Page 81 of Dare To Fall

“Come inside and sit down.”

If everything has gone as I planned, the groundskeeper should have been here to power up the generator and supply firewood, as well as bring the food and clothing I ordered. Moving past her, I throw open the door at the opposite end of the living room and enter the kitchen. A quick check of the cabinets shows that all the food is there, and when I pull open the refrigerator, the interior light flickers on.

I nod to myself. Everything looks good. I take out a large bottle of water and set up the small coffee maker. Then, leaving that to heat up, I go back into the other room. Arabella is perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, poised and ready to flee. I keep my distance and move around her to the door set in the wall on the right from the kitchen. Beyond that, there’s a hallway leading to three bedrooms and a bathroom. I go into one and take the pillow off the bed and one of the throws.

“I’m going to push the coffee table closer to you and put this pillow on top, so you can elevate your ankle. Are you cold? I have a blanket.”

“I can’t get my sneaker off.” She won’t look at me.

I move closer. “Can I take a look?”

When she doesn’t reply, I crouch and carefully slide my fingers around her calf. She hisses.

“Can you lift it?” I guide her leg up and onto the table, then unthread the laces in her sneaker. “Doing okay?”

I glance up at her. She’s pale, bottom lip caught between her teeth, but she doesn’t answer me.

“I’m going to ease the shoe off your foot and then roll your pants leg up so I can have a closer look.”

Her eyes are wet with tears by the time I finally get her shoe off.

“Good girl. Almost done.”

I probe around a little, then stand. “I don’t think it’s broken. It’s not swollen. I’ll get you some ice. That should draw out any bruising. If you rest for a few hours, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Like I have any other choice.” Her voice is bitter.

“Your mom knows you’re here with me. So does my dad. And Kellan, as well as the driver I hired. I can’t murder you and hide the body without someone questioning where you’ve gone. I’d be the prime suspect.”

“That’s hardly comforting.”

“Would you have agreed to talk to me if I’d asked?”

“Of course not. You’re a fucking monster.”

I wave a hand, not reacting to her words. “There you go then. What other choice did I have?”

“The one any normal person would make.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” I walk into the kitchen and pull out a bag of ice. I take a handful of cubes and wrap them in a dishcloth.

“To leave me alone!”

I press the ice to her ankle. “Hold it there.” When her hand takes hold of it, I move mine. “Would you like coffee?”

“Stop behaving like this is okay!”

“I know it’s not okay, Ari—”

“Don’t call me that.”

I can’t stop a sigh. I knew this was going to be difficult. That she wouldn’t be happy with my actions. I just thought that—

I almost laugh out loud.

What did I think? Nothing, that’s what. Nothing beyond how if we were alone here at the cabin, she’d have to talk to me.

“Are you cold? I can light the fire, if you want me to.”

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