not going to back down, I braced myself for what was coming next.
In response to Eliza's threats, Meg launched another verbal attack. She was
so unafraid and so strong in her words that my pride battled with my annoyance.
“Mara will never give you anything! I won't let her! I would rather be alone forever, locked up with no food and water, than have you get your way. I'm glad
you left us. You would have been a horrible mother!”
“Enough,” Eliza screamed. A Slap rang through the air. “I'll not take such abuse from you.”
My mind raced. I didn't know what happened. Did Meg slap her? Did Eliza
hit my sister?
Relief filled me when I heard the echoing sound of Eliza's high heels hitting
the granite floor as she took her leave. I relaxed further when the door slammed
shut in her wake. With the click of the door being locked, I stood up to go to my sister. That was when Meg's cries filled the room, confirming she had been injured.
“Let me go alone and be sure it's safe.” Miles stopped me from rushing to Meg.
It was clear to me that our little brother had wisdom beyond his years. I nodded and watched him enter the closet and slowly creep into the room. I trailed behind him, hiding in the shadows.
Miles climbed onto the bed and stared at our sister. Meg was lying face down
on the bed with her head buried in the pillow to quiet her sobs.
“Don't cry, Meg.” Miles lay beside her and hugged her. “Everything is going
to be ok. Soon, we'll be with your family, and you won't be afraid anymore.”
Meg popped up and angrily wiped her tears away. “I don't think they are ever
going to come. If they do, she'll never let us out of here."
“Don't say that!” Miles left the bed. “You promised me they would come and
take us home. You said they would love me and that we would be so happy together. You made a promise, and you always keep your promises, right?”
Miles went to her dresser and pulled out dark, warm clothes, just as I had instructed him to do earlier. “Put these on,” he said with such conviction that Meg didn't argue. She just followed his directions.
While Meg dressed, Miles fixed her bed up, just as I had done in his room.
Taking her hand, he pulled her into the closet. When she saw me, she stared as if
she was looking at a ghost.
“Mara,” she asked timidly, “Are you really here?”
Pulling her into my arms, I fought back tears. “I'm so sorry I let her take you.
I should have been more careful and not let you out of my sight.”
We both just held each other while our brother watched us with a big smile.
Tugging my shirt, he warned, “We really should hurry. I don't want them to
find out that we left our rooms.”
“Do you know a way for us to get to the back of the house without anyone
knowing?” Reluctantly, I let go of my sister. “Everyone is waiting for us by one
of the large trees at the far edge of the property. Can you get us there without being seen?”
“Of course,” Miles said. He sounded so much like Meg that I wanted to
laugh. “We just need to be careful. Follow me.”
Meg bragged, “Miles can get us anywhere we need to go. He is super sneaky
like that.”
With a look of pride at her compliment, Miles smiled and led us into the inner walls of the house. We followed our brother as he guided us through the twists and turns of the dark passageway. When we reached another hole in the wall, he carefully opened the panel and peeked out.
“Be quiet,” Miles said as he led us into a hallway inside the mansion.
