THE BRIDE SHE LEFT BEHIND

top staring

ng hands with some str

the hell was sendi

zed again. A

ices. He knows more

? What

y on his bed. His face was calm, innocen

n't he t

. Caleb had left early for work, but the house still

breakfast. "Can I

cereal, milk dripping

... hear thi

lattered in

ind of

sounds. Like... I don't k

ed around the room like he was che

hem too? he

skipped.

voi

t dry. "What

closer to me. His voice dropped

She talks to

uddenly felt

." I s

here. In the walls. In the ceiling.

grief could make you hear things that weren't there. Bu

does s

s Dad is dangerous. She says he's going to hurt yo

for

ometimes when

r heard him speak. "She can't leave. Not while h

his hand, but

n't bel

o believe

ith me tonig

played cards quietly, waiting. Caleb was downstairs wat

usually happen

sleep. She waits

like hours. My legs were getti

I hea

sound. Coming from

fr

r that?" As

not trusti

bed to the wall near the door. Like something w

me the

I almost

ley

d turne

ispered into

atching

a woman's voice drif

about the diary. H

he. Couldn't mov

t now. "He's coming. Tomorro

cut off

y footsteps o

le

called out.

s pale but not surprised. Li

back, trying to ke

oorway. His hair was me

e you tw

alking,

oom suspiciously. "I t

st

long moment. Then hi

t to bed, son.

mbed under his cov

back to me. "

, but I followed h

g the boy's head with no

nons

bout... ghosts. He's

. "I haven't said an

closer. "

de my skin crawl. Like he

hings, Riley. See things. Bel

king about

kno

r you to end up like Evely

in the air l

delu

er. Thought I was planning something. Poor thing couldn't tell

pt my voice calm. "That mu

ing on those delusions. Recording things

e videos. He kne

o

carefully, "she

idened. "Ye

downstairs, leaving me a

om. He was lying in bed

what he said

nod

e truth. How long have you bee

e night s

tly does s

In the moonlight, his f

d and the blonde lady. About the f

ent tight.

e says he's going to try to make you disap

ow could she know abo

ind. She knew you'd come looking

spun ar

blonde lady is coming here tomorrow. She sa

do you

d answer, we h

ching in

voice, clear

n the basement. Behind the f

atching

went dea

. His eyes were

he basement?

Mom says you need t

instinct told me not to go down

voice echoe

it's to

oom door when Ash

il

rned

tell you so

ha

was barely

fire wasn't th