Page 151 of Cavern of Silence
She takes the picture and starts repeating, "Mummy," while big tears fall.
I embrace her. "Shh. She's coming soon, sweetie. But you're safe. We won't hurt you."
She squeezes me and continues to sob.
Zoe sits next to me. "Millie, do you like to sing?" She begins to sing the song Penelope used to sing in the pit. Millie sniffles and pulls her head out of my neck. She tilts her head at Zoe.
Zoe stops. "Do you want to sing with me?"
Millie shakes her head.
"Do you want me to keep singing?"
Millie nods.
Naomi brings over water.
Zoe smiles. "I'll make you a deal. If you drink this glass of water, I'll keep singing. Can you do that for me?"
Millie hiccups and looks at me.
I stroke her hair and take the water from Naomi then hold it to her lips.
She drinks half the glass.
Zoe cheerfully says, "Good girl. You must have been thirsty. Want me to sing now?"
Millie hiccups but says, "Yes, please."
Zoe continues the song, and Millie drinks more. When she finishes the glass, Zoe says, "Do you like pink?"
Millie nods.
"Have you ever seen a pink beach?"
"No."
"Do you want to go see it?"
Millie looks at me again.
"It's okay, sweetie. You can go with Zoe. My name is Julieta, by the way. And this is Naomi."
Millie assesses everyone for a minute.
Zoe rises and holds her hand. "Let's get a bottle of water and look at the pink sand and search for seashells."
Millie surprises me with a hug then jumps off my lap and takes Zoe's hand. They leave the room.
I turn back. "I'm sorry. I've been rude. I'm Julieta."
The man who looks like Andre smiles. "No offense taken. I'm Andre's brother, Blaise."
"Do you know a doctor who can check Millie out? Gustave said Emilia and Malin only had her for less than a week. He isn't sure if they did anything to her but said we should have a doctor examine her."
Blaise takes his phone out of his pocket. "I'll call Sloane." He leaves the room.
"Who's Sloane?"
