Quinn – Before<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I shot up in bed, heart thumping in my chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somebody was here. In my house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ellie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had to get to her. Keep her safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I had to be quiet. Whoever was here couldn\u2019t know I was awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swinging my legs over the side of the bed and into my slippers, I glanced at the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:15 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing good ever happens after two in the morning. Isn\u2019t that how the saying goes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And this was definitely not good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I spotted my phone and grabbed it, barely holding on\u2014my hands were shaking so badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stood up, then collapsed back onto the mattress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to get to Ellie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stood again. Nothing was going to keep me from her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay away from Ellie. Don\u2019t touch her. You can have anything else. Not my baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door creaked as I opened it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, no, no. Please don\u2019t hear this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I slipped through the narrow opening and made a mental note to grease the hinge in the morning\u2014if morning came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footsteps echoed from downstairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drawers were being rummaged through. Cabinets opened and slammed shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What were they looking for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t have anything of real value\u2014not monetarily, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything worth taking was sentimental. Personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I heard whispers floating up the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost unintelligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I caught fragments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvan is going to be mad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gotta be here somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t recognize the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Evan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It meant nothing to me then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I made it into Ellie\u2019s room just as the footsteps began climbing the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I clicked the door closed and pressed my back against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ellie was still sleeping, curled up with her blankie, completely unaware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure it would wake her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took two deep breaths and whispered a silent prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please let them leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please let this Evan person realize they sent their goons to the wrong house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I crawled to the far side of Ellie\u2019s bed, hiding in the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the door opened, they wouldn\u2019t see me\u2014but I\u2019d see them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I dialed 911, quickly gave my name and address, not waiting for the operator to finish speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I answered what I could, when I could, whispering into the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no way I\u2019d let them find me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No way I\u2019d let them hurt my baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure Evan said it was here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The voice came from just outside the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There it was again. That name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who was this Evan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And why did they think I had something?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second voice was too far away to make out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever he said, it made the footsteps start to fade\u2014until I couldn\u2019t hear them anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time the police arrived, the intruders were gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No fingerprints. No forced entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whoever they were, they knew what they were doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the officers left, I crawled back upstairs and climbed into bed with Ellie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not now. Maybe not ever, in this house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d been thinking about moving back to my small hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A place where Ellie could grow up safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surrounded by family. By people I trusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the sun came up, my decision was made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were going home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Quinn – Before I shot up in bed, heart thumping in my chest. Somebody was here. In my house. Ellie. I had to get to her. Keep her safe. But I had to be quiet. Whoever was here couldn\u2019t know … Continue reading