Nevertheless. I returned to the attic door, listened, and knocked, and called. There was no response, and it was still locked. I couldn't help but start crying a little, and then...

I looked down and saw the ants.

They were coming out from under the door. Ian's ants!

Streaming out in a thin line right toward me.

I screamed and backed away, nearly falling over in my haste to retreat. Spinning around. I charged down the stairway and tripped, just catching myself on the wobbly banister. I heard it cracking and let go, balancing myself.

Crying harder now. I continued down and charged out the front door.

Lester Marshall, wearing paint-stained overalls and carrying a can of paint and a brush, was heading toward me. He stopped for a moment. I simply screamed "'Ants!" and he dropped the can of paint and the brush and ran toward the house.

"What is it?" he asked.

I was sobbing so hard that I couldn't breathe or speak. The words just wouldn't form.

"Miss Jordan, what's wrong?" he asked.

I was choking now. I felt the porch floor start to wobble and the whole world begin to turn, as if I'd been in a huge bubble and it had started to roll.

I heard him call out to me. and I felt his hands reach out and catch me under my back just before I hit the porch floor.

That was all I remembered until I woke up in the living room on the sofa. I felt the cold washcloth on my forehead. Lester Marshall was standing there looking down at me, a glass of water in his hand.

"Drink some of this." he said. He knelt down to help me lift my head, then guided the glass to my lips. I drank some and closed my eyes. "Where's Miss Frances?" he asked.

"She's... up in the... attic," I said. "The attic?"

"She's been up there all the time. The door's locked. And now ants..."

"Ants?" he said, twisting his lips. He stood up, looking very concerned.

"Ian's ants." I muttered. "He said to watch out,

"You babbling, child. You just rest here a while until I see what is what," he said.

He turned and left the living room. I heard him going up the stairway. Then I saw Miss Puss appear. She walked toward me, stood looking up at me, then curled up beside the sofa. I closed my eyes. My stomach was churning and turning, and I was still very dizzy.

I know I called out for my mother. It seemed as if I was doing it in a dream.

And then. I was sure. I was positive. I heard her. Ian was right. The telepathy would work. Mommy would hear me. She called my name. She told me not to be afraid. She said she would watch over me. She said everything would be all right. I felt myself relax, and moments later. I was asleep.

When I woke again, there was a great deal of noise and activity around me. A kind-looking woman in a paramedic's uniform was at my side, smiling down at me. She knelt and told me I shouldn't be afraid.

"I know," I said. "My mother just told me that, too...

"Oh, did she?" She held her smile. I thought she had very pretty dark brown eyes, more like the shade of pecan brown with tiny gold specks. "When did you see her?" she asked.

"I didn't. She's in the hospital in a coma, but she talks to me through telepathy. Ian taught her how to do it."

"Ian? Who's Ian?"

"He's my brother."

"Oh. Well, that's very nice. I'm happy for you.

Would you like to sit up? Do you want to eat something?" I remembered being nauseous and shook my head. "I was nauseous," I told her.

Tags: V.C. Andrews Early Spring Horror
Source: readsnovelonline.net