Page 13 of Taboo & Tinsel

Every dank,musty piece of fabric I could find in the attic—old clothing, pillowcases, drapes, you name it—is currently wrapped around me, keeping me from freezing my ass off. Still, I’m not close to being considered comfortable. I’ve been sneezing my ass off from all the dust, my nose is cold and running, and after I banged on the door for more than half an hour to no avail, I had to think of a different plan.

Since then, I’ve been parked at the bottom of the staircase, ears straining. I’ve shouted. I’ve cried. I’ve panicked. I don’t like the feeling of being stuck here. Imaginary spiders crawl all over me, and to make matters worse, the sun has gone down, and with that, the light in the attic has slowly faded. Shadows are everywhere. Creeping. I’ve searched and searched for a light switch or just plain lights anywhere, but there’s nothing.

It’s been hours, and I’m still trapped. Every few minutes, I bang on the door, then wrap myself up as tight as can be. A few times, I’ve almost fallen asleep, but the fear of having to spend the night in this place keeps me from doing so. I want my drafty bedroom. At least there’s a humongous quilt that’s toasty warm along withsomeheat. My fingers and toes have gone numb. What little warmth there was in the attic has all been sucked out as day turned to evening. I can barely see an inch in front of my face now.

But there are noises.

Little skittering noises. Thumps that sound like footsteps.

Or I could be losing my mind.

I bang on the door again. “Help!!!” It’s only the umpteenth time I’ve done it. How in the world is he not looking for me right now? He knew what I was going to do. I told him about decorating. Then again, I hid in my room all night yesterday.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Tears spring to my eyes again as I lay my head on my arm. I haven’t felt my butt in an hour due to the uncomfortable stairs. My back hurts from being balled up tight. I just want out. Why is being here such a nightmare? I expected it to be bad, but this is so much worse.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way,” I breathe. I might totally be losing it now, but singing is better than being in my head and wondering for the hundredth time if that feeling on the back of my neck is a huge ass spider waiting to bite me or just a ghost come to take me to Christmases past.

“Lilianne? Lilianne?”

I perk up, immediately standing to pound on the door. I almost trip, landing with my hands outstretched against the wood. “Here. I’m here. Help!” I call out. The burn on my palm aches as I slam it against the door.

The door in front of me creaks. It almost bows as someone tugs on the knob.

“I’m locked in,” I call out.

He yanks a few more times, and the door finally gives. I fall out after it, landing directly in my uncle’s arms. “Jesus, girl.” Slumping against him, I close my eyes at his warm embrace. He feels like a boiling pot of water compared to my shivering body. “You’re as cold as an icicle.”

"Because I’ve been st-stuck in the stupid attic for hours!”

He picks me up, cradling me to his chest as he takes me to a room on the far side of the house. He sets me down on a counter in between two sinks. Spinning, he turns to twist the faucet on to a huge garden tub. The water comes rushing out, sounding like a waterfall to my noise-deprived ears.

He comes right back over, taking my hands in his and rubbing them between his own. I hiss as he hits my burn. “Sorry. I forgot. I was actually trying to find you to see if you needed anything for it.”

My skin pricks as he works heat into the chilled layers. Little by little, the numbness goes out of my legs, but in its place, needles prick all over.

I groan at how uncomfortable it is. Uncle Cam looks on with a concerned gaze. “I should’ve realized you were gone sooner.”

I shake my head. Despite cursing him up and down while I was up there, there really was no way for him to know.

He checks the water temperature and then drops the plug in the tub.

“This will get you nice and warm,” he says as the tub starts to fill. He comes over to unwrap all the extra layers from me. “You must’ve been freezing.”

“J-just a little,” I stutter, teeth still clacking together.

When he gets to my actual clothes, he doesn’t stop. He yanks at the bottom of my sweater dress, pulling it over my head and dropping it to the floor. I cover myself up, crossing my hands over my bra.

He gives me a pointed look. “Not the time to act modest when I’ve had my hands all over those tits, Baby Girl.”

I swallow, his words doing more to warm me up than any of the layers I’d held around me.

He pulls me off the counter, steadying me on my feet. My leggings are next, and I’m too numb to realize he’s taken my panties with them until I see them on the ground.

“Jeez,” I say, placing a hand over my bare mound.

“And we both know I’ve been there, too.” The smirk and wink he gives me reminds me of the guy from the first night. But we both know he’ll be smacking my ass and telling me not to talk soon, so I keep my distance anyway.

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