Page 42 of The Silence of Monsters

Desperate, I looked down at the pitiful youngest Halliday and asked, “Do you want your brother to die?”

The hollow eyes seemed to flicker with some form of recognition.

“Your mother is going to kill him. Just like she killed your wife and your father. And once she’s done with Win, she’ll go after your daughter.” I had no clue if Archie understood a word I said, but he cocked his head and watched me closely. Instead of looking terrifying, he looked lost and alone. “He would’ve saved you, Archie. If he knew what was happening to you, he would’ve been there for you. Your mom kept it secret. He’s willing to die for you right now to make up for everything he missed. Do you want to let your mother keep taking your family away from you?”

“Willow?”

I screamed in terrified frustration, “I’m not Willow! But I know my sister would want you to help me save Win. Do you understand?”

It was unclear if he processed what I was saying, but the next second, there was a massive bang and the world started to burn. I was pushed violently down the darkened stairs as Archie suddenly burst out of the entrance. I rolled head over heels all the way to the clearing that sounded close to the sea. I was weak, and the impact on my head was too much for my recovering body. A faint shadow moved on the outskirts of my vision. I couldn’t tell if it was Archie, Win, or someone wielding a gun.

My last thought before I lost consciousness for the second time that day was that I had a hand in the fall of the Hallidays.

Willow would be proud.

Win

I woke up in a tangle of tubes and wires attached to every visible part of my body. My chest felt like there was a fire burning in the center of it, and my head felt stuffed with cotton. My throat and eyes burned with irritation, and I couldn’t move without waves of pain crashing throughout my entire being. I was clearly in a hospital, but I had no recollection of how I got here.

While I struggled to get my bearings and piece together what was happening, an annoyingly handsome face flashed into view.

My half-brother gave me a smile and placed a cup of ice chips on a little tray within arm’s length.

“You’re awake much sooner than the doctor told me you would be. Winnie will be relieved. The poor thing has been crying her eyes out for days. It’s a good thing I grew up in a house full of sisters, so I’m used to it.”

I attempted to ask the bastard what was going on but my throat seemed to be lined with sandpaper and razor blades. I couldn’t make a sound, and when I tried, it burned badly enough to make my eyes water.

Alistair nudged the ice toward me. “You were intubated until an hour ago. I’m sure your trachea feels like raw meat. You’re going to have to learn how to take it easy for a bit, big bro.” His eyebrows lifted as I frowned at him. “You were shot, Win. Twice. And you’ve got significant burns all over your front side. The burns on your hands and arms are bad enough you’re looking at more surgery in the future. You’ve been knocked out on the best heavy-duty drugs for over a week. The burn specialists felt a medically induced coma was the best way for you to recover. It was touch and go a couple times. Your blood pressure bottomed out during the emergency procedure to remove the bullets. Winnie and Channing have been on pins and needles until yesterday. You turned a corner pretty suddenly and finally started breathing on your own. It took a few days for your blood pressure to even out. I think you better get used to the hospital, because you aren’t going anywhere for a while.”

I looked down at the length of my prone body and took in all the gauze and bandages I was wrapped up in. I looked like a mummy.

Alistair waited until I moved my gaze back to his. I tried to motion to him to keep talking, but I couldn’t even wiggle a finger without feeling like my skin was going to peel off. Fortunately, he was quick on the uptake. He moved closer to help me with the ice chips and kept talking.

“Colette tried to shoot you in the heart. She got close. But that antique gun she was so proud of hadn’t been cleaned or maintained in years. She used it to take a shot at your security guy, it misfired, and the bullet went wide and hit you in the shoulder. It ignited the flammable gas from Archie’s medical equipment. The police aren’t sure if your assistant purposely shot at you or if he just fired in surprise when the room exploded. His bullet caused all the problems. It tore through most of your major organs. You’re down a kidney and missing a couple feet of intestine.” He sighed and his tone turned somber. “Neither of them survived the explosion. You wouldn’t have either if Archie hadn’t pulled you into the secret stairwell. He saved your life. Both he and Channing ended up battered and bruised, but you took the brunt of the blast. You and your security guy both have brand new bullet holes. He was shot in the leg. Nearly bled out since the bullet clipped an artery and Conrad knocked him out while he was down. The firefighters who went in after the explosion saved his life. He told the rescue team to check underneath the manor for survivors. Both you and Channing were unconscious. Archie did his best to protect you.”

