Page 16 of Headless Over You
“Yes, Iris.” He sighs begrudgingly. “Let’s get this over with. I have a key; just follow me and don’t trail off somewhere. I knowthe inside of this house like the back of my hand, and if we get caught, I have an exit plan. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes, no wandering. I got it.”
We enter through the back door, and where he steps, I step. We stalk through the quiet house and up the grand staircase. He leads me to a room off to the left of the main hall. It’s the one that was locked before.
Inside the office, there’s memorabilia everywhere. Armor on display, swords . . .
“Kurt,” I whisper into the dim room.
“What?”
“I thought your family donated all of the stuff to the historical society?”
“Do you really want to get into how shitty my father is right now? He controls the town, the church, and feeds them the stories of the Headless Horseman. We don’t have the time to delve into this. My parents aren’t asleep,” he warns me.
“Where is it then?”
“Over there,” he whispers, pointing to a small glass case not unlike the one in the church office. Like before, I lift the box and take the necklace. It’s like a locket, heart-shaped and metal.
I open it up and read the inscription. “Katrina. It all comes back to love, don’t you see?”
“I see, Iris. Okay?” he whisper-yells at me. “I’m not heartless or cruel. I understand your reasoning. Now, if you’re satisfied, let’s go. My father could come down here at any moment.”
“I’m not satisfied. What changed?” He looks exasperated and ready to abandon the conversation.
“My mother is a bleeding heart, okay? She’s a kind woman to everyone, and when you have an absent father who puts more effort into ghost tales than reading you bedtime stories, you take after the parent that showed you love. Is that enough of a family history lesson for you?”
“Kurt, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not needed.” He turns toward the door. I follow him out, walking the exact way we came in.
“How are you going to explain it to him? He’ll notice the next time he’s in there.”
“That’s for me to worry about. Just promise me something, okay?” He stops when we reach the trees and faces me. “Be gone by tomorrow afternoon. I can stall until then, but your presence here is known, and if he thinks you’re still here, he’ll come after you for the talisman.” I look at it in my hand and turn it over. I don’t tell him that I plan to do just that.
“Why does your father want this cruelty on display?”
“Legacy. It’s that simple.”
I look at him wonderingly. “I appreciate your help. More than you know.” I reach out and hug him despite the racing clock. It’s a moment of kindness I can afford. His arms wrap around me and he squeezes me tight.
“It was nice meeting you. I wish our goodbye could have been just as nice.”
At the inn,I gather my important things into a single backpack. I don’t know what home looks like to Brom, but I’ll stay with him like he asked. Can I come and go like he does? Will he still be able to venture out into the world? Questions abound as I pack clothes and my electronics. What does freedom mean for him if he’s forced to stalk the earth in an effort to protect Sleepy Hollow? Will he abandon them all?
Nevertheless, I settle my racing mind and look forward to the night. I’m ready to leave this life behind and step into a new one carved by death. My bag is heavy, but it’s all I need for the time being. This situation will sort itself out . . . hopefully.
The church bells toll, and I pray he’s still there, waiting for me.
ELEVEN
Brom
Footstepson the bridge reach me and I dismount Death. I walk around the path’s corner and there she is. She runs into my arms, flinging hers around my neck as she holds me tight.
“He gave it to me,” she says. “I don’t know what staying with you means, and I don’t know what happens when I give this to you. I won’t keep it from you, but if you disappear . . .”
“I won’t disappear, sweet bird.” She beams at my words, and I take her in under the moonlight. “I want you to come with me, Iris.”
