A Shattered Song ✔️

Chapter Seven: The First Test

CHAPTER SEVEN: The First Test

Five-year-old Evelyn watched the ceiling fan spin.

The ceiling fan, because anywhere else had her tiny chest seizing up in fear, had her trembling, had her screaming for her parents. She watched it because nothing else was safe. She watched it because she had no other choice.

Tangled up in her blue-and-green blanket- the one with schools of fish dancing around the edges- Evelyn shivered. Her light, wispy red hair was spread out on the pillow, and Evelyn reached up an arm to pull it behind her head.

I am coming for you.

A whisper, echoing in her consciousness. A hiss, rebounding in her mind. It sounded like bells. Evelyn whimpered.

You can't hide.

Evelyn buried her face into her blanket. Snot clogged up her nose, and she let it run freely, too scared to move.

I will always find you.

Evelyn sniffled. She wanted to cry out, but she knew that even if her parents came, there was nothing they could do. They said the monster under the bed wasn't real.

Evelyn strongly disagreed.

Are you afraid of me?

Yes.

Sweet child, darling little girl. Don't be scared.

I am afraid of you.

Don't be.

Something moved from under the bed, a soft snarl breaking the silence of the air. Evelyn froze.

Don't you want to be friends?

Her mother always said it was good to make friends. So even though every instinct fought against her, Evelyn thought, yes.

Let's be friends.

And then something lunged out of the darkness.

Eight-year-old Evelyn was at the park.

Seated on one of the swings, she pumped her legs, trying to get into the air. But her feet felt like cinder blocks, and they dragged along the ground with each try. Evelyn felt like crying.

"Hey." It was Kayleigh behind her, her plump cheeks flushed with excitement. "Want me to push you?"

"Sure." Evelyn agreed, but her feet still wouldn't lift off the ground. She growled in frustration.

But Kayleigh was strong, and with each shove against her back, she went a little higher, until she was so high that Kayleigh couldn't reach her any longer. The wind whistled in her ears, and Evelyn laughed aloud. Kayleigh clapped from somewhere behind her, and soon the swing was going on its own- going so fast that the chains ripped free from their holders and Evelyn vaulted into the air.

She laughed again.

She was flying on wings of nothing.

But girls made of cement aren't meant to fly, and soon Evelyn was tumbling through the air, plummeting the the ground- the ground that was so far below-

Evelyn screamed.

"Evie!"

Kayleigh's voice was musical and light, and ten-year-old Evelyn turned around, smiling. Kayleigh was pawing through Evelyn's jewelry box, occasionally taking out a bracelet or another similar trinket.

"Yes?" Evelyn asked.

"Evie, I think this one suits you." Kayleigh held up a small bangle that looked like it was made of moonlight. "Don't you think?"