The Devil that Broke Us by S.C. Wilson

Author:S.C. Wilson [Wilson, S.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Backabity
Published: 2020-10-06T05:00:00+00:00

Gwen woke up in Armande and Claire’s bedroom. Next to her, laid out on a pallet on the floor, were Jamie and Willow. All of them were still fast asleep. Gwen sat up and rubbed at her tired and dry eyes. Recalling the night before, at first she was convinced it was a figment of her imagination. Seeing where she was and how her body hurt, she realized last night really did happen. She had an overwhelming desire to go home. Quietly, she slipped from the room. Pausing outside of Celia’s closed door, she debated on whether or not she should knock. After a moment, she decided it was likely Celia would only try to stop her, so she crept from the Baptiste home without anyone knowing.

The sun was just beginning to peak over the treetops. Only a few fluffy clouds scudded across the sky, but the air was deeply frigid. Gwen walked from one house to the other in her bare feet, the frost making every rock and twig a painful obstacle for her cold heels. Wearing only a thin, flannel nightgown Celia had given her, since hers had been saturated with Jim’s blood, she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to hold onto what little body heat she had as she trudged forward.

Consumed with conflicting bouts of rage, shame, and remorse, the events of the previous night played over and over in her mind. A part of her died the moment the last breath faded from her brother.

It should have been me, she chanted repeatedly, each piercing step in the direction of her house less forgiving than the last. It should have been me.

There was no way for her to know Silas was watching her, well hidden within the tree line at the edge of the pasture. Right across from the house, as she made her way up the porch steps, his eyes narrowed as he studied her. She reminded him of Abby when he first met her.

When Gwen entered the house, she noticed the mirror in the foyer had been covered with a black cloth. There were noises coming from the parlor, so she peeked her head into the room. She was surprised to see Emery Shumaker’s wife, Hannah, set to work taking down the Christmas tree.

“What are you doing here?” Gwen asked. “Why are you doing that?”

“Oh! You startled me,” Hannah said, placing one of the ornaments from the tree into a crate. “I need to get this room cleared out.” She approached Gwen and put a warm, comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry for your loss. If there’s anything I can do for you, please ask.”

Gwen walked over to the tree. “Why do you have to clear out the room?” She ran her fingers over an ornament Jim had made years ago.

“We have to get the space ready for when Emery comes back with Jim.”

Celia wasn’t at home, still sleeping, like Gwen had thought. Instead, she had arrived hours earlier to tidy up the house.

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