Page 8 of Slavic

“Myhusband built it, actually.Daysafter it was done,Ilost him to a drunk driver.”Myface must have shown my shock. “What?Didyou think thatI’dbeen mistreated and that’s whyI’mhelping you and the others?”

“Yes,I’msorry,Isimply assumed.”Istumble over the words.

“Noneed to apologize, child.You’reright to an extent because our daughter was killed by an abusive man.Wetried and tried to get her away from him, but like all the others, she was scared and felt like there was no escaping him.Afterwe lost her, this place became a labor of love for me and the hubby.Atthe time, we both felt like we’d failed her in so many ways.It’staken me years to come to grips with the fact that we didn’t.Sometimesthings happen that are completely out of our control, and it’sonly natural to wonder if we could’ve done more.Ifanything, those horrible things had to occur in order for me to be able to help others in the same, if not worse situations than she’d been in.”

“I’dbe lying ifIsaid it was easy for me to move on.Losingboth of them made it hard to function and it took me quite a while to accept, althoughI’vetruly never overcome it.Iwas wrapped up in my own hell for many years, my heart breaking every timeIopened my eyes in the morning.UntilIwalked into a supermarket one day and found a teenage girl hiding in the bathroom, bruised, and scared as hell.Fromthat very moment on,Idecided to honor my loved ones the only wayIcould, by helping as many others as possible.

Comeon, we’re all tired and that’s enough about me for now.It’sgetting late and you girls have been through plenty these last few days.Thisplace is not on any map and no one besides me and one other woman even know how to get here from the main road.You’reas safe as you can get, for a while anyway.OnceIget you girls settled inside,I’llhead back out and put the car in the garage.Wemake sure to never leave anything outside that can be seen by air, or a nosy hiker.”

Thearea is getting dark as dusk settles, and allIcan see around us is the glow of pale lights behind a massive set of glass doors in front of this underground cave-house.Igrab a couple of the bags out of the back of the van whileRowanstands there looking around in a daze.I’mnot sure what is going on with her, but it’s like she’s in shock.Herbody is here, but her mind isn’t, and her eyes seem unfocused.

WhenIseeJanetholding the door open for us,IgrabRowan’shand, pulling her along with me as we walk through the door.Idon’t know whyI’msurprised to see quite a few girls sittingaround, butIam.Severalare playing cards and others, some type of dice game.Anotheris sitting on a couch with a book in her hand.Theyall look up at the same time when we come through the door.Janetmotions to us standing behind her.

“Everyone, this isRubyandRowan.They’llbe staying with us for a little while.They’vehad a long drive and it’s late, so we’ll make all the introductions in the morning after they get settled.”

Ihear a few ‘welcomes’as we followJanetdown a long hallway where there are several doors located on each side.Shestops at the one on the end, then motions for us to go in.Theroom is larger thanIwould have expected, with two twin beds and a separate bath.

“Thiswill be yours while you’re with us.Thebathroom is stocked and there’s also a small refrigerator in the corner with drinks inside.Getsettled and some sleep.There’llbe plenty of time to figure out the rest later.”Shedoesn’t wait for either of us to say anything, simply shuts the door behind her as she leaves.

Ithrow my bag on the twin bed, running my hand over the smoothed rock wall next to it. “Wow,Rowan,Idon’t believeI’veever seen anything like this place.Youwould think it would smell like dirt or even be damp on the inside, but it’s not at all.Thisis sweet.”

Rowanis still just standing by the door, statue still, she hasn’t moved.Frowning,Iwalk over, pulling the hood off her head slowly while trying not to flinch at the shape her beautiful face is in.Wavingmy hand in front of her vacant eyes, she jerks back.Tearsform in my own asIhave no idea how to help her.Ilean down so that my face is level with hers. “Hey, talk to me.”

“I’mscaredRuby.”Hervoice is so weakIbarely hear her.

“Lordbaby girl,Iam too, but right now we’re alright, so let’s be grateful for that.Whydon’t you go grab a quick shower and change out of this old sweatshirt into something more comfortable.”

“Idon’t want to,I’mjust gonna lay down.Idon’t feel up to bathing right now, but you go ahead.”

GentlyIstart to pull her in for a hug, but she stiffens up, soIdon’t force it.Instead,Ikiss her cheek and leave her standing there.Openingmy bag,Igrab my favorite pajamas thatI’vehad for so many years, they’re full of holes.Ihead into the bathroom that’s small and plain, but it has everything we need in it.

Tryingto destress my body,Ilean my head against the cold tiles.Makingmyself take a couple of deep breaths, the hot water beats down on me from the shower head above.Ireluctantly get out after staying in way too long.Wrappinga towel around myself,Iglance out into the darkened bedroom, not shocked to findRowanalready in bed.Thehood of that damn sweatshirt is pulled completely up over her head, like a shield.

EventhoughI’mworn out,Itake a moment to brush out my long, dark red curls.Theyinstantly start frizzing becauseI’venot been conditioning it right these last few days.Imake a mental note to myself to bring my leave-in conditioner and stuff into the bathroom tomorrow, then turn off the light.

Flippingthe bathroom light off makes the room get scary dark.Nota fan,Iflip the light back on, leaving the door cracked so thatIcan still see a little.Tip-toeing across the room,Istop to look down atRowan’ssmall form curled up in the twin bed before heading toward mine.Pullingthe blankets down,Islide into the soft, sweet-smelling sheets, then roll onto my side, so thatIam facingRowan.

Mymind is busy, but blank all at the same time.KnowingIneed to sleep,Ifeel likeI’veno sooner closed my eyes than something wakes me up.Thehairs on my arms stand up the momentIrealize the room is pitch black again.Listening, the room is eerily quiet at first, then there’s an odd sound, like something is sliding around on the floor near the bed.

Chapter Six

RUBY.

Instantlyterrified,my heart is beating out of my chest.Ihave no idea why, but all my senses are telling me to run.Thefirst thing that crosses my mind is, ‘Howdid her husband find us so quickly?’That’suntilIhear a hissing sound.Pullingmy legs up,Ilean over the side of the bed, but without the light on,Ican’t see anything. ‘MaybeRowanturned it off?’

Suddenly, an odd smell has me gagging, and a silent scream catches in my throat when a set of blood-red eyes flash right before mine.Jerkingback,I’mgrabbed from behind, a large hand grasping my face before covering my nose with some sort of cloth.Smothering,Ikick out, fighting against the substantial body struggling to hold on to me from behind, only to feel my body start to go slack.I’mso focused on trying to escape and making my sluggish body move thatI’mnot necessarily paying attention to who or what has ahold of me.

Rowan’sfrightened eyes find mine just as a bright light flashes.Ican’t comprehend whatI’mseeing at first.Somethingout of a horror story is holding her in its massively large, scaly arms.Thelast thingIsee before everything fades away is her reaching for me.

Idon’t know what wakes me up again, maybe the groaning all around me, or the screams.Alarmed,Isit straight up. “Rowan!”

Asmall hand covers my mouth from behind.Ireach up, ready to fight when someone whispers, “Bequiet you idiot!Thelast thing you want is to get their attention.Nodyour head if you understand me.”

ThemomentImove my head, she lets go.WhenIfeel her move away from me,I’mon my feet, swaying unsteadily. “Takeit easy, you’re going to have rubber legs for a few hours.”

“Mysister?”Iwhisper.

“Withall those bruises,Iwasn’t sure if you two were related or not when they brought you in together.Shehasn’t woken up yet, but it shouldn’t be much longer.”

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