Page 39 of Willowbrooke
“Alone!?” I yelped.
“Okay-okay.” He held my forearm, trying to reason withme. “Stay behind me—no sudden movements.”
Slowly, we made our way up the stairs, turning on every single light in our wake. If there really was a person up there, the house was old enough, we would hear them if they tried to go down the back stairs, and they would have to pass us if they tried to descend the front staircase.
“Hello? Anyone there?” Leo called out.
Nobody answered except my heavy breathing behind him.
Leo kicked the door to the pink room open and darted inside to switch on the light.
The room was empty.
My eyes snapped to the floor as I rounded the bed.
The journal was really gone.
I wondered if I’d imagined all of it. I opened my mouth to tell Leo what I’d discovered, but found that the words wouldn’t come out.
I needed to find that journal. He’d never believe me without it. It was all too outlandish, and terribly convenient.
“Where did you see them?” Leo asked.
I pointed to the far corner, next to the window. “It was a big shadow—it was making a scraping sound. I know I sound crazy.” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Hey.” He grabbed my hand, squeezing it. “It’s okay. Whatever you saw, I believe you.”
I looked down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. I felt like I was going insane.
“Let’s check the other rooms just to be safe,” he suggested.
One by one, we looked around the empty rooms and found nothing.
“I tried to call you,” I sniffled.
We walked back down the main stairs. Leo kept my hand firmly in his. The connection helped more than he knew.
“When?” His brow furrowed as he dug his phone out of his pocket, finally letting my hand drop as he tried to turn it on. “Shit—the battery died.” He looked up at me apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Pen.”
“It’s not your fault.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“I didn’t know.” He shook his head, plugging it into a charger on the kitchen island. “Are you okay?” He rubbed his hand up and down my arm.
I nodded, not trusting my voice to reply.
“I got home a little later than usual, and I found you asleep upstairs. I didn’t want to wake you up.”
I wanted to ask him if he remembered if I had been holding anything when he came up to check on me, but without the evidence, it was pointless. I shoved the urge aside.
“Did you eat dinner? I brought you sushi; it’s in the fridge.” He pointed behind him.
“I didn’t eat.” I shook my head.
“Go sit down in the living room, I’ll bring it over. And Pen?”
I turned back toward him.
“Breathe. You’re okay.” He smiled softly.
