The Mute and the Liar (42 page)

“
Sanctuary!
”
Jeffrey calls.

“
You
can’t
claim
sanctuary!
”
he
scoffs
in
derision.
“
This
isn’t
the
Hunchback
of
Notre
Dam
!
Alicia.
Come here. Right
now.
”

“
I
don’t
know
what
is
happening,
but
you
need
to
leave,
”
Jeffrey
says
it
with
convincing
confidence,
but
I
catch
a
faltering
note
near
the
end.

There’
s
a
heavy,
drowning
feeling
in
my
stomach.
Why
can’t
I
just
save
myself? Jeffrey’s genuinely trying to help me, s
om
ething I’m
certainly
not
used
to.
I
hate
myself.
Not
only
am
I
so
weak,
but
I’ve
brought
Jeffrey into this now as well.

In
an
out-of
tune
singsong
voice,
Jayce chimes:
“
Alicia.
I’m waiting.
”

“
Can’t
you
see
she
doesn’t
want
to
go
with
you?
You
need
to
leave
right
now. I’m
calling
the
police.
”

This
stirs
something
in
Jayce,
who
clenches
his
fists
and
twists
away
from
me
to
face
Jeffrey.

“
You
don’t
know
anything!
Who
the
Hell
are
you,
anyway?
You
don’t
know
anything,
and
you
definitely
don’t
understand
anything!
She
doesn’t
even
understand
,
so
how are you
supposed
to?
”

He
charges
up
the
aisle
and
stops
in
front
of
the
stairs
leading
to
the
altar,
so
now
the
flight
of
stairs
is
the
only
thing
separating
us.
The
stained
glass
window
behind
us
casts
him
in
a
kaleidoscope
of
shadows,
illuminating
every
blemish
on
his
pale,
ghostly
skin
and
the
dark
blue
bags
under
his
cold
green
eyes.
The
colours
bleed
into
each
other,
making
his
skin
appear
harshly
stretched
out
over
his
bones,
translucent
and
skeletal.
He
just
stands
there
getting
his
breath
back.
His
gaze
is
steady
and
unrevealing,
but
I
can
almost
hear his mind ticking
away,
a
bomb
preparing
to
explode.

He
is
a
riddle.
I
don’t
think
I’ll
ever
know
what
he's
thinking;
his
face
is
unreadable and his words are lies.

What
was
it
he told me
a
few
of
hours
ago?

Oh
yes.
That
th
ere
are
three
things
I
should
never
do.
What
were
they
again?
At
the
time,
I
thought
it
was
a
peculiar
yet
intriguing
thing
to
say.
I’ve
completely
forgotten.
There
was
definitely
something
about
challenging
someone.
Or
was
it
catching
someone?
Hmm.

“
Alicia,
I
will
destroy
everyone
you
have
ever
known
if
you
don’t
come
here
right
now,
”
he’s
seething
this
through
a
mouth
of
clenched
teeth
and
spewed
saliva. In retaliation, Jeffrey tightens his
grip around my shoulders
. Jayce
loses
it
and
lets
out
a
crazed
shriek:
“
let
go
of
her!
”

He
charges
up
the
stairs,
whilst
Jeffrey
attempts
to
mirror
his
movements,
resulting
in
us
almost
circling
each
other.

“
I’ll
try
and
hold
him
off.
When
I
say
‘
g
o’
I
want
you to
run
straight
to
the police
station,
okay?
”
Jeffrey
whispers
into
my
ear
,
his hot breath
ticking
my
cheek.
Hope
flutters
into
my
chest,
weightless
and
warm.
I
just want to get out of here. I just want to be free. Is that so much to ask?

Wait,
I’ve
just
remembered!
It’s
to
chase
someone!
That’s
what
it
is!
Number
one:
to
chase
a
limping
man.

“
Alicia,
please.
I
don’t
want
anyone
to
get
hurt.
Come
with me.
”
What
was
the
second
one?
Something
about
a
falling
man,
definitely.

“
Alicia!
Look
at
me!
”
he
demands,
reaching
out
to
grasp
my
shoulders.
Jeffrey
grabs
his
hands
before
they
do,
and
they
struggle
for
a
few
seconds,
nearly
slamming
into
the
altar
behind
us.
It
seems
they
are
equally
matched
in strength.

What
is
his
problem?
I
am
trying
to
remember
something
here.
I
glance
at
him
only
to
give
him
an
irritated
look.
I
wish
he
would
stop
talking.
He
is
making it
so hard
for
me
to
remember.

“
Alicia,
”
he
croaks,
watching
me.
Something
of
desperation
flits
into his
eyes
and
stakes
his
voice.
He
sounds
pathetic.
Doesn’t
he
know
that
desperation is weakness?
“
You’re mine. You’re mine, okay?
Do you hear me?
”

“
Go!
”
Jeffrey
yel
ls
out
to
me,
and
I
remember
I
am
supposed
to
be
running.
Jayce
takes
advantage
of
Jeffrey’s
distraction
and
punches
him,
his
hand
leaving
Jeffrey’s
nose
with
a
trail
of
blood.

“
S
he
is
mine!
”
he
roars,
lunging
out
again
and
striking
him
once
more.