Page 7 of Where the Dark Things Bloom

LENORE

Troywassnoringsoloudly that I could see the grains of dust falling from the cracks of the ceiling that were probably made by his loud snores. And I just twisted left and right in the bed.

I couldn’t sleep. All I thought was a call from home that wasn’t registered on my phone. And when I wanted to call the same number, it was disconnected. It was like house knew and it was calling me.

I got up, looking at myself in the mirror that was on the opposite side of the bed. I always hated how I looked, how pale I was, how dark my hair was, how fragile and thin I got. But most of all, I hated who I became. I was running from one cage to another, and I was so afraid to leave, but I wasn’t even comfortable to stay.

I moved from the mirror, sneaking on tiptoes until I reached the closet door. I got the jeans from my closet and pulled them on. I grabbed a few T-shirts, turned around to check if Troy wasstill asleep, and walked out of the bedroom, holding my breath until the door closed.

I could still hear his loud snores, which were now making this apartment even smaller than it was. The noise just echoed through the silence, and he just continued. I didn’t even know how I used to fall asleep to that.

I didn’t bother turning on the lights. The streetlamp outside the window lit the living room enough, making the room turn into soft yellow gold that made shadows of furniture look like it was breathing.

I stood still for a second.

My heart wouldn’t slow down.

That call. Thatdamn call.

I picked up my phone again. Still, no missed calls were logged, like it hadn’t happened. But Iknowwhat I saw. Iknowwhat I heard.

“Home.” That word hadn’t meant anything to me in years. Not until tonight.

I stuffed my charger, wallet, and letter into my tote bag, then turned toward the front door. Paused.

No shoes.

I circled back to the chair in the living room, where my old All-Stars were tossed on the floor, sides collapsed like they’d given up.I slipped them on—still stained with two old coffee spills—and tied the laces with fingers that trembled more than I wanted to admit.Grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair.Back to the door.

I hesitated at the knob.

Then, slowly, I opened it. The hinges gave a long creak. I winced but didn’t stop.

The hallway was colder than it was before. The lights above buzzed, one of them blinking like it was about to die. For amoment, I stood there in the middle, staring down the hallway toward the stairs.

Something told me to run.

I didn’t.

I walked slowly, one silent step after another.

I reached the stairs, and just went down, walking like it was just another Monday morning, even if I had no idea what day it was, every day was the same for me.

I reached the street, and air brushed my cheeks. It got colder, and it was dumping like the sky was about to cry the tears I wasn’t able to cry. I zipped up my jacket and stood on the curb, blinking into the distance.

What the hell was I doing?

I didn’t even know. I just knew I couldn’t be in that apartment anymore. Couldn’t hear Troy breathe. Couldn’t feel the walls of that place closing in.

The city had its own heartbeat at night. And mine wasn’t syncing with it anymore.

I opened my phone again and scrolled through the contacts. No one to call. I had no one. No choice.

Except… maybe one.

Cameron Ellis.

I dug into my bag and pulled the card from the envelope. I stared at his card, now creased at the edges. That polished serif font. That calm, respectable“Discretion. Legacy. Resolution.”tagline.

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