Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
HAVEN
PRESENT
As I expected, it’s been impossible to sleep. Maybe if I wasn’t intruding in someone else’s home then I’d be able to rest easier. Or maybe if I wasn’t afraid that my boyfriend’s brother is a murderous man who might hurt me next, that might help too.
After an hour of trying to get comfortable on this bed, I give up on sleep momentarily and check my phone. When I do, I see that I have a couple of missed calls and messages from Joel.
Where are you?
I’ve been looking for you.
I just want to know you’re okay.
I love you.
I feel a wave of guilt wash over me, ashamed of myself for allowing Joel to spend so much time worrying about me since I left his parents’ house and disappeared into the night.
I feel so bad that he’s been out there looking for me, although I am glad that he hasn’t found me here, at his grandmother’s house.
I need to message him back. At least let him know that I am safe. I don’t even know if we can still be a couple anymore, but I do know that I need to be a decent human being and stop him from worrying all night.
I’m okay. I’m safe.
I think about leaving it there, but I can’t.
I love you too.
I put my phone down and close my eyes again, but I can’t help but wish that Joel was here beside me in the bed.
Maybe not this bed specifically, because that would be a bit weird.
But in a bed like one we have shared so many times before.
Just the two of us, far away from here. Away from all this drama and stress.
Back where things used to be easy for us both.
Back before his grandmother died and there was suddenly a whole lot of money up for grabs.
I keep my eyes shut as if doing so will force my brain into sleep, but my eyes quickly open when I hear a noise downstairs.
What was that?
I sit upright in bed and listen out for it again. Then I hear it.
It sounds like something truly frightening.
It sounds like a key in a lock.
I get out of bed as quickly as I can and gather up the few belongings I had removed from the bag I’d packed. If somebody is coming in here then this place needs to look like nobody else is inside. But is somebody coming in?
When I hear the front door open and close downstairs, I get my answer.
Somebody is here.
But who?
I can’t believe it. I thought this would be the perfect place to spend the night. I thought I had time. I didn’t think anyone else would even think to come here in the middle of the night.
But I’m no longer alone.
Having picked up my bag, I creep as quietly as I can to the bedroom door, wondering if I can get a look down the stairs at who has just entered this house.
If I can, I’ll know whether I really need to hide or not.
Maybe I’ll be lucky and it’s Joel coming here to get away from his parents.
If it is, I could show myself and explain to him what I am doing here.
He’d be shocked to see me, and shocked to learn that I stole a key to get inside, but it wouldn’t be a total disaster if he found me because I know he won’t want me getting in any trouble.
But if it’s not him, I will have no choice but to hide.
Leaving the bedroom and taking a risk to reach the stairs, I look down to try and make out who is here.
But it’s dark and whoever has entered has not turned the lights on.
That’s making it difficult to see. But then I make out the shape of somebody hanging their coat on a hook, and the slight glimmer of moonlight that falls across their face as they do it gives me my answer.
It’s not a good one.
It’s an answer that confirms I need to get away from the stairs as quickly and as quietly as I can so I can go and find a good hiding place.
I have no choice now.
I have to avoid the person who is here.
It’s Liane.