Under an Endless Moon: Chapter 22

Raven was having another nightmare. The same one that came every night.

“No, no, no. Daddy, please, no.” She used her heels to slide across the carpeted floor, trying to get away from him. But she couldn’t. She never could, no matter how hard she tried. No matter how quiet she tried to be. No matter if she hid beneath her covers or at the back of her closet.

He always found her when he was mad.

And he was mad right then. She could see it even though his face was twisted in a grin.

“Told you that you’d be punished if you left the light on again.”

“I didn’t, Daddy. I didn’t.”

He flicked the lighter and she screamed.

Screamed and screamed.

Her scream echoed through the dark room as she awoke, so small in her tiny bed, and she flailed her arms as she tried to get away. She had to get away.

“Shh, Raven, it’s okay. It’s okay. It’s me. Otto. You’re safe.”

Her breaths kept heaving out of her, and her heart beat so hard that it hurt, her chest squeezing tight as she tried to process where she was.

She blinked through the shadows that covered the room, and it took her a minute to be able to make out who was there.

It was Otto.

His face was pinched up like he was mad, and his breaths were hard, too, but his blue eyes that shined in the dark chased away the feeling in her stomach that she might be sick. She felt sick a lot, a yucky sense inside her that made her feel like something was always wrong.

But it’d always been wrong, at least most of the time.

But it didn’t feel wrong right then.

“You’re safe,” he murmured again, his voice low. “You’re safe.”

She nodded to tell him that she understood since she couldn’t make any words come up her throat.

He nodded, too. “Okay.”

Then he plopped down on his butt beside the little bed that Theo and Kane had brought for her and put in this room because they’d said a princess needed her own special space. “Bad dream?” Otto finally asked.

She nodded again.

He roughed a hand through his brown hair that was kinda shaggy and long. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she whispered.

He sighed. “Hate it for you…that you feel scared here. Mean it when I tell you that none of us will let anyone get to you here.”

She nodded again.

He seemed to waver then stood as he mumbled, “Wait right there.”

He was gone for a minute before he returned, and he knelt with two different things in his hands.

Interest sparked in Raven, and she sat up a little bit as he passed her a mirror with a handle. In the dark she could tell it was silver and looked old, a crack through the mirror that cut her in two.

“That used to be my grandmother’s, and I’ve kept it for a long, long time,” Otto said quietly. “And now I want you to have it.”

With a frown, she stared at her murky reflection. “Why?” she whispered.

“Because when you look at it, I want you to see the way I see you. I want you to see this brave, strong, smart girl who’s amazing. Who’s a fighter. Who even when she’s scared, she knows that she’s going to rise above it.”

Her heart felt too big as she looked at herself in the night.

“You think I’m brave?” she asked.

“Yeah, Raven, I think you’re really, really brave.”

A long sigh puffed from his nose, then he shifted and handed her the other thing he’d brought in with him.

“And I want you to have this, too.” He passed her a notebook that was covered in pink fur.

“What is it?” Her voice was quiet.

“It’s a note from my sister. I told her about you today, and she thought it’d be a good idea if you two were friends, too.”

The sickness in her stomach shifted to something else.

Excitement, though she also felt nervous. She’d never had a friend before. Her mom wouldn’t let her.

“Really?” she asked.

He pointed at the notebook. “See for yourself.”

She set it on her lap, unsure, though Otto passed her a pen and said, “You don’t have to write back, but if you end up wanting to, I can take your message back to her.”

“Okay.” The single word sounded small.

Otto eased toward the door that was broken and didn’t shut all the way. “Try to go back to sleep and know I’m in the room right there.”

He pointed behind him.

She nodded, and he walked out.

There was only a tiny sliver of light that cut into her room, the moon coming through a crack in the piece of wood that was nailed to the window on the other side. She opened the notebook and peered down at the words.

Hi, Raven!

I’m Haddie, and I’m Otto’s little sister. We should totally be friends since you live with my brother now. I’m ten, and I just started ballet, and it’s my favorite thing ever. Also pink is my favorite color so I hope you like it, too, and the thing I hate most is spinach because it’s gross. Do you want to go get ice cream? I bet Otto will take us! Write me back!

Haddie <3

Hi, Haddie,

Thank you for wanting to be my friend. I’m nine, but your brother said he didn’t think you’d mind too much. I haven’t ever done ballet, but I think learning to dance would probably be my favorite thing ever, too. I like pink and ice cream. I think my brother won’t mind if I go with you to get some.

Raven 🙂

Hi, Raven,

I loved that we finally got to meet, and oh my gosh, can you believe I dumped my whole cone on the ground? And bubblegum is my favorite. Wahhhh. Of course, Otto got me another one, but still, I was so embarrassed. But you were really nice. My other friends would have laughed and told me I deserved it. They pretend that they like me, but I don’t really think they do. Ugh, they’re dumb. I’m really glad I met you.

Haddie <3

Haddie,

Well at least you have friends.

Raven

Raven,

Um, hello, you have me. You totally have a friend. And also my brother’s friends because my brother told me you’re a part of the family now. And all of them are so cool and always bring me stuff. You’re so lucky you get to live with them. My mom sucks sometimes, but she’s been cool lately, so that’s good. Okay, I have dance class. Gotta go!

Haddie <3

Haddie,

I’m sorry I didn’t write for a while. My brother thought I should have a better place to live, and I went to stay with my grandma for a little bit. She was supposed to keep it a secret, but she told my DAD. I hate him and I hate her now, too. But I got back here, and River promised I would never have to leave again. I hope we are still friends.

Raven 🙂

Raven,

Of course we’re still friends. What do you think BFF means? It means best friends forever. No matter what. And my brother was so mad River took you there. He wouldn’t tell me at first, but then I made him because he was being so grumpy when he came to visit. I’m really glad you’re back!

Haddie <3

Haddie,

So guess what? We are getting a new house. A real house!! I mean, not that I don’t like it here, but it’s kind of gross and we always have to sneak in, and my brother is always worried we’re going to get caught and I’m going to get taken away. And my brother got a motorcycle, almost like Otto’s and Theo’s, but his is black.

Raven 🙂

Raven,

I’ll see you Friday! Otto said I can come spend the night at your new house!

Haddie <3