Loyalty Divided

Chapter Nineteen

The chill of December had settled deep into the bones of the old house, turning every breath into a puff of white mist. Evangeline pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she moved quietly through the dimly lit hallway. The gang had been living here since October, making the best of their situation, but the walls seemed to close in on her more with each passing day.

Since that nightmarish encounter, she and Arthur had kept their distance. It wasn't just the haunting presence of Colten that troubled her dreams; it was the growing chasm between her and Arthur. She had tried to shake the feeling that she was being watched, that Colten's bloodied specter was lurking just beyond her sight. She saw him in the corners of rooms, in the shadows of trees, always there, always watching. The fear gnawed at her, making every night a struggle.

Evangeline had tried to shake the feeling that she was being watched, that Colten's bloodied specter was lurking just beyond her sight. She saw him in the corners of rooms, in the shadows of trees, always there, always watching. The fear gnawed at her, making every night a struggle. No matter how many times she told herself it was just her imagination, the terror felt real.

The gang had settled into a routine since Dutch had picked up a few more stragglers on their journey: Uncle, a lazy but oddly charming old man who contributed little but stories and complaints; Mary-Beth Gaskill, a young girl with a kind heart and an optimistic spirit that stood in stark contrast to their grim reality; and Tilly Jackson, whose sharp wit and resilience brought a new dynamic to the group. Their presence brought some life into the gang, but for Evangeline, it felt like she was drifting further away from everyone, especially Arthur. Mary-Beth's laughter echoed in the halls, a stark reminder of the innocence Evangeline felt she was losing.

The long, cold nights exacerbated her anxiety. She often found herself wandering the house, unable to sleep, her mind racing with images of Colten's ghost. One night, she stood in the hallway, staring at the spot where she had seen him. The darkness seemed to pulse and shift, as if it was alive. She gripped her shawl tighter, her heart pounding in her chest.

Evangeline couldn't help but wonder if the house itself was cursed, amplifying her fears and anxieties. Every creak and groan in the night felt like an echo of Colten's ghost, and she often woke up in a cold sweat, clutching her knife under her pillow. She started sleeping with the lamp burning low, its flickering light providing a small measure of comfort. Even Copper's steady presence at her feet did little to dispel her fears.

The days were slightly better, filled with the routine of chores and the company of the gang. Miss Grimshaw kept them all busy, ensuring that everyone had a task to keep their minds occupied. Evangeline found some solace in these tasks, but the dread of nightfall always loomed over her.

She tried to talk to Mary-Beth about it one evening while they were peeling potatoes in the kitchen. "Do you ever feel like... something's watching you in this house?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mary-Beth looked up, her eyes wide with concern. "No, I haven't felt anything like that. Are you okay, Evangeline?"

Evangeline forced a smile, not wanting to burden the young girl with her fears. "I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Mary-Beth reached over and squeezed her hand. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here."

Despite the comfort of Mary-Beth's words, Evangeline couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing herself to her fears. The isolation from Arthur only made it worse. She missed the easy camaraderie they once shared, the unspoken bond that had given her strength.

One particularly cold night, Evangeline sat by the window in her room, staring out at the snow-covered landscape. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the ground, and she could almost see Colten standing out there, watching her. She shivered, pulling the shawl tighter around her shoulders.