Crooked Man

T W E N T Y T W O

"You took Ruby in?" I ask, a bit uncomfortable.
"Yeah...how do you know it's name? I thought it wasn't yours." he says as we walk towards the black door.
"It isn't mine! At least...not anymore. I don't want it. You can have it if you want." I shrug.

Rick reaches for the doorknob. "YOU have to get out of this house as soon as possible Monica." He says, giving me a serious look. "Whatever happens, save yourself." He looks down at his feet. "It's a bit late for me." He looks up at me smiling. "But I wouldn't want to bore you with that!"

I realize that he isn't stammering when we aren't around Flora, which is quite creepy because Rick seems confident now. A bit too much for a five year old. But...nothing's too weird after everything that happened today.

"Who is she?" I ask. "She seems a bit...dark? Mysterious? Maybe even...weird?" I giggle. Calling an adult "weird" is weird.
He sighs. "That is a question you're gonna regret learning. So leave it. Don't learn anything if you don't have to." He squeezes my hand. "Trust me..."