Page 37 of Silent Ritual

"It's open," she whispered to Finn, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Finn nodded, his hand moving to his holster as a precaution. Sheila pushed the door open slowly, revealing the dimly lit apartment within.

"Star?" she called out again as she stepped inside, her hand instinctively moving to the gun at her side. The apartment was small and cluttered, a mess of worn-out furniture and discarded beer cans.

She moved deeper into the apartment, her heart pounding with fear and anticipation. She checked each room: the kitchen—empty; bathroom—empty; first bedroom—empty. Finally, she reached the second bedroom. Pushing open the door cautiously, she stepped inside.

The room was void of presence but rich with memories: a small bed in one corner, several sketchbooks scattered across a wooden desk, a wall adorned with photographs of Star in happier times. Sheila tried to reconcile this with the abusive father whom she had encountered in this very building not long ago, the man who had tacitly admitted to beating his own daughter as a form of discipline.

“Thought he was just a monster, didn’t you?” a voice behind her said.

She turned around to see Star in the doorway, her arms crossed, looking lost and defiant all at once.

"Star," Sheila whispered, relief flooding her.

"You're not wrong," Star continued, seeming not to hear her. "He was—is—a monster. But that doesn’t give you the right to treat him the way you did."

“I was just trying to—”

“I don’t care what you were trying to do!” Star exclaimed, nearly shouting now. “I saw what you did. I saw his face.”

Sheila’s heart sank. It was just as she’d feared: The man had played the victim card, making Sheila out to be the villain.

Sheila moved closer to the girl slowly, taking in her tear-streaked face and the hollow look in her eyes. "You don't have to be here," she said softly. "You have a choice."

"Do I?" Star shot back, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "My whole life has been other people's choices. My dad's choice to hit me. Your choice to rescue me. Well, now it's my turn to choose."

"What do you mean?" Sheila asked, a knot forming in her stomach.

Star's eyes hardened. "I'm leaving. Getting out of Coldwater County altogether. I came here just to see this place one last time before I go."

Sheila's heart dropped. "Star, I—I'm so sorry. I never meant to make things worse for you. I thought I was helping, but I realize now that I took your situation into my own hands without considering the consequences."

"Yeah, well, good intentions don't fix anything," Star muttered, but her voice had lost some of its edge.

Sheila took a deep breath. "You're right. I messed up. But running away isn't the answer. It's dangerous out there, especially for someone your age."

"Can't be worse than here," Star said, but Sheila could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"Listen," Sheila said gently, "I know I've given you reasons not to trust me, but I'm asking you to give me one more chance. Instead of running away, why don't you come have breakfast with me? We can talk about what you want, what you need. No judgments, no decisions made for you. Just listening. What do you say?"

Star was silent for a long moment, her gaze searching Sheila's face. Then finally she nodded, a small, almost imperceptible movement that filled Sheila with relief.

"Fine," Star replied, a hint of her usual smirk appearing. "But I'm warning you—I eat a lot."

Sheila laughed, the tension in her chest easing slightly. "That's fine by me. My treat."

It was a small victory, perhaps, but in the storm they were currently weathering, any victory felt significant. She knew they still had a long way to go; Star's healing process had only just begun, and Sheila still had her own demons to fight. But for now, in that small, quiet bedroom, it was enough.

"Come on," Sheila said, standing up. "Let's get out of here."

Finn stepped into the hallway and cleared his throat. “I hate to kill the mood, but we’ve got business. Coroner just called—wants to give us her report in person.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“You sure I can’t come in?” Star asked. “I’ve never been in a morgue before.”

Sheila turned off the ignition and gave the girl a patient smile. “And I intend to keep it that way. You’ve had enough of the dark side of life. You don't need this.”

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