farm for a few days.” I try to hide my disappointment knowing Bryan didn't succeed.
Didn't succeed in getting him out of my way like Lauren suggested.
“I'll arrange for him to come back next weekend to start his initiation.”
“It'll be here at the mansion, right?” Sarah asks excitedly, and he nods.
“I'll be traveling to Washington DC in a few days to finalize the details.” I listen carefully. “I'll be gone for about two days, but I'll keep you informed so you can get everything organized the way it should be. No mistakes!”
“When you return, everything will be ready!” she assures him with a restrained smile.
“I hope so,” he cuts her off, returning to his meal. “How are your classes going, Sadie?”
“Aunt Elizabeth is kind of annoying,” she lies as instructed.
“No, she's not. She's a professional and she needs to make sure you learn,” he retorts.
“She's your teacher, not your friend,” the witch adds. “Now you can get up—it's time for class.” She stares at me. “And you, clean and organize the pantry,” she orders, and I stand up, holding Sadie's hand as we walk to the library.
As soon as we pass through the door, I find Lauren sitting at the table, already waiting. But before going to her, I crouch down, bringing my face level with my little one's.
Thank you for not telling anyone about Bryan.
You're the smartest little girl in the world.
“He's one of the good guys. I can't tell!” She smiles, and I press a big kiss on her cheek before she runs to the table.
“You can go upstairs and rest a bit,” Lauren says as she opens the books.
I'm not tired.
Besides, I need to organize the pantry—according to Sarah, it's a mess.
“Greta's already organizing it.” I'm about to refuse when she raises her hand. “I know that vermin left you exhausted last night, so take the chance to rest.”
I think about arguing, but I really do still feel the exhaustion in every pore.
And after what Gavin said, I know Tilden will be back soon.
If Bryan had gotten to him, there wouldn't have been a message about the hunting trip.
A knot tears its way down my throat.
I force a smile in agreement and turn on my heels.
The table is empty, so they've probably already left for the distribution center.
I climb the stairs slowly, knowing I won't be able to sleep.
But I can spend some time texting Bryan to try to forget that Tilden will be back in a few days.
Yesterday I fell asleep faster than I have in years.
Even after the bastard's harassment, I managed to pass out almost immediately, and instead of the usual nightmares, I dreamed of Bryan watching over me as I slept.
At first, when he told me he was watching me, I found it a bit disturbing, but I soon realized I liked the idea of having his eyes on me through the night. Maybe because that way, the monsters stay hidden under the bed and don't dare climb up.
There's a strange peace in knowing he's watching me, and I think it's because Bryan is the only man I trust enough not to hurt me.
His words—that he was obsessed with me—come flooding back into my mind uninvited. And just like when I first read them, my body lights up in a way I hadn't expected.
It's a mix of euphoria and excitement, and I don't know what that says about me, but that night, for the first time in years, I felt a tingling I'd only experienced when our sweaty bodies were tangled together, giving ourselves to each other.
It was strange to feel desire again, and since I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep with all that restlessness coursing through me, I decided to go ahead and draw what he needed.
I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't notice there's someone in my room until I walk through the door.
I press my hand to my heart, trying not to have a heart attack when I find Bryan lying on my bed.
I close the door immediately.
What are you doing here?
“I came to kidnap you,” he responds, and it's still surreal that he's learning sign language. “We have a few hours before the vermin gets back.”
They're working.
One little thing and they'll be here in ten minutes.
“There's someone watching the distribution center. If he leaves, I'll know right away.” He sits up. “I promise we'll be back soon.”
You didn't see Tilden, did you?
The question slips out before I can stop it, and his fingers brush my cheek.
“I found him on the road,” he answers, and my heart races. “He won't bother you anymore.”
Gavin said he sent a message claiming he was with some friends. He's coming back next weekend, Bryan.
I pull away, hugging myself, trying to hide my disappointment that he didn't finish off that bastard.
A few days ago, I was terrified by his outburst. Today I'm disappointed he didn't kill someone.
What the hell is happening to me?
“Good to know Luke made Gavin believe the message.” I narrow my eyes in confusion, and he smiles with satisfaction. “You don't need to know what I did, but just know he'll never come near you again.”
I want to. I want to know what you did to him.
I sign hurriedly, and from his hesitation, I can't tell if he's deciding whether to tell me or if he simply didn't understand.
I try to slip past him to grab my phone, but he stops me, gently taking hold of my arm.