Page 6 of Under the Bed

I will.

Now, I need comfort. I need him.

I won’t have him. The judge is saying that he’s going to a psychiatric hospital.

Where he’ll stay until…

Until…

No one knows.

Daddy hopes it’s for the rest of his life.

Yesterday, Kaleb’s mom finally said that she hoped so, too.

If it were up to me…

“Kaleb,” I sob his name when the men lead him out. “Kaleb, please. Please!”

Please, don’t leave me.

Or…please, go away. I don’t want you to kill me.

He twists his head. His stare is sharp, slicing into me.

The pain in my tummy intensifies. Invisible knives slash through me.

They drag him, yet he won’t stop looking at me. He needs me to say something, I’m sure of it. Kaleb begs me to say what it is I want.

I bet that if I asked, he’d run away with me right this minute.

He’s bad news, Shiloh. You’d do well to forget him, or you’d end up like those kids. Dead without their hearts and some of their fingers.

I wish Kaleb would stay. I wish he wouldn’t kill me if he did.

What should I do?

What should I do?

“Let’s go, Shiloh.” Daddy’s hand clamps around my arm. Too strong. Too tight.

I can’t say a thing.

Kaleb growls as they take him far, far, far from me.

“Take it.” I thrust my hand out to him, holding the mask out.

He’s nowhere near me, though. He’ll never be able to reach it.

He glances at it.

For a second.

Then, his dark glare lands on my face.

“Don’t worry, little sister.” His voice is as cold as a Seattle winter.

Goosebumps prickle on my body. My breath catches in my throat. “I’ll be back for you.”

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