Hush by Eva Konstantopoulos
Author:Eva Konstantopoulos [Konstantopoulos, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781468502923
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2011-12-13T05:00:00+00:00
8
It doesnât take long to reach the den, but when I do the room is empty. On the table, Bethâs walkie lies on its side. The computer plays her fake sound effects on a loop, the whispering of little girls over and over again. I survey the room, listening deeply, but canât make out any other sounds except my feet on the hard wood floor. âBeth? Mrs. Green?â
I try to shut off the whispering loop, but the voices wonât mute. Finally, I just pull the plug. In the silence, I breathe deeply, stepping back, and unexpectedly bump into Mrs. Green. Sheâs carrying a glass of water and it slips from her hands, crashing on the floor. The glass shatters.
âOh, dear,â she says, her face flushed. Slowly, she bends down, her knees creaking, and picks up the pieces.
âIâm sorry,â I say. âLet me.â She stands over me awkwardly as I gather the glass shards. âWhereâs Beth?â I ask.
âBeth?â Mrs. Green says absent-mindedly.
âYes, my partner. The one at the computer?â
âOh.â Mrs. Green looks around. âShe was here a minute ago. I was bringing her some water.â
âOkayâ¦â I say. âAnd she called 9-1-1. Right?â
â9-1-1?â
âYes. Elliot needs help. Did she call?â
âOh no. Is your friend that hurt?â
I stare at Mrs. Green, my frustration mounting. âHe fell through the floor,â I reply.
Mrs. Green blinks at me. âYour friend will be back,â she says. âI saw her with Manuel. Yes, I saw her with the phone. I remember now. Iâm sure she called.â
Mrs. Greenâs breathing is labored as she shuffles along. Something doesnât add up. Why would Beth not be in the room? She always does what Jackson says. If Jackson told her to stay in the den, she would have stayed in the den. So, where is she? I walk into the next room, calling out Bethâs name, but no one answers.
Out the window, I see that Mrs. Green is now outside. Sheâs talking to Manuel, who doesnât look too concerned. Mrs. Green sees me watching and smiles. She slowly trudges to the house. I step away from the window.
In the deserted kitchen I pick up the phone, clicking the receiver. Once. Twice. But thereâs no dial tone. I slam down the phone right as Mrs. Green appears in the doorway. âManuelâs still working, but he hasnât seen her. Maybe she stepped out?â
âStepped out where?â I ask. âAnd the phoneâs dead. Are you sure you got through?â
Mrs. Green shakes her head. âYes. We just called 9-1-1.â
âWho just called? Beth? You didnât say that before.â
âMy dear, youâre all red,â Mrs. Green replies. âDo you want to sit down? Maybe Manuel can help.â
With mounting frustration, I watch Mrs. Green totter to the back door again. She doesnât even look at me. âManuel always knows what to do.â She talks under her breath, her shaking hand fumbling with the door handle.
Thereâs no time for this, I think. No time. With that familiar dread coursing through me, I turn away from Mrs. Green, taking off down the hall.
Iâm breathing hard when I reach the hole to the basement.
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