Page 27 of Freeing Emily

I remain unmoving as I wait for any indication that those ghosts are going to taunt me.

When nothing happens, my shoulders lower – only slightly. I’m still nervous that they will make themselves known when I least expect it.

I lean my head against the wall, feeling the cold of the stone press against my brow. My eyes flutter closed, and I begin humming a lullaby my ma would sing to me during the nights when sleep evaded me.

I can feel the soft caress of her voice flow gently over my skin. Her light floral scent begins filling my nose and I drift off to sleep.

Raising my cupped hands, I blow as much warm air as I can into them to warm my frigid skin. The tips of my fingers are beginning to lose feeling and they have begun to turn a pale blue from lack of circulation. The temperature outside plummeted with the impending winter and so did the temperature in The Hole.

I wrap the rough fabric of the dirty blanket around my legs and tuck the ends over my feet. My teeth have been chattering uncontrollably and my jaw is beginning to suffer because of it.

I’m not sure how long I’ve been down here. I’m not even sure what time of day it is.

“Féileacán.”

The whisper is so faint, I nearly miss it.

“Liam?” I whisper in the darkness.

“Stay alive,Féileacán.”

My cracked lip quivers slightly and I swallow the lump that has lodged itself in my throat.

“Stay alive.”

I don’t speak. I can’t.

I’m fighting to stay alive. To hold on. I’ve been beaten because of my fight.

At what point does it stop being worth it?

Am I even worth it?

I can make out a soft glow just in front of me. Its shape is tall – like Liam – my heart starts to speed up. Slowly, I push the blanket away from me and use my shaky limbs to prop myself up on my knees.

The hard stone digs into my knees and I wince, buckling slightly.

The figure steps closer and lowers itself to my level. I let out a choked sob Liam’s face appears. I bring my hand up and try to touch him, only for my hand to fall as it passes through his ghost.

Tears stream down my face at yet another reminder that he’s not real, that I’ve truly lost myself in my mind and my hallucinations are altering my reality.

His hazel eyes watch me for a moment before he slowly begins to fade.

“No! Pl – Please don’t leave. Please… don’t leave me here alone.” I cry and I try to grasp onto anything to ground his spirit.

“I’m coming,Féileacán.”

And then his ghost evaporates into nothing.

I swear the crack of my soul is audible. Lifting my hand, I rub my frail chest to try and relieve the pain of my heart.

It doesn’t help. This pain is too tangible. Too deep-rooted within my body.

“Please… Come back.” I whisper.

My eyes flutter as the tears continue to fall freely.

I stand facing my father in his study with Declan and Rhys flanking me. Their faces are emotionless but the energy in the room has me on edge.