Chapter 9
“Hope,” River whispered, his voice trembling. “I’m scared.”
“I know, River. I know,” I said, kissing his forehead. “But we have to be brave. Just hold my hand and don’t let go. Do exactly what I tell you.”
I pushed the false wooden panel open.
The east room was quiet. The moonlight shining through the window cast long, pale shadows across the floor. Our father’s body lay in the center of the room, twisted in a horrific pool of dark blood.
Do not look at the bodies.
I kept my eyes fixed on the door. I pulled River out of the wall, keeping my body between him and the gruesome sight. We tiptoed toward the door, avoiding the creaky floorboards I had memorized over the years of sneaking snacks at night.
I pressed my ear against the wood of the door.
Silence.
I slowly pushed the door open. The hinges, recently oiled by Grandma, made no sound.
The courtyard was bathed in an eerie silver moonlight. The old persimmon tree in the center of the yard cast skeletal shadows against the brick walls.
I scanned the yard.
There was no sign of the creature.
The west room was directly across from us. It felt like a mile away.
“Stay low,” I whispered to River. “Run fast, but step light on your toes.”
We darted out of the east room, sticking to the shadows along the edge of the courtyard. My heart pounded so loudly I was terrified the sound alone would summon the monster.
We reached the door of the west room. It was slightly ajar.
I pushed it open.
The smell of death in here was overwhelming.
The west room was Grandma’s old storage and weaving room. Rolls of dusty fabric and old loom equipment were scattered about. In the center of the room, slumped against the main loom, was Uncle Neil. His eyes were wide open, frozen in a state of absolute terror. His jaw hung slack, and a dark, dried stain covered the front of his shirt.
River gasped, stopping in his tracks. He stared at Uncle Neil’s lifeless eyes.
“River, no, don’t look,” I hissed, pulling him forward forcefully.
But it was too late.
A cold, unnatural wind swept through the room, slamming the door shut behind us with a deafening bang.
The temperature in the room plummeted. The shadows in the corner seemed to stretch and twist, reaching toward us like grasping hands.
From outside, a heavy dragging sound echoed across the courtyard, moving rapidly toward the west room.
“Found you,” the raspy voice echoed, sounding like it was coming from all directions at once.
“The cellar! Hurry!”
I panicked, dragging River toward the back of the room.