Page 75 of Love Sick

I wait for her to share who.

“Noah,” she says, and her smirk is replaced with a scowl. “I intend to expose Parkfields for the hell on earth that it is, but not before Noah gets what he deserves.”

“That motherfucker,” I say, clenching my jaw because it’s apparent something else has happened.

Luna averts her gaze, and an anger overtakes me, robbing me of breath. My heart clenches and I purge my fury the only way I know how—I play. I play so damn long, my fingers cramp and my body aches, but the pain only fuels what’s to come.

Luna colors in with Bobby, while I fruitlessly look for a way out.

The door in the greenhouse is now locked, which confirms that Daddy and Alanna have left. They have their lives to live, as they don’t want to stir any suspicion. I’m half tempted to break down the door, but if I do that, we go to the police with what proof?

Our tale is so fantastic no one would believe it as the truth. And Daddy and Alanna are well aware of that. They’re upstanding citizens, while Luna and I are merely the “crazy people” who got a second chance.

Luna has been trying all day to get any information out of Bobby. But so far, she’s failed.

She doesn’t press, and it’s apparent what a wonderful mother she was. I can see and hear her sadness because, without a doubt, she’s thinking of Misha when with Bobby.

I decide to check out the rest of the house and leave Luna with Bobby because I am seconds away from exploding. This is no life for either of them to live, and I feel a failure for not doing more.

My leg is getting better and I can stand for longer, so I venture up the stairs. This house is barely standing, but in some ways, it adds to the charm of it. I look into each room, hoping to see something new, hoping to see a way out.

I don’t, however…that is until I get to the end of the hallway and notice a patch of frayed carpet wetter than the rest of the hallway. I peer up at the ceiling, and what I see has me kicking myself.

An attic.

The hatch is ajar, and I jump up, pulling on the cord. I can’t believe when a ladder folds outward, appearing untouched unlike the rest of the house. I climb it and ascend into darkness.

Boosting myself up, I stand on the wooden floor, which seems solid, so I walk on it, searching for some sort of light. I bump blindly into random things, but as my eyes adjust, I find a small camping gas lantern. I switch it on and see something I wasn’t expecting to—this attic is in good condition.

It looks as if this is someone’s room.

Holding the lantern out in front of me, I examine each corner and am sickened when I see old rusted chains and cuffs attached to a wall. Near it is a single stained mattress. There are drawings on the wall which are done in crayon.

I walk toward this creepy-as-fuck scene and take a closer look at the scribbles, which, judging by the faded appearance, were done a while ago. It’s a scene that contrasts my current surroundings. It’s bright and colorful, thanks to the sun and rainbow which shine brightly in the blue sky.

There’s a small girl playing with a dog near a lake, and in the background sits a mansion on a hill. It’s drawn in black. As I lean forward and strain my eyes, a chill comes over me when I see the red blob near the house has arms and legs.

It also had a head…which now sits a few feet away.

I guess this drawing was done by a child who either has a very morbid imagination or drew this from memory. I wonder who the child is, and if he or she called this place their bedroom?

I take a look around but don’t see anything else which strikes me as odd.

The rest of this house is in shambles, and the one place which should be a mess is kept in immaculate condition. Something isn’t right.

I decide to leave the lantern behind as I don’t want Alanna or Daddy to know I was here. I descend the ladder and leave the hatch ajar, how I found it.

It surprises me when I see that it’s dark outside. I didn’t think I was gone for that long. This place is like a fucking black hole.

After being in the attic, I want to shower. It’s ridiculous, but I feel like I am covered in filth. Whatever happened up there isn’t good.

I wait for the water to warm up as I strip off. Hopefully Alanna brings us some clothes, unless she fancies us walking around naked.

This is beyond frustrating being reliant on others as your freedom has been stolen.

Standing under the spray, I hang my head low, the warm water kneading out the knots in my back. I feel a hundred years old. I clutch the crucifix at my throat, asking an invisible god for help. I don’t think he’s listening, however, because the sins I’ve committed have doomed my soul to hell.

I feel helpless and I hate it.

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