Inseparable

Chapter Three

Quinn was the first to crawl through the hole. I followed quickly after, afraid of being left in the attic alone, but also afraid to go in and find out what was inside. It was even dimmer in the small cave of a room, but there was just enough light for me to see the bewildered and bloodied face of a child.

I almost screamed, but I didn’t because of what Quinn had said. She looked like something out of a sick horror movie. Her hair was a tangled mess, greasy, and a nasty copper color. Her face had dried blood all over it and more scars then I could count. Her fingernails were worn down to but raw tissue and blood. They looked like mutilated stumps. I guessed that it was from the scratching. She couldn’t have been any older than eight.

I saw a tear run down from the corner of her eye. It washed away some of the bloodiness and revealed a pale white cheek.

“Susan,” Quinn snarled.

I turned to face him. His face looked so different than it had just moments ago. His lips held a scowl and his nostrils were flared out.

“Susan,” he repeated.

Susan’s eyes flickered to mine and then locked on his stony glare. Susan pushed herself against the furthest wall and put her knees under her chin.

“Taylor, leave.”

“Wh-what?” I croaked.

“GO!” he screamed and so I went.

As soon as I passed the threshold he slammed the dark green door behind me. I heard the calloused pads of his bare feet trek across the room. I expected to hear him hit the wild girl, but instead I heard him sit down and ask if he could hold her. I heard her scuttling and then a soft melody came from Quinn’s mouth. I pressed my ear against the door as the song started to slow and then finally stopped.

Quinn opened the door and I caught a final glimpse of the little girl. Then the door shut and Quinn was grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the attic before I could even ask what had happened.

When we had climbed down the ladder and were back on the polished wooden floors, Quinn released my hand and walked away.

“Quinn!” I barked at him.

He didn’t even flinch. He reached his room and disappeared into it, shutting the door behind him.

I stormed after him. What was he thinking? And who was Susan?

“Quinn! Open the door!”

I leaned against the door and heard only quiet. If he wanted to play games then fine, but I wasn’t taking part in it. I twisted the doorknob, but it was caught on something.

“Open the damn door, Quinn!” I screamed.

I heard scuffling and then the door creaked open.

“What the Hell was that?” I yelled at him as soon as I walked through the doorway.

And then I saw him. His face was buried in his hands and he was curled away in the corner, crying.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry. I shouldn’t have made you see that. I shouldn’t have done that to her. Sorry, sorry, sorry,” he mumbled.

I furrowed my brow, confused.

“Quinn, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been cussing at you. Are you okay?” I said, as I walked over to him.

I sat on the floor right next to him and gripped his shoulder softly with one hand. He didn’t pull away so I wrapped my arms around his shuddering body and leaned into him.

“I’m sorry. I am so sorry.”

“Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered in his ear and kept holding him. We stayed like that for hours and I rocked him back and forth and comforted him. And then when he was done shaking he wiped his tears and turned to face me.

“You’re a beautiful person, Taylor. Really you are,” he sighed and then kissed my forehead gently and I allowed him.