Page 25 of A Twisted Gift

Before I’ve even realized it, I’ve crossed the room to go after him. Only when my hand curls around the doorknob do I stop myself.

Can’t leave.

I try to turn the handle—I really do—but I’m frozen. Memories flood my mind of all the times I disobeyed Father. The lectures, the fear, the pain. I know Erik won’t hurt me, but… what if he does? What if whatever is waiting for me on the other side of this door is only more pain and misery?

One cage to another.

No. No, it’s not true. Erik wouldn’t.

But the only way I can get the tightness in my chest to ease is by backing away from the door. The relief is immediate, but it’s fleeting. Because in the next moment, I realize the truth.

I’m still trapped. Not inside a mansion this time. No, this is something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to escape.

My own mind.

Chapter eight

Erik

Thirteen years ago, age eleven

I zip up my jacket as I sneak along the perimeter of Rose’s backyard. It’s getting cold out, and I’m worried that she won’t want to come out to play. She’s a lot smaller than I am, and I think that means you get cold faster. I’ll be sad when the snow comes. It’ll be too cold for even me then.

As I approach the bush Rose is hiding in, my heart leaps. Its leaves have turned droopy, so I spot her pink coat with ease.

When she sees me, her face lights up, and she waves. “Erik!”

“Shh.” I crouch behind the bush and reach through the fence to grab her hands. “Gotta keep your voice down, remember?”

“Right,” she whispers. “Sometimes, I just get excited.”

“I know. Where are your mittens?” I rub her hands between mine, trying to get them warm.

“Lost them. Maybe they’re in the wash. Did you bring the paper?”

“Sure did.”

For weeks now, Raina has been begging me to teach her how to make paper airplanes. She says neither of her brothers will showher how, and she wants to beat them the next time they play together. I didn’t know how to make them either, but I found a couple tutorials on my mom’s laptop that worked well enough.

“Start by folding it like this.” I show her, watching to make sure she does it correctly. “Then this way. Yeah, that’s it. Oh, careful, it’s getting off center.”

“Oh, no!”

“Hey, it’s okay. Let me help.” I grab her paper and redo the crease so it doesn’t veer off to one side. “See? All better.”

“Thanks. Then what?”

I direct her through every step. Her hands are smaller than mine, and she still confuses her right from her left, but I don’t let myself get frustrated. I like Rose too much to get mad at her. Being homeschooled can be lonely, and I don’t want to screw up my only real friendship.

When we’re finished, Rose sighs. “I suppose I can’t fly it, can I?”

“Not without risking getting caught.” There’s too much of a chance that someone could see through one of the windows. “But it’ll work, I promise, and I’ll keep trying to look for different tutorials that are even better.”

“Thank you, Erik.” She reaches through the fence and grabs my hand. “I… I’m glad you’re my friend.”

I smile. “I’m glad you’re mine. And one day, we’ll get you out of here, and I’ll take you exploring. We’ll be together forever, all right?”

“You know I can’t, Erik.” She sounds sad, and her shoulders slump.

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