Page 24 of Siccitas

Oh, how I wish I could have protected you from all of this, Darby, but I will make him pay.

I want to scoop Skylar up and run away with her, but I know it has to be done this way.

This is the only way.

I remember her in his arms, my Darby, sounding so confused.

That was the day I knew I would kill the fucker if it’s the last thing I would ever do.

“I need to get home, or I’ll get in trouble,” Skylar says for the how many-eth time.

He has her well trained.

I have just enough money to catch a taxi to the house—Dalton’s money.

I look around and see a payphone. “We’re going home now.”

Skyler perks up a little and holds my hand as we walk to the payphone. I put in the few coins I have and connect to the operator.

As the operator connects me to the taxi company, I check the street names.

“Taxi service, what do ya need?” An elderly fellow answers.

“Corner Greystone and Van Cruise drive. I need a taxi, please.”

“Be there in fifteen.” He hangs up.

People in this town don’t ask questions. If they did, maybe they’d know who the real Luke Greene is.

Maybe they would have uncovered this monster.

Skylar points down the road. “There’s the taxi, Jocelyn.”

I take a deep, steadying breath and nod. “There it is. Let’s go home to daddy.”

I open the door and help her in, before I climb in myself.

I give the address. An address I will never forget.

The driver smiles. “I think I know the family that lives there. The Greene’s.”

“Hmmm,” I bite my tongue.

He doesn’t say another word, just pulls off and drives.

Skylar sits on her knees and looks out the window—a picture of innocence. An innocence I want to preserve. That Iwillpreserve.

This. Ends. Today.

I watch her closely as we move, not paying much mind to what we’re passing or how far we’ve come, until the taxi pulls to a stop in the driveway of Luke’s house.

There’s no sign of him, and I let Skylar out of the car. We stand there for a moment, Skylar holding my hand.

“Darby.” I whisper softly. “Where are you?”

“Mommy is in the well. She hasn’t come out in a long time.” Skylar says, looking up at me. “Daddy said she was bad and had to be punished.”

My blood runs cold, and I let go of Skylar’s hand, hobbling as fast as I can to that dark place.

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