Page 19 of Reflections of Peonies
The ground dropped out from under me, and my senses went numb. “Wh-what?”
“Eventually—” she said again, but I cut her off.
“Why?” My heart stuttered and began to race once more, and I sounded strange. “I can’t go back!”
“Go back where?” she asked. “To Eric Richards?”
His name filled the air, poisoning the space. “Y-y-yes,” I answered.
“Bianca.” Her voice startled me out of my panic. My heart pounded as our eyes met, and there was a steely determination in her gaze. “You’ve been made well aware that you’d never be returned there,” she said. “Everyone has told you this. So where’s this fear coming from?”
I pulled my knees closer to my chest, trying to get warm. “That’s not what he—he said…”
“What who said?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
“The—the man in the suit,” I told her. “The one who talked to me when I was first adopted.”
“I know the man.” There was a chill in her voice that frightened me. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said—” I began. My vision blurred. “He wanted to talk about Mr—Mr. Richards. He said they would take me back—they needed me to show them. But I-I don’t want to go.”
“He was wrong.” Dr. Reed’s voice was firm, and I looked at her over my knees. “And he was severely reprimanded for approaching you. Abigail has only ever wanted you to focus on your recovery. The detectives do not require your assistance for their investigation.”
“Recovery?” I blinked. “W-why?”
She continued speaking in that same tone that caused my skinto prickle. “For what happened during your time with Eric Richards.”
The ground seemed to fall out from under me, and I could scarcely breathe. My thoughts scattered as panic took over. They couldn’t make me talk about it.
“Nothing happened,” I said, shuddering as my throat burned. It hurt so much. I closed my eyes as my skin began to hum, and when I opened them again, my body felt warm.
“Is that true?” she asked, but she didn’t seem convinced. “So then, why are you afraid to go back there?”
“I—” I looked past her—past Julian’s stricken form—and breathed. This room, at least, had a really big window, and I watched a leafy branch swaying in the wind. How could I explain? “I don’t get along with a boy who lived there.”
I couldn’t let him find me. If he found me, I’d be trapped again.
“Why?” she asked. “Who is he?”
“Someone who…” I began, shaking my head. I breathed in and forced the knot in my shoulders to release. “I thought he was my friend.” When neither responded, I added, “It doesn’t matter. Can I go now? I want to sleep.”
She studied me. “Yes,” she said finally, and Julian stood.
By the time he held his hand to me, the comforting lull masking my thoughts had slipped.
But it was okay now because it was over. And, thankfully, I’d never have to talk about this again.
The muscles in his arms were tight, but his grip was soft as his hand closed around mine. The tenseness immediately retreated from my body, and I looked at him.
“Thanks,” I said, my skin flushing as I was, somehow, able to smile. I was so proud of myself. Now, there was no reason for them to be ashamed.
Nothing was wrong.
The troubled expression left his face, and my racing heartbeat began to relax. “Bianca,” he began, and I could tell he wasn’t sure which words to use. He swallowed, expressing clearing, before finally saying, “Get some sleep, you’ll be safe. I promise.”
I nodded.
The lights flickered on,illuminating the shadowy figure stalking Finn. It was familiar to me now, as it’d been something I dreamt about since the first time I’d seen it.
