Bloody November

Guilty

Whew, getting this chapter ready was like pulling teeth, lol. I really hope you guys like this one. Please comment and vote! I'm working on a collaboration with a friend that'll be up soon so I haven't started Chapter 13 yet. But I'm thinking up ideas and I sense a twist coming so stay tuned!

Enjoy!

 

9:05 pm

The house seems even more haunted than before. A sole light illuminates one window because he always keeps a lamp on so he'll never be surrounded in darkness. The window to my bedroom is black but I can make out the outline of the owl.

Sarah isn't here.

"Are you going in?" Wes asks.

I feel him beside me, leaning against his car, parked beside the sidewalk. I stare up at the house, searching for a sign of life, a sign of my father. Wes bumps my shoulder with his.

"My turn. What are you thinking?"

I bite my lip but before I can shake my head in response, a pair of headlights washes over us. The lights are cut off but my eyes are still adjusting. A car door opens then slams shut.

" Savannah , are you alright?"

I nod.

"Wes," He greets Wes before adding, "Thank you for looking after Savannah . Goodnight."

I catch the strain in his voice but Wes staring at the garden frog catches my attention. He blinks and shakes himself out of it.

"Um...goodnight, Sir. I'll see you in the morning, Savvy."

I nod and, for once, don't put up a fight. I hope he brings his car.

"Mr. Terry called," my father informs me after we enter the house. I stare at the end of the foyer, almost wishing I can hear her laugh bouncing off the walls again. She always had a laugh that could brighten a room. Wes's laugh from earlier this morning had been the first sign of light this house has seen in months. This morning seems so long ago.

" Savannah ."

I turn my attention to my father and I can see my guilt all over his face. I had lied to him earlier; but it was for the sake of his sanity.

Doesn't that make it okay?

" Savannah , why weren't you here for your session with Mr. Terry?"

Protect him. He can't know.

"I...I...I was too scared..." I can't get it out. I can't think of a good lie to spit out.

How ironic.

"Scared of what Savvanh?"

I look up at him and see all my lies screaming back at me. I cringe at the crimson tears running down his cheeks. Each tear is a double-edged sword plunged into my chest, causing me to suck in a breath.

" Savannah ? Savannah , can you hear me? Savannah ! Snap out of it, honey!" My father's panicked voice wakes me up. The blood covering his face is washed in his fear and the knife sticking out of his back vanishes as if it wasn't there in the first place.

" Savannah , honey!" He's still shaking me blindly. He's still trying to snap me back to earth, back to reality.

But before I can tell him I'm fine, he stops shaking me and pulls me into his chest, clutching me.

"It's okay...I got you...I got you...I'm here, Annabelle."

I inhale sharply and begin to pull away. I can't bear him saying her name again. After a moment, he releases me with a kiss on the forehead. His lips against my skin don't feel me with the comfort and warmth Wes had given me.