Chapter Nine Novels & Stories

As if left by fangs. Chapter 9 coming soon.

I had a dream while I was sleeping that night. I dreamed of a young girl starting a list of times she was being overlooked in a brand new journal. She wrote down the number "1" on the first page. As she wrote it down, she muttered, "Once this reaches the 99th time, I won't want Mom, Dad, Jeff, and Annie anymore." After that, the girl stared at the number "1" in contemplation, hesitated before changing it to "0.5" eventually. The entries read, "Mom and Dad came back from their business trip and bought me and Annie new clothes, but they got my size wrong. It was too small. My arms and legs were sticking out, and all my classmates laughed at me. I felt so sad."

"Yeah, she has such a bad temper. Locking her in there might be a good idea. I'll bring her some of her favorite shrimp later. "Come on, Joel," Dad said. "She'll be fine in there for a few hours." Instantly, terror surged through me. I pounded on the door with all my strength and screamed, "I'm not mad anymore! I'll apologize to Yvette! I'll do anything! Just let me out! I can't breathe! I'll die if I don't take my medication!" My voice cracked into a shrill plea, but no one answered. I crumpled to the floor. The itching spread from my back to my face, and soon, my throat began to close as well.

For now. END OF CHAPTER 4

“Who are you talking to? That cousin again, or someone I don’t know?” I had just finished confirming my flight. I locked the screen. “I was reading the news.” His face darkened even more. He snatched the phone from my hand and demanded the passcode. “Our anniversary,” I said. Nine years together. Six simple digits. He entered them once. Then again. Then a third time. The phone stayed locked in his hand. By the time we returned to Blackthorn House, neither of us had spoken another word. The car had barely stopped before he helped Lyra upstairs, one arm wrapped around her waist as if she might break.

"Time to come home." **END OF CHAPTER NINE**

One message appeared on the screen. Proceed to Phase Two.

For some reason, his heart clenched, and he added, "She doesn't handle alcohol well. If she starts making a scene later, it'll disturb the other guests, and it'll embarrass you, too. You understand, right, Stella?" Ordinarily, I would've kicked up a fuss by now. But this time, I simply smiled. "Of course. Drive safe." Bryan frowned. It looked like he had more to say, but at the very next second, Roxy collapsed into his arms and draped herself all over him. With her cheek pressed against his neck, she said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Let's go, Mr. Sable… My body's burning up… I want you so badly…"

He thought: she is nine and she is here and she felt the eighty centimetres and she stood for forty seconds on the fourth tread and she said: it was the right place to put the light. He thought: this is the whole of it. He thought: the chain has a nine-year-old ascending its stairs. He was glad. End of Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three

Hayden had been waiting for was meant for Selena. Of all people, it had to be her. A bitter ache spread through my chest. I suddenly lost my appetite. I set down my fork and stood to leave. The moment I grabbed my bag and turned around, I ran straight into Selena, who was carrying a bowl of sauce. "Ah!" Selena let out a sharp cry and immediately fell into Hayden's arms. The impact knocked me off balance, and my hand slammed onto the still sizzling grill pan. I sucked in a sharp breath from the burn. By the time I steadied myself, the back of my hand was already bright red. Pain shot through me, and I instinctively wanted to run to the sink for cold water.