Devil's Briar: The Complete Series (All 8 books) by Cross Amy

Author:Cross, Amy [Cross, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Season Books
Published: 2013-02-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

1925

"I have decided to take you for a walk tomorrow morning," I say as I look down at Albert's untouched lunch tray. The soup has gone cold, and he has not eaten any of the bread. Even more of a worry is the undisturbed glass of water. If he doesn't drink soon, Albert is in danger of dehydrating, but I do not feel as if I have the necessary strength to force-feed him. At this rate, I fear I shall have to enlist Mr. Porter's help in order to literally pour some water down my patient's throat, though I bristle at the thought of using brute force.

"Just a short walk," I continue, wandering across the room until I am standing directly in front of Albert. "I think perhaps it would do you good to get some fresh air, and to see the world again. I'm quite certain that the people of Devil's Briar will be very pleased to discover that you are up and about again". I wait for some kind of reaction, but of course there is nothing. Albert merely sits and stares straight ahead, and he seems to be trembling more than ever. Glancing down at his left hand, I see that he appears to be hiding something in his sleeve.

"Can I see what you have?" I ask, kneeling next to him. "Albert? Show me what is in your hand". My heart fills with cautious optimism, since I am quite certain that I have not given him anything, which means he has perhaps left the chair at some point. I reach out and try to force him to reveal what he has; at first, he resists, but finally I am able to make him turn his hand over, and I see that he is holding a pistol. A cold chill runs through my body as I realize that this must be the gun that went missing from Mr. Porter's desk.

"Albert," I say softly, "why do you -"

"Make him stop," he says suddenly, his voice tense and harried.

"Make who stop?" I ask, but he says no more. "Albert, make who stop?" I ask again, determined to find out what is causing so much trouble.

"Make him stop," he says, suddenly throwing the gun across the room. "I don't care how you do it," he continues, turning to me. "You can cut my head open for all I care, but just get his voice out of here!"

"Whose voice?" I ask, realizing with dread that Albert's emotional problems would seem to be far stronger than I had anticipated.

"Lawrence Evans," he hisses, his whole face trembling. "He speaks to me all day and all night, whispering vile things in my ear. He says I must..." He pauses and closes his eyes for a moment. "He is such a terrible man," he continues after a moment. "The things he wants me to do..."

"You must tell me," I say, reaching out and taking Albert's hands in mine. "It's okay. I shall not judge you, Albert.

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