An hour later, supper was simmering on the stove, and I grabbed my wrap to guard against the breeze coming off the sea. The sound of the waves had always been a comfort, as if they washed some of the tension from my mind.
Strolling down toward the docks, my heart lifted when I saw that strange, large ship again. I dearly wanted to believe that it was an omen of good luck, if there even was such a thing.
Only four of the men were loading and unloading cargo, with no sign of that saucy man who had spoken to me last week.
No matter. I shouldn’t be speaking to strangers anyway, especially since I was apparently now officially betrothed.
Peering around in th
e late afternoon sun, I finally found Neil and Earl at the very end of the pier, near the strange ship. I paused, my feet still on land, beside a huge stack of crates that appeared to be empty.
Women didn’t normally walk on the docks. I wasn’t exactly afraid of all of the strange men, but I couldn’t be seen doing anything inappropriate, for fear the gossip would reach my father’s ears.
Morty and Murray were paddling toward this end of the dock, causing the townspeople to gather. They were scruffy old men, but favorites of the town. Their stories and whiskey-soaked songs really were the only bit of entertainment Claytonsfield had.
I had to get my brothers home before the festivities began.
“Neil! Earl!” I called out. “Come quickly, father needs you at home.”
They came racing toward me, but Earl stopped short. “Why does father need us?” he glared.
“He’s hungry and wants to have supper early today,” I explained, trying to hustle them onto the path.
“No!” Neil said belligerently. “We’re not leaving until we hear the songs.”
There was no way I was going to risk father’s punishment for the sake of these two brats. “Look, you’ll be rid of me within the month,” I sighed. “Please, the least you can do is keep father happy for a few more weeks.”
Linking their arms with mine, I turned toward the path, trying to persuade them to walk with me.
With horror, I saw the look that passed between them. That look of pure evil. The look that honestly made me wonder if there was something seriously wrong with their minds.
There were stories of children who were simply born bad, yet I never quite wanted to believe that about my own kin. Even when they proved that they were terrible creatures, time and time again.
The two of them grabbed my arms. Before I could even scream, I was folded into a little ball and stuffed into one of the empty crates behind me.
It was the cellar all over again, yet much worse.
Even though my heart hammered in my chest, and it felt like my skin was on fire from the panic, I kept my tongue. Allowing them a few moments to laugh their fool heads off usually calmed them down. In the past, I’d always been able to scream for father to come let me out, eventually. Not that father was anywhere nearby this time.
It was hard to see anything through the few cracks in the wooden crate. A thump landed over me, as one of my brothers must have sat on the lid.
“If you let me out, I won’t drag you home for supper,” I said. I wasn’t sure if they could hear me. If they did, they didn’t answer.
It was hot and stuffy, and the way my body was curled in on itself made my hands shake so hard they rattled against the slats. Sometimes, when I was locked in my room, or the cellar, it felt like an unearthly weight was crushing my chest. As if a spirit hand was trying to press straight through my bones.
It was horrible. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than this strange fiery panic that flooded my entire body.
“Let me out!” I screamed as loudly as I could, but I could barely haul in a full breath. I didn’t care if it caused my family embarrassment. I didn’t care if we’d be the talk of the town. I couldn’t stand this a second longer.
“In here!” I hollered at the top of my voice, as I tried to bash my fist against the wood.
I was instantly drowned out by Morty and Murray’s voices, as they began leading the village in one of their wild and slightly naughty fisherman songs.
Oh no.
Nobody was going to hear me. My brothers were going to sit on this crate for the entire time.
I was going to be locked in this box for over an hour.