Chapter 15 - THE DARKEST HOUR
Three nights later, it happened.
I woke up to the sound of breaking glass.
I sat up in bed, heart hammering. Beside me, Leo slept soundly. I stood up quietly and walked to the door.
From downstairs came voices—low, urgent voices I did not recognize.
I grabbed my phone. 2:17 AM. I dialed 911. Then I quietly woke Leo.
“Leo,” I whispered. “Listen to me very carefully. Go into the bathroom. Lock the door. And do not make a sound. No matter what you hear. Do not come out until I come for you. Promise me.”
Leo nodded, his eyes wide and frightened.
“Promise, Mommy.”
He climbed out of bed and slipped into the bathroom. I locked the door behind him. Then I walked quietly across the hall to Noah’s room.
Noah was awake. He sat up when I entered.
“Mommy? What is that noise?”
“Stay down,” I whispered, kneeling beside his bed. “Someone is downstairs. I need you to be very quiet. Help is coming. Just stay here.”
Footsteps on the stairs. Heavy. Slow.
My heart stopped.
I grabbed Noah and pulled him beneath the bed. We huddled together in the darkness, holding each other tight.
The bedroom door creaked open.
A man stepped inside. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Masked. He shone a flashlight around the room.
I held my breath. Noah buried his face against my chest, trembling.
The light swept past us. Then paused.
The man took a step forward.
My blood turned to ice. He had seen us.
He reached down. I grabbed Noah and pushed him behind me. I stood up, trembling but fierce.
“Get out,” I whispered. “Or I will scream.”
The man paused. Then he spoke in a low, rough voice.
“Margaret sends her regards. She says it is time to set things right.”
He reached for Noah.
I lunged forward and bit his hand. He cried out and struck me hard across the face. I fell backward, hitting my head against the wall.
Through the ringing in my ears, I heard Noah scream.
“Mommy!”
I looked up. The man had Noah in his arms. He was carrying him toward the door.
“No!” I screamed, scrambling to my feet. “No! Let him go!”
I grabbed his arm. He shook me off easily. I fell again, hitting the floor hard.
He disappeared out the door—carrying Noah.
I crawled after him, screaming his name. Down the hall. Down the stairs. But he was too fast.
I burst out the front door just in time to see a black car speed away. Noah’s face pressed against the rear window, screaming my name.
“Noah!”
I ran after them, stumbling over the driveway stones. But the car vanished into the night. Gone.
I collapsed to my knees in the cold grass. Tears streamed down my face. Pain exploded in my head.
And then I heard it. A small voice behind me.
“Mommy?”
I turned.
Leo stood in the doorway, clutching his stuffed rabbit, staring at me with terrified eyes.
May you like
I had lost one son.
And I had left the other one standing alone in the dark.
