Page 130 of A Foster Fling
“They’re back?” I croaked.
“I think they know something was up with Tilda. But we don’t have time for that. Get upstairs and I’ll get rid of her.” I couldn’t believe he kept his softness in the midst of something so horrible.
Before I could argue, we heard boots on the stairs. I bolted to the door and into the hall but their shadows peered around the corner before I could make a break for the second set of stairs. Instead, I just stormed forward and straight into the devil. He reeled back in confusion.
“Lamb? Why on earth are you down here? It’s terribly late, you should be in bed.”
“I wanted a cigarette.” I shrugged weakly.
“we’ll discuss this tomorrow, get up to bed.” He said as he pinched his nose in annoyance.
I clenched escape in my fist and pushed between him and the railing. I heard Adam snicker but I didn’t turn back. When the doctor called out to me I nearly fell out on the steps.
“Oh Lamb, have you seen Tilda this evening?” I couldn’t bring myself to speak and simply shook my head with another shrug and continued up the stairs.
I should have known it wouldn’t end there. Instead of going to my bed, I should have walked right out the front door. Never to return or see any of those monsters again. I didn’t. I stayed long enough to feel the burn.
Disturbance of sleep was no stranger within those walls. It was a a nightly occurrence. So naturally I tried to just ignore the annoying tapping. It was impossible.
“Cae, what are you doing?” I rolled over assuming he’d unable to sleep again.
“I need you to come downstairs.” The coldness in the doctors voice brought me to immediate alertness.
“Why? I didn’t do anything.” My fingers clenched to my sheet.
“Now, Lamb.” He snapped his fingers and left for me to follow, more out of character actions on his part.
A look at the clock told me I only had about four hours until Cae left. Now I was being led into the basement, again fearing for my life. Again not sure if this were the time I’d fight back.
Especially once they saw what was down there. If they haven’t already.
I felt like I was on a death row march to the gas chamber. Everything in the house was silent. Like all of it died with Tilda.
“You said you hadn’t seen her?” The doctor asked stepping into the very room where she died.
“I didn’t.” I tucked my arms into each other, my feet refusing to lead me into the room.
“Come in here, Lamb.” He stepped aside and I finally followed, forcing my eyes away from the spot on the floor where Tilda no longer lay.
“I want you to look around and tell me why you think I’ve brought you down here.” He stood to the side of the door with his hands clasped behind his back.
I tried my best no to show that I wasn’t actually looking. Keeping my eyes away from the floor I slowly swiveled my head. A flash of green caught my eye and I realized Tilda’s pack of Pixie Puff cigarettes was sitting on the small table in the makeshift sitting room. It stared back at me like an accusatory finger.
“Now, Lamb. I’m not trying to accuse you of anything. I know Tilda provides some of you with yoursmokes,and while I don’t approve, it could be much worse. However, I know Tilda wouldn’t just give you the pack. You’re too reckless for that. So. Did you steal these from Miss Mason?”
“No.” I swallowed. “I didn’t find her, so I went back to bed. That’s when you saw me.”
“No one else was down here?”
“I don’t think so? Everyone was upstairs as far as I know.”
“Well, Lamb, I’m not sure I believe you.” He ticked his head like he did before he started to get nasty.
“Can I go back to bed?” I muttered quietly.
“No, you cannot!” His face went red and he nodded over my shoulder.
Before the dread could even set in I felt Adam’s arms clamp around me and I was pulled back against him. He was no less brutal than Wendell had been and certainly no less depraved. Wendell’s disappearance was a short lived victory.