It's getting closer. Right there—by the closet! Louisa, alarmed by his tone, touched his Okay, You're burning up. Must be the fever. You're hallucinating. Erich swatted her hand away and shouted: It's not -him-! It's that girl! She's right behind you, She's smiling. No!
Imani jumped up, pressing herself against the far wall. Louisa tried to smooth things over:
Sweet potato, calm My brother gets like this sometimes. He has… episodes. A beat of silence passed.
Then came the loud, comical snoring of the doctor, who had rolled onto his side and started smacking his lips mid-dream.
And then Erich shrieked, staggering in place:
She's reaching for me! What do you want?! Go away!
Between the Lines. Part Four.
Get up, Big Er! I'll help you!
The boy, slumped against the wall of the basement, jumped to his feet and scanned the darkness for the voice. Where was she? Where was Nibi? She'd come to save him!
His whole body ached from when his father had dragged him into the house like a rag doll. The man had grabbed him by the collar—tight enough to choke—and yanked him through the halls. Erich had slammed into walls, bounced off corners, and once cracked his forehead hard against a doorframe. The place his father dragged him to? That dreaded room—the one always locked. But tonight, to Erich's misfortune, it had been left wide open.
Down they went, the man with no face and the boy with too much fear. Into the worst darkness of all: the basement. And what, really, is more terrifying than a basement?
At the final step, the nightmare man hurled Erich down onto a pile of burlap sacks filled with vegetables. They softened the fall—barely. Then the man left, not even bothering to flick the light
Just abandoned him in the black, with all the monsters crawling toward him from the cracks in the walls.
Why didn't he scream while being dragged?
Simple. Fear had paralyzed him. His tongue was heavy, dry, his voice locked somewhere behind his teeth. God, he was so thirsty. But there was only a wine barrel in the corner—and that wouldn't help.
If it weren't for the tiny window near the ceiling, the room would have been swallowed in pure pitch. But moonlight streamed through the glass, just enough to let him see his hands, his knees, his shape. He made sure not to leave that glowing circle of safety.
In moments like these, the military called for -relocation- (Erich had memorized the word on purpose—it sounded important), and he did the same. He moved carefully, seating himself on a pile of old grandma-stuff, and leaned his hot forehead against the icy wall to cool down.
That's where Nibi found him.
Somehow, she'd opened the little window. She was grinning wide and shouting in hushed excitement:
Er! It's not barred! You can climb out!
But how?! – The boy whispered, – The window's way too high—I can't reach it.
Silly boy… – Nibi replied with soft affection. – There's a barrel right next to you. Just climb on top of it! The window's the perfect size for you, I promise.
Good thing Erich had kept up with sports. The barrel looked massive, but he pressed a foot against the valve, grabbed the rim, and hoisted himself up onto the oak lid. Above him—Nibi's hand, outstretched and trembling. She grunted as she helped pull him through.
Freedom.
The boy threw his arms around her, laughing with pure joy. They chattered away, hearts pounding, until Erich suddenly remembered where they were and pressed a finger to his lips:
Shhh! He might be He could grab us any second! How did you get away?
As soon as I saw him coming, I crawled into another bush—real close—and waited for the right moment. I saw when he took you… I'm sorry I didn't help.
She looked guilty, but Erich waved her off:
It's fine! You couldn't have done He's too big… and scary! But thank you. You didn't leave me. You came for me.
Nibi pouted a little.
Of course I We're friends, aren't we? Erich shouted: Best friends!! – And then instantly ducked, terrified. – Oops! He might've heard ..