Page 144 of Creeping Beautiful

But that’s just it. Her secrets. Her ignorance. Her snakes.

I can’t let her go out there alone. I can’t let her face that evil by herself.

What kind of man kicks a little girl out of the Garden of Eden?

Am I that man?

Obviously, I have decided I am not. But I pause at the gate of Old Home just the same. To think it through one last time. To thoroughly understand the consequences of this action. Because once I see her again… it’s over. I will stand by her side no matter what comes next.

And that might be my downfall.

That might be the end of all of us.

I don’t know why I do it, because there’s no one but me on this dirt road tonight, but I signal before I turn into the driveway of Old Home.

I guess I just want my decision to return to be definitive. Even if I’m the only one who ever knows it.

McKay’s truck isn’t in the driveway and the house is mostly dark when I pull up in front. But there’s a light on somewhere. Upstairs. Maybe the hallway or Donovan’s room. And probably the kitchen too.

I turn my truck off and get out, closing the door softly behind me like I don’t want to be heard.

Then I take a deep breath and walk up the porch steps. Open the front door, close it. And look up the stairs.

Donovan is standing there, like he was waiting for me.

Then I see a shadow behind him. Creeping along the hallway.

I want to reach for my gun, but I don’t have it.

If I had it, I might use it. And no matter what, that would not be how this night ended. So I didn’t bring it.

Donovan turns before I can say anything. Sees Indie walking up behind him.

Her eyes search his for a moment. Then she looks down to find mine.

There is an eternity of silence as I wait to see what she’ll do.

Will she kill him with a candlestick? Will she shoot him? And me? Did she already kill McKay and that’s why he’s not here?

How? How will she end this journey we’ve been on together for the last fourteen years?

But she doesn’t strike Donovan. She doesn’t pull out a gun and shoot me in the chest.

She starts to cry.

She begins to sob.

Donovan is reaching for her as I take the stairs three at a time. I crush against her, pushing her into the wall so I can wrap my arms around her, and press my body against her, and hold her captive.

So she cannot escape.

So no matter what, she will never get away from me again.

I love this girl. I have loved her from the very first moment I saw her wrapped up in hungry snake. And that’s when I realize… that sick fuck Gerald was right. I didn’t see it that night on the island. I saw the sickness inside everyone but myself that night.

She is special to me and it all started that night I freed her from that cage.

I will die for this girl. Whatever it takes to save her, I will do it.