Page 266 of Sin Bin

“Shh. Don’t cry. I’ll come back for you when they stop fighting.” Her mommy stroked her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead, then hugged her fiercely before pulling away and holding her at arm’s length. “Remember what I said, Meadow. Be invisible!”

She stood up and closed the door, plunging Meadow into darkness. She whimpered fearfully as she peered into the pitch-black stillness. The closet smelled like musty rags and bleach and other cleaning—

Pop! Pop! Pop!

She jumped at the sound, her heart pounding so loudly it echoed in her ears.

A few seconds later, she heard her mommy’s anguished wails and panicked screams. Then her uncle was shouting and—

Pop! Pop!

“Mommy!” Meadow cried out before she could stop herself.

There was silence.

She was trembling so hard her teeth rattled and her breath came in choppy bursts.

Then she heard a noise.

The creak of floorboards…the thud of heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.

Coming toward her.

She clapped her hand over her mouth and screwed her eyes shut, trying her hardest not to cry. Her heart was beating fast and she was so scared she couldn’t stop shaking.

Be invisible, she reminded herself. Be invisible!

The footsteps were coming closer. She shrank back against the wall, wishing she could make herself disappear.

The footsteps stopped right outside the closet door.

She held her breath so her uncle wouldn’t hear her. As terror clawed at her throat, she felt warm pee trickle down her legs and puddle at her feet.

Suddenly the door was yanked open and her uncle loomed above her.

She screamed.

“Shut up!” he roared.

When she saw the glint of a gun in his hand, she darted out of the closet and ran past him.

He chased her, cursing and bellowing as she raced out of the laundry room and down the hallway. She had to find her parents and make sure they were okay!

At the entrance to the living room, she skidded to a stop, her eyes widening in horror.

Her mother was lying on the wood floor in a spreading pool of blood. Her eyes were open and staring, but she wasn’t moving. Across the room, her father lay crumpled on the floor next to the wall. Blood was leaking from a big hole in the back of his head.

“Daddy!” Meadow screamed at the top of her lungs. “Mommy!”

Her uncle grabbed her roughly from behind. “Stupid little brat!”

She shrieked and kicked, struggling frantically to break free. “Let me go! Let me—”

“Shut up!” Yanking her head back, he slammed the butt of the gun against her temple.

Pain exploded behind her eyes. She slumped forward as a black emptiness swallowed her—

“Please listen to me, Meadow—”

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