Page 255 of Bound By Crimson
Editha.
Asleep in the rocking chair.
Her chin was tucked toward her chest, arms folded loosely. One slipper dangled from her foot, gently swaying. The chaircreaked with the weight of her breath, an eerie rhythm in the soft, shadowed room.
Lyric’s eyes darted to the crib.
Noah.
Safe. Still. Sleeping.
She stayed frozen in the doorway, pulse pounding in her ears—throat tight. One wrong sound and it was over.
Not now. Please, not now.
She eased the door open a little wider, just enough to slip in sideways.
Every movement was calculated. Every breath controlled.
She crossed the room like a ghost—silent, steady.
She reached the crib and crouched slowly.
Noah stirred.
Her hands moved fast but carefully, lifting him into her arms, bracing his head, pulling the blanket up and around him.
That’s when it happened.
A soft clink.
A rattle—small, silver—rolled from the folds of the blanket and struck the floor.
The sound cut through the air like a crack.
Lyric’s breath caught.
She looked at Editha.
The woman shifted.
Her foot twitched. Her brows knit. She mumbled something unintelligible.
But she didn’t wake.
The chair creaked again—then settled.
Lyric exhaled slowly, trembling.
She reached for the rattle—then stopped. It would be too loud. Too risky. She left it behind and pulled Noah tighter against her chest.
“Shhh,” she whispered. “It’s okay, baby. We’re getting out of here.”
She backed away from the crib—eyes never leaving Editha.
Once at the door, she turned the knob just enough, pulling it closed without a sound.
Only when she was in the hallway did she breathe again.
