The house was cold. Adria moved down the grand staircase, her nightgown trailing just above her feet. She could hear crying. Silently, she moved towards the sound. The shadows seemed to move around her and she had to concentrate. There was nothing to be scared of. Her father protected them. There were no monsters here.
Even though she believed it, it did little to dissuade the pieces of darkness that danced around her. Mocking her. Proving that she wasn’t brave.
Walking on her tiptoes she tried to move past the dark haze in the kitchen; a thick smell of burning food filled her nose.
A small notebook sat at the edge of the breakfast counter. Adria saw the sketching of a mountainside on its cover.
Adjusting her gaze, she saw the pantry door.
The cries were coming from there.
Soft, pitiful sounds. Adria wanted to help.
Reaching her hand up, she encircled the handle.
Turning it, she pulled on the door.
The crying stopped.
Adria stared into the darkness.
At first, she saw nothing, but then, after letting her eyes adjust, she saw white skin. Stepping closer, the moaning continued. Adria moved to the person’s side, reaching out to comfort them.
Clarity came to her, and she looked down at Jonathan: his naked form tied to a chair, skin flayed from his body, blood pouring from him.
“Help me.”
She scrunched her eyes shut, and everything turned to darkness once more.
But voices caused her to open her eyes again.
This time, it wasn’t Jonathan bleeding. It was Alexey,one of the cooks. The nice one that always made her pancakes with chocolate chips.
“Help me,” he said again.
Adria tried to back up, but she slipped on something and fell onto her bottom.
Her hands touched something slippery and wet.
Looking down, she realized in horror that she was in a pool of blood.
Adria screamed into the darkness.
Immediately, hands wrapped around her, and instead of fear, she felt a blanket of warmth. Kaydon was with her.
“Shhhh, gorgeous, it was only a dream.”
It was pitch black, but when hands reached up to cup her face, she knew they were Bryson’s.
The four of them had spent the afternoon rearranging the space, pushing the two bunk beds together. It was a group effort,but they somehow managed to create a reasonable sleeping arrangement.
“What is it? What happened?” Kaydon asked.
She shook her head. “It was just a dream.”
“Tell us,” Bryson said, his thumb brushing her cheek.
Adria thought about saying no.
