Nightfall (Devil's Night 4)

Always Audrey: Six Iconic Photographers. One Legendary Star.

West: The American Cowboy.

History of the World Map by Map…

I backed up, reading all the other spines on the two shelves, heavy with more than just the weight of the hardbacks. I liked to put them on the shelf whenever he gave me one. It pleased him to see me display his gifts, but also…it was like I’d accomplished something. It was like a trophy.

When the bruises faded, and I had nothing else to show for what would never fade in my head, I had this.

One book for every time I stood back up.

Again.

And again.

And again.

He’d bought me other things over the years, presents every time he’d spent his anger and the guilt crept in, and those things were also set about the room. Things I’d leave behind when I left, so that when he came in here, he’d see and remember everything, but I’d be gone.

I dropped my eyes.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

My grandmother slept down the hall, the r

ecord player in her room working its way to the end of side A, and I wanted her to live forever, but sometimes…

Martin would be so much worse if she weren’t here. She was the only person who loved me. I needed her to stay alive.

But she was in pain.

And if she were still alive when I was supposed to go to college, I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t leave her with him, and I’d have to stay here.

I hated myself for that thought, but…

While I didn’t want her to go, I needed to get out of here.

What the hell was I going to do?

I hugged myself in my cardigan, only wearing my sleep shorts and tank top underneath, and turned around to close my curtains.

But someone sat there, in the corner of my room in my chair.

I gasped, jumping back.

“Hey,” Will said.

My eyes widened, and I breathed hard, my heart still lodged in my throat. “What the hell?” I dashed to my window, plastering my cheek to the pane to get a view of the driveway and make sure my brother was gone.

“No candle in your window tonight?” he asked.

But I wasn’t listening. “Are you insane?”

I scanned as much of the street as I could see through the tree outside, but I didn’t see Will’s truck. Hopefully, he’d parked it far away.

How the hell did he get in here? My brother just left. He could’ve seen him.

“You have to light a candle, Emmy.”