When Darkness Falls: The Boy Who Stood Up

Shaw when I

e at the entrance of a narrow alley, ree

uttered through clenched teeth, swing

ped in front of her, shi

ain. My mother, unable to watch an

d and held on

ddenly caught N

to a slender

cheerful boys often wore, but there w

ap, and the whip cla

he menace in his expression froze

side and slunk off, t

ou alr

jacket and gently drape

y comforting. The scent felt warm, even th

nk y

t back to him, and pulled my mo

t someone t

thing too fier

st thing I ever

after my mother ran into the man

ithin days, he had managed to push my

her and I moved into t

, Franklin Shaw, do

owed to stay because Gavin Sha

nice to Gavin, to

readable eyes, I found myself back

polite but awkwa

just stared at me

mile, and just when I thought I'd have to l

e was patting

, but I didn't d

aid coolly. "You loo

iou

ed to

een, but I had a certain d

eant he had accepted me

er to worry, so I tol

led qu

n," Gavin sa

tugging at the corner of his lips, and I could

n...

a few times, smi

ugly? Well then, I'd keep

shadow passed t

on your own, B

almost cryptic. "Huh?" I

, he asked, "Will you stay

We barely even

what I said was," Of course

afford to o

this little lie." I

a word of it, Gavin seem

ou ever break your promise...

ead again. Jus

to threaten me

ck and restless, stirring the

ving in the Shaw house

t, rarely smiling, but al

when I was sick, even set aside

I truly saw h

omeone else who had fou

-a boy with a beautiful f

ol in my second year, he was the first

possessiveness, I t

ply smiled, ki

boy smile like that

something insi

ated, I confes

too eager, saying that confessions

mbarrassment, my

remained as ge

partment building I lived i

sity. Neither of us noticed the pair

epped out, walking toward m

, but I was too swept u

Gavin, you're back! You've be

ked, his hand re

ll miss me? In just a month, Beatrice, you

his words laced wi

I could see that G

ently, coaxing him like

ually w

lled his name like that, a

, something f

t same dark look in his eyes,

d fast. I clutched the sea

like he had l

of the city. Without a word, he lifted

ter how I screamed or beg

uggle, he

hen the stomach. The pain

to something I might have seen on a cri

tead, something colder

? Ca

s made m

ghth day of my captivity i

son who had been sitting

he window, stabbing into my eyes wi

anaged to sit up. Step by step

ain and closed my eyes, letti

entle, so c

like f

onto my lips witho

s stationed by the front gate, the illusion vanis

window, only to find myself staring

is legs crossed and chin resting in one hand, he watche

," he said, patting

move. But I could

ew what defi

been insulted, humiliated, even bea

ay she brought me to the Sha

would be kicked out an

that even here, I was sti

ed her nightm

aned into Gavin's arms, forcin

ead, pleased by

ou looking a

ice made m

.. I was watchin

red to glance at him when th

long time. Please don't be angry

voice trembled, soft with

vin said

er my hair, almost as if

face did he finally speak. "It looks like you have learned to

ha

t him in d

e Shaw estate? Or was it just another

. I asked him outrigh

ension, he gav

added, "I'll go with you. "My dad ca

inside me was inst

me resisted, I could onl

and I rode together

ugh the door, he leaned clo

e yourself. Don'

young anymore. You wouldn't

d, even as a plan was al

te greetings before Gavin was called int

me down beside

ime, she would at least p

eatrice, how have things been

e needed Gavin's approval to s

tool she used

his when I came home, but

to be s

and tell her all the good

d. Now, I couldn't think

outhful face, I sniffl

ine. Gavin's b

even remember what kin

it, and that relieved expression of

ugged her, my voice

stay here?

r every day. I wan

tayed buried in m

t be my only chance t

ce caught my mo

, and the touch ma

I was being

ed up a tissue from the coffee ta

g in me. The tears came harder,

th Gavin anymore. I'm scared.

g slightly as if something had

d. Just as she opened her mouth

hough there was nothing kind in it. His grip tightened arou

lready forget what I told you before

felt unbearable. My legs trembl

udly that I couldn't

ag me upstairs that I heard my mo

of misunderstanding. Let go of Beatri

d of hope, easing the dr

sion and, for a brief moment,

He locked me up. He..

ap

h the word, Gavin's

oment, Franklin stepped

to speak, but Franklin sile

avin, who stood calm

your step-brother? And you," he turned to my mot

er, pleading

her would turn her ba

me. She offered Gavin a

been spoiled by me. I'll leave i

d. It felt unreal, like I

? How could those word

lieve I had he

ime to ask, and no o

and watched as Gavin

iting for me, yet none of

hey helped pus

he one person I