Page 71 of Little Twisted Things

“Who is she?” My brows furrowed.

“Go and find out.” He smiled.

I slowly walked up the stairs, my hand gripping the banister with each step. I opened the door to the guestroom and froze when I saw Dahlia lying on the bed. Still. Her hands resting at her sides. She looked peaceful. I walked over and stared at her.

“Dahlia?” I whispered. She didn’t move, so I carefully sat on the edge of the bed and placed my hand on hers. “You’ve been sleeping a long time. Why am I back here?”

Suddenly, she stirred.

“Dahlia, you have to wake up. The others need your help. They’re in trouble. They’ve been silenced. Please, Dahlia. You’ve been with me since I was a child. I can’t do this without you.”

Her fingers clutched the quilt.

“So tired,” she whispered.

“I know. But you have to wake up. I need you.”

“I can’t,” she mumbled.

“You can.” I gripped her shoulders and shook her. “Something’s coming, and you’re the only one who can stop it.”

I heard the door slam downstairs, then heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. The room grew terribly cold.

“Dahlia, it’s here. Please wake up! Help me. Make it stop!”

Dahlia’s eyes flew open. The doorknob started to turn.

“Run, Katherine.”

42

Dahlia

My eyes flew open. I looked around the small sterile room.

“Oh, come on. Not this place again.”

I sat up, trying to calm my racing heart. I closed my eyes and dug deep inside my mind. Katherine was back at the cottage with Elias, safe and sound. I smiled when I saw her smiling. She came to me. She woke me up from whatever or whoever put me to sleep. I felt it coming, and I tried to stop it. The last thing I remembered was killing Alex and setting the house on fire. Then everything went black.

I glanced at the painting that hung above the desk. I climbed off the bed and walked over to it. The cottage. It was beautiful. My eyes diverted to the bottom right corner where I noticed the name Sydney. I smiled. Then I turned and looked at the canvas sitting on the easel in the corner of the room. The shadowy figure of a woman standing amongst the darkened forest.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked in a whisper.

I’ve felt her for a long time. She tried to push through since I moved to Key West, but I wouldn’t let her. I never saw her, though. I only felt her. I searched my mind for The Librarian. I couldn’t find her or Sunny.

The room door opened, and a tall man stood there.

“Katherine, it’s time for your session with Dr. Bondi.”

“Sure.” I grinned. “Let’s go.”

He looked at me strangely and then led me to Dr. Bondi’s office.

“Hello, Katherine. How are you today?”

I took a seat on the couch while she sat in the chair across from me.

“Dr. Bondi, the name is Dahlia.”