A Shattered Song ✔️

Chapter Fourteen: Melody's Story

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Melody's Story

Two days later, Evelyn was sprawled across her bed when a knock sounded on the door.

This in itself was unusual; no one bothered, in this world, to step aside for a measly human. No4 did they show respect to the self-proclaimed traitor Ivy, who now glanced up from across the room.

Neither of them answered, sure the door would open up regardless.

But it didn't. There was a short pause, the scuffling of feet, and then three more knocks. One long, two short.

Knock, knock knock.

"Who is it?" Ivy called out after a brief hesitation.

"Melody." The word sent a shiver racing up Evelyn's spine.

All she could think of when she heard the name was a fist slamming into her cheek. A leg sending her to the ground. Tears that came and vanished equally quickly.

And Kayleigh. Kayleigh, falling and falling and falling. Kayleigh's blood, sticky and wet, smeared across her forehead.

Ivy has no such reservations about letting the girl enter. Perhaps she thought it wasn't really a choice. "Come in."

The door opened without resistance, without the click of a lock. Lady Briar thought it amusing to remind Evelyn that even with an easy exit, she could never escape, and neither could Ivy. They just weren't strong enough.

She assumed Melody had come on the Lady's orders. But when the girl slipped into the room, she did not start shouting demands. Did not leave a message, or escort Evelyn somewhere else, or taunt Ivy.

"Hello." Melody murmured, reaching to tuck a wispy strand of hair behind her ear.

Evelyn could only see that same hand dragging her across the floor like a ragdoll.

"Hello." Said Ivy.

"Can I sit?"

"Yes." Ivy kept that stiff, polite smile on- a smile just as fake as the rest of the population.

Evelyn remained silent.

Melody sat.

She looked uncharacteristically nervous as she twisted her fingers together in her lap. With her hair falling over her shoulders and hiding her pale cheeks, she almost looked innocent- but Evelyn was sure this was a trick. Just like the teddy bear, the ice cream, the barbie doll, the nickname- Melody was manipulating them. She was always manipulating them.

Always.

"I wanted to say..." Melody broke off. "I wanted to say..."

"Yes?" Ivy prompted her.

Melody shot her an uncomfortable look. "This is best between me and...Evelyn."

Evelyn startled. This was the first time Melody had used her full name rather than just 'Evie'. She'd grown so used to the nickname coming from her cousin's lips that 'Evelyn' now seemed unnecessarily formal, and she had to fight the urge to correct her. But after all Melody had done...this change was for the best. They weren't friends, and never would be. The only person who called her Evie had been Kayleigh...and that was how it should stay.

"Why?" Ivy prodded, apparently not noticing the thickening tension.

"It's..it's just..." Melody seemed to choke on her own words. "Ivy, please leave."

"Don't have anywhere to go." Ivy snarked in return.

Evelyn remained silent.

"Fine!" Melody burst out, so unlike her normal calm self that Evelyn resolved to listen to whatever she wanted to say. "I just- I want to explain. Why. What happened." Her gaze turned earnest. "Yesterday...I remembered."