Page 29 (2/2)
I hate when they fight Life is bad enough already
“How about we go outside,” I suggest to Sadie, “and see what kind of trouble we can get into?”
Sadie beao see Miss Tammy’s puppies?”
“Sure Why not?”
She bounces off toward the door while I shoot my brother a look as I head for the front door
“Don’t ruin her happiness yet,” I mutter under my breath as I pass by hier”
“She’s thirteen-years-old” He grabs a bowl from the cupboard then lowers his voice when he realizes Sadie is still lingering near the front door “She needs to start growing up and realizing just how shitty our lives are And how shitty our mother—”
“My babies!” The door swings open violently, androom with her arrins “Co”
“Speak of the devil,” my brother mumbles under his breath
Sadie gives her a nervous, one-ar “I missed you”
She trips in her heels as she staggers into the s room “Where have the three of you been?”
“Right here” My tone is clipped “Waiting for you to show up and pay the damn bills”
She frowns as she sluainst the ith her head tipped back, her droopy eyes on the stained ceiling above “I’ve been busy” Her eyelids lower as if she’s about to pass out “How long was I gone?”
I bite down on ue until the rusty taste of blood fills byher so much “Four days”
“Four days,” she le to the side, and I think she’s about to pass out, but she suddenly gets a second wind Her eyes pop open as she juuys to come with me”
“I have to go to work,”cereal into a bowl
“Work, sh over her own feet as she jerks open the front door “Come on This is important”
I exchange a quizzical look with my brother, and he shakes his head and slams the box of cereal down onto the counter
“Fine, what do you want?” he asks, striding to the front door
“It’s outside,” she whispers, her gaze darting froht
My brother rolls his eyes, but steps outside, anyway “I’ so tired of this shit”
My ravel driveway, and we all follow her The sky is clear, the sun gleahtly, but there’s a chill to the air
“What do you thin
k she’s on this time?” he asks me as we hike down the windy road, past trailer ho the area we live in
I shrug “I really don’t care anymore”
Which is the truth I ether on the outside, but I was done with o I have fourout The oing to take Sadie, too
My h the field and around the fence line before heading back toward the house
“I have a bad feeling about this, Ayden,” Sadie whispers tothat so to happen today”
“It’s going to be okay” I squeeze her hand, trying to co worried myself
By the tiure ht us out here—if there was even a purpose to begin with—and is going to take us back to the house
But she ht at a srudgingly trail after her, exhausted and cranky and ready to go horown quiet
“Just wait right here,” my mom instructs as we reach the bottom of the rotted, wooden steps that lead to a crooked front door She climbs up the stairs and fixes her dress into place before knocking
The door swings open, but I can’t see who’s inside the house For the most part, the three of us have tried to stay away fros
I hear hushed whispering and sigh, knowing aze travels around the area, across the road, along the front of the house I notice a strange, jagged, circular pattern painted on the n that reads: Enter at your own risk Those who dare step in never get out
Part ofis a joke, but a set a little anxious about who lives in this house
“Okay, are you guys ready for this?”my attention back to her
The door to the house is wide open, but the person who answered has stepped back so I can only make out their silhouette and what looks like a head of red hair It seems so dark and smoky inside, as if there are no open s or ventilation
“Go on” She has so in her hand and a nervous look on her face as she flicks her wrist and motions at the door “Get in there”