I gasped in pain while I tried to form simple words. All I got out was, “Wh-er-e?” Getting out the stuttered syllables made me feel like I’d just run a marathon. I was shaking from the effort.

Alistair shoved more ice chips in my mouth. I scanned the room, looking for a particular redhead. I didn’t understand why Alistair was playing nurse and not her.

“Channing made sure Archie was situated somewhere safe after the chaos calmed down. He’s very receptive toward her. Probably because he still confuses her for her sister. She took him to the same facility that’s cared for her mother all these years. He’s doing much better with proper medical care. The physical damage might not have the best prognosis at this time, but most of the medically induced fog Colette kept him in has faded away. Plus, seeing Winnie has given him a new lease on life. Archie clearly wants to take part in her life. She’s got some major guilt for thinking her father was a monster. Winnie’s staying with me for now. I got her an emergency leave from school. She doesn’t want to go back to the manor. Who could blame her? Besides, the explosion did a lot more damage than the fire. The structure is compromised. If you want my opinion, you should level the damn thing. Nothing good has come from that house.”

Alistair was saying a lot, but none of it answered the question I wanted to ask. Where was Channing? We’d been through a life and death situation together. There were no more family secrets lingering between us. Even if she didn’t care if I lived or died, how could she not have something to say about the fact my mother killed her sister?

“Your niece has been climbing the walls waiting for you to wake up.”

I choked when Alistair shoved more ice chips into my mouth, and I glared at him when he climbed to his feet. He brushed his hands together and looked down at me. “You’re only allowed one visitor at a time. The medical team is trying to keep you in a sterile environment because of the burns. I’ll get Winnie ready to see you now that you’re awake. She hasn’t slept through the night in over a week.”

Of course, I wanted to see my niece and reassure her that I wouldn’t leave her. But that desire was second to wanting to see Channing with my own eyes. My entire family owed her an apology, at the very least. I owed her so much more. I was getting agitated about not being able to communicate. I had to control my frustration when Winnie ran into the room clad in a blue hospital gown and cap. Her eyes were red, and it was easy to see how deeply she’d been affected by these traumatic events. She sat down next to me and gently placed her gloved hand over the top of my bandaged one.

“I’m so glad you’re awake, Uncle Win.” Her voice was thick with tears. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” She sniffed loudly and started to silently cry. “Uncle Alistair helped me plan a funeral for Grandma.” Our eyes met, and she blinked wet eyelashes at me. “Barely anyone came. People are calling her a serial killer.” She paused for a moment to catch her breath. “Uncle Alistair has kept the press away from me for the most part, but I still get calls from random numbers and shady direct messages. He told me not to respond. He’s trying to keep the news that my dad is alive under wraps until you feel better. He says that’s your problem to solve.”

I couldn’t hug her or pat her head the way I typically did. I couldn’t even tell her I was okay, not because I wasn’t able, but because I really didn’t know how I was. I felt very fortunate to be alive.

Since I couldn’t get out simple sounds, there was no way I could say Channing’s name. Instead, I tried to ask Winnie, “Aoo-u—nt?” It hardly sounded like English. It was close enough. I saw the instant recognition and avoidance in Winnie’s eyes.

“Aunt Channing took me to meet my dad and grandma. They were both very nice. My grandma kept confusing me with my mom and Aunt Channing, but she told me that I’m the prettiest girl she’s ever seen. She asked me to sing for her next time I visit. I think I’m going to take lessons from Aunt Channing’s friend. My dad cries whenever he looks at me. He won’t let me see his face. He always wears a mask and a hat. I think he’s worried about scaring me. He apologized for sneaking into my room to see me. He explained that he was taking a lot of medicine that made him act weird and messed with his mind. I know he was burned badly. I tried to research what happens to someone who survives a fire to brace myself for when he’s ready to show me.” She shrugged and looked downcast. “Aunt Channing says everything will take time. She keeps reminding me that we all have to heal. I don’t want to go back to the Cove. When you get better, I want to change schools and stay in the city with you.”

I tried to nod, but moving my head made my entire body throb. She never responded to my question about Channing. First my half-brother, now my niece. I might be fuzzy-headed and delirious from pain, but I could tell they were talking around the answer I wanted most.

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