Chapter 7 - The Second Word|
A violent thunderstorm hit the coast on Friday night. Heavy rain lashed against the high glass windows of the manor, and thunder rumbled like cannon fire across the cliffs.
In the middle of the night, Evelyn was awakened by a soft tug on her bedsheets.
She sat up quickly, turning on the small bedside lamp.
All three children were standing beside her bed in their pajamas. Mia was clutching a worn velvet blanket, while Noah and Leo held hands, their faces pale with terror in the flashes of lightning.
"Hey," Evelyn said softly, throwing back her blanket. "Come here."
The triplets climbed onto the large bed, crowding close to her side. Evelyn wrapped her arms around them, pulling them into a warm embrace as another loud clap of thunder shook the room.
Leo buried his face in Evelyn's sweater. He was shaking violently.
"It's just noise," Evelyn murmured, gently stroking his dark hair. "Just the clouds bumping into each other. You're safe here. I won't let anything hurt you."
Leo pulled back slightly. He looked up at her, his dark eyes filled with a desperate, heavy truth.
He opened his mouth, his throat working hard against two years of rust and fear.
"Down," Leo croaked out, his voice rough and breathless.
Evelyn went rigidly still. She stared at the young boy. "Leo?"
Noah leaned in closer, his small fingers tightening around Evelyn's wrist until it hurt.
"Down," Noah repeated clearly, his small voice echoing in the quiet room. "Under."
Evelyn’s breath hitched in her throat. Two words. Two different children.
"Sellar," Mia whispered from behind her blanket, repeating the word she had spoken at the restaurant.
May you like
Evelyn looked at the three children, realization striking her like a physical blow. They weren't just making random sounds. They were trying to give her a message.
They weren't pointing to a place in the sky. They were pointing to something beneath the floorboards of the house.
