The House of Sorrows

Chapter 20: "Target"

After the group had discussed various plans of action, Lucy noticed Lockwood subtly gesturing for George to follow him. The two of them headed toward the basement, claiming they were going to check on their supplies, but Lucy suspected otherwise. Lockwood had been acting strange, and his silent call for George to join him downstairs was more than a little suspicious.

Lucy told Holly she was going to the bathroom, but instead, she slipped in the opposite direction, making her way quietly down the stairs. As she descended, Lockwood's and George's voices grew louder.

"What do you mean?" George was asking as she approached, making Lucy realize she had missed a crucial part of the conversation.

"The envelope I got wasn't taxes," Lockwood explained. "I haven't read it yet, but I recognized the handwriting. It's the same as on the letter Lucy found."

Lucy couldn't see them, but she imagined the confused look that must have been on George's face.

"Why didn't you tell Lucy? Or the others?" George asked. He had a point, Lucy thought, though she'd never admit it to him. Since it was about her, she should have been the first to know.

"Because, until I've read it, I want to protect her," Lockwood said firmly. "If there's something bad in here, I want to know first. And technically, it was addressed to me."

George gave a slight nod and urged Lockwood to open the letter. Hidden just out of their sight, Lucy listened carefully, hoping one of them would read it aloud.

"Okay," Lockwood began, "Dear Anthony Lockwood of Lockwood and Co.,

I noticed that Lucy is no longer sleeping in her room..."

Lockwood paused, glancing at George with alarm. The sentence chilled Lucy; this person had been watching her. Then Lockwood continued reading.

"This frustrates me. I have only loved and taken care of her. I am her hero, and you are nothing. I do not understand why she chooses to be around you. However, I will help her see the error of her ways. If you do not end any relationship you have with her immediately, I will be forced to take action."

Lockwood finished reading with a grim expression.

"Take action?! What is this, some kind of musical where there's a damsel in distress?" George joked, laughing nervously, but Lockwood didn't look amused.

Deciding she'd had enough, Lucy stepped down the last few stairs, her footsteps loud and purposeful.

"I am certainly not a damsel in distress, and I don't appreciate you hiding this letter from me," she said, coming to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.

Lockwood and George looked at her, caught off guard. They stood there staring at her, as if she were dressed in one of those colorful spirit capes. Lockwood started to say something, then closed his mouth, staring down at his shoes as if they had suddenly become fascinating.

"Well? Do either of you have an explanation you want to share with the class?" Lucy asked with a sharp edge to her voice. She appreciated their concern, but she didn't want to be lied to.

This time, Lockwood managed to speak. "I know you're not a damsel in distress," he said, "but I wanted to protect you... because I care about you, Lucy."

Lucy was surprised to hear him admit it so openly, especially in front of George. George seemed just as taken aback; Lockwood had never said it quite like that before.

"I care about you too, Lockwood. More than you know," she replied, feeling exposed as she said it. "But I deserve to know about these things. We're a team, aren't we?"

He nodded, giving her a slight smile. Stepping forward, he handed her the note. Lucy took it and read it over, feeling a sinking sensation in her stomach.

"Okay... so maybe our previous assumption that he wouldn't hurt me is... wrong," she said, trying to sound casual even as the fear gnawed at her.

Lockwood told George to head upstairs with the letter and inform the others. George complied, his footsteps echoing up the stairs until his voice could be heard in the kitchen, relaying the news. Once they were alone, Lockwood turned back to Lucy.

"Are you okay, Lucy?" he asked, moving closer. "I know you don't want to show it, but I can tell you're scared... or at least worried."

"Yeah... I'm—I'm fine," she stammered, but the crack in her voice betrayed her true feelings.

"Oh, Lucy." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.

Lucy felt the warmth of his embrace, his chin resting gently on her head. She was tense at first, her body shaking slightly, but the steady presence of him calmed her. Gradually, her muscles relaxed, and she leaned into his hold, letting her head rest against his chest. His arm wrapped around her securely, his hand cradling the back of her neck, while she felt his breath close to her face. She closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment to feel safe in his embrace, wrapped in his warmth and the comfort he provided.