The House of Sorrows

Chapter 34: "One last shot"

I saw Lockwood put thumbtacks on the floor in front our our basement and front door, along with a bell on the tops, so we will hear him either scream, or hear the bell. I started walking up to my room when I saw Lockwood's door slightly open, just enough to barely see inside. I let my curiosity get the best of me, I peeked my head in, just enough to see what he was doing. My eyes widened in hurt when I saw him, in his usual dress pants and shoes, but he did not have a shirt on. I saw the still healing scar on his back, small, circular, and slightly bruised. He looked so fragile from here, but I so wanted to run up to him and hug him tight, to make his fear and pain evaporate away. I wanted to reach out and soothe him, but he must've heard the door creak because he turned around in a rush.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to see how you were doing! I didn't mean to rush in on you!" I apologized profusely, hoping he won't be mad.

"It's alright, I shouldn't have left the door open. I'm okay." He smiled, though he was mildly blushing.

"Lockwood? Can I—can I see? You scar, I mean." I didn't want to Intrude but I was so curious.

"Umm, sure. I don't see why not." He said with a grin and a displaced stare at the ground.

I slowly walked in, the door squeaking a little, I saw him tense up a little, I walked over and got a closer look. It looked painful, I remember doing my best to push down on the wound, my hands and clothes covered in his blood. But now he was here in front of me, alive, okay. I gently brushed my fingers around the wound, careful to not hurt him. He flinched a little and I felt his skin heat up, I drew my hand back. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable, I mean he already said that he didn't mean the things he said. It still weighed heavily on my heart, because I did love him. Even if he would never love me back.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight." I smiled and turned, I walked out the door, I momentarily paused at the door, imagining that I wasn't leaving that I was staying, to be with him.

But I left, i walked out and went up my stairs. I reached my room, shut the door and collapsed on my bed. I realized that I hadn't been breathing since I went into Lockwood's room. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, I was so tired. I fell asleep immediately, lights on and everything. At some point during the night someone turned my lights off, because when I woke up around midnight it was dark. I heard someone coming up the steps, they opened the door. A tall thin figure walked in, Lockwood.

"Hey, what's up? Is everything okay Lockwood?" I asked, worried that maybe he couldn't sleep.

"Yes. Everything's fine. Just checking on you." He said, it sounded like he might be half asleep, it was slow, and deep.

But I didn't pay much attention and I went back to sleep. It was a restful sleep, I woke up around 7:00 AM the next morning. The sun shining through my window, I was cuddled up with my blanket. I was starving, I smelled bacon and cookies from the kitchen. Holly must be here. I stood up and took a shower, I washed my ratty hair and cleaned the cut I got from that wraith a few days ago. I got dressed in a comfy shirt and some knee length grey shorts. I walked down the stairs, my hair still damp, I reached the kitchen and immediately grabbed a piece of bacon and shoved into my mouth. Yum, Holly makes the best bacon. I grabbed a plate and piled it high, I joined Lockwood and George in the sitting room. Lockwood was enjoying one of his gossip magazines, and George was face deep in a book. Holly was folding some of George's shirts, I do not envy that.

"Oh hey Luce, did you sleep well?" Lockwood grinned and put down his magazine for a moment.

"Yep, thanks for checking on me last night!" I gave a big smile, trying not to show the chunks of bacon in my teeth.

"Oh sure. Wait, what?" Lockwood looked at me like he saw a ghost, but it was day, so it wasn't that.

"What?" I was just as confused as he was.

"I didn't visit you last night, I was in my room dead asleep soon after you left." He now looked very concerned, at this point George looked up from his book and was looking between us.

"George? Did you?" I questioned him, he shook his head.

I suddenly felt a panic surge through me. It wasn't Lockwood or George, and Holly went home. Who was it? Who—Freddy. Freddy was in my room.