Chapter 16: The New Neighbors (A)

I accidentally pricked my finger again and sucked on it. I was so sleepy but I wanted to at least make progress with Maya's new dress before I sleep, but I kept drifting off and kept pricking my finger with the needle. Putting the gown and the needle in the basket I kept under the bed, I blew out the candle and wriggled under the blankets next to Arthur; he has been having those nightmares often, so I kept him close to me so that whenever he starts crying in his sleep, I'd be right next to him to soothe him back to sleep. I actually thought Maya would be the one having trouble sleeping but she was just like me, once she's asleep, she's asleep until morning.

I must have drifted to sleep almost immediately but the sounds of hinges creaking woke me up and I was alert instantly. Seems like caring for Arthur has gotten rid of my deep sleep problem, it was almost like I was waiting for him to make a sound, then I wake up and soothe him.

But this sound wasn't Arthur, it was