Page 8 of Deadfall

and all I ever do is remember.

SUE ZHAO

4

EMERSYN

Thirteen Years Ago - Age 13

“Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl…”

Dad nuzzled into my hair as he started the story in his dramatic voice and I giggled, his words tickled me. Today had been the best day—running around the forest with Cole, swimming in the lake with Mom, and now Dad was reading my favorite bedtime story—Little Red Riding Hood. We were sitting on my bed at the lake house, and I was enclosed safely in his arms on his lap while Cole snuggled into his side.

But as I continued to hear the soft rumble of his words vibrate through me, the bedroom started to waver and bleed away until I wasn’t in the lake house anymore. I was in the woods. It felt sinister—not at all like the beautiful forest behind the house that I knew like the back of my hand. Fear lurched in my chest and I ran.

“Daddy!” I called out. “Cole!”

Branches reached for me, snagging on my clothing and hair. I’d always felt safe in the trees. But something was coming—something bad.

“Where are you going, little one?” The voice whispered in my ear.

I screamed—afraid to turn and see who had spoken. I ran.

“Come back—haven’t you seen the beautiful flowers?” The voice didn’t fade like I hoped, it caressed my ear, the breath of it burned my neck. I wanted my dad. He’d protect me. Branches cracked behind me; I heard voices—I stumbled and fell. I hit the dirt hard and scratched my knees.

I scrambled into some bushes and huddled in the shadows.

I looked down and there was a knife in my hand—my father’s knife. Why was I holding his knife?

Because he told me to run. To hide. And not come out until he came for me.

I heard the voices coming closer. The footsteps cracked twigs beneath heavy boots. Panic gripped me. I lurched from my hiding spot and ran back towards the lake house.

“Dad! Daddy, please!” I screamed, hoping he’d hear me.

Why wasn’t he coming? Did I do something wrong? Was he mad at me for not obeying him?

“I’m sorry! I won’t do anything bad ever again!”

A shadow moved. I ran straight into a solid wall of black. At first my heart soared thinking it was my Dad, but he smelled wrong and when rough hands grabbed me, I knew immediately they weren’t arms of safety.

“No!” I cried. “Let me go!”

Red eyes gleamed in the gloom of the forest, glowing maliciously as they loomed in front of me. I raised my knife, and hoped I could be as brave as my Dad said I might need to be. A hand clamped around my wrist like a vise and Vetticus’ face swam into view.

I struggled against his hold, trying and failing to bring the knife down to hurt him. He grinned, his teeth elongated to an unnatural degree. I screamed and fell backwards, but instead of falling to the forest floor, I kept falling and falling—

I was in a dusty clearing. My Dad was on his knees and looked terrified. My fear intensified—he wasn’t supposed to be the one who was scared. Something cold pressed against my head and I knew instinctively it was a gun.

“It’s okay, baby—” His voice broke.

It was not okay. It was not okay at all. Because he held a knife, a knife he had poised to hurt me.

“Do you need a countdown?” Vetticus mocked.

I could feel the tip of the blade shake as he placed it carefully above my eye. I knew then it was inevitable—he had no choice but to obey Vetticus.

“Just do it—” I heard myself say. “It’s okay, Dad…you have to…”