A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger Read Free Book Online

even think about talking with your mouth full.”
    “Well, it would be good to find our book bags. I think we put the school stuff from last year in one box, but I have no idea where it is.”
    She looked relieved. “I knew you’d have them packed together.”
    “Anything to torture Grant, you know.”
    He swallowed a mouthful of soda and burped. “Yeah, thanks so much, Sis.”
    “You’re gross.”
    He pointed at himself. “Boy. Duh.”
    “Not a good enough reason to lose your manners,” Mom said. Under the weight of her glare, he mumbled an apology. “We’ve got about four days to get things sort of cleaned up and put away before Sunday. So you’re going to be roped into service, I’m afraid. No going out unless it’s to get things for the house.”
    For once, Grant didn’t argue. We both nodded our heads.
    “Great. I’m not so worried about getting to the third floor right now. There’s a ton of junk up there, and I have to ask the real estate agent when I talk to him tomorrow and see if the owner wants it back.”
    “How do you know? I thought all those doors were locked.” I stared at Grant as the words fell from his mouth. He shot me a look and a small shrug.
    Mom’s face dropped into a fierce frown. “Been snooping around, have you?” My eyes moved to her, the strange gruffness in her voice sending a chill down my arms. As soon as it came, her facial expression softened and she smiled. “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. They aren’t all locked. Just a few. And there’s plenty up there, believe me.”
    Grant mumbled something and resumed stuffing his face. Ignoring the strange moment, I flipped a hand at the back of the house. “You know there’s more stuff in the back rooms down here, right?” I asked.
    Mom hand stopped mid-way to her mouth. “Which rooms?”
    “The two back parlor rooms, or whatever they are. I looked in the one at the end of the hall the other day. It’s full of boxes of paperwork and crap. I think there’s even some old furniture in there.”
    She tilted her head and gave me a strange look. “Claire, those rooms are locked. I’m supposed to pick up the key from the agent tomorrow.”
    Silence fell like a heavy blanket. I blinked and forced a smile. “Oh.”
    “I believe you, honey. But—” she bit her lip and reached across the countertop to squeeze my free hand. “Are you sure you saw it with your eyes? Or was it one of those psychic things?”
    I hadn’t imagined it. But there was no way I could tell Mom that. So I pretended to think about it and then shrugged. “Must have been a psychic thing. Sorry.”
    “Don’t be. Everyone has gifts. Yours are a bit more unconventional.”
    “Sure.” She squeezed my hand again and released me, turning to Grant and asking him about his plans for his rooms. Her cheerfulness was overdone, but I wouldn’t argue.
    I loved Mom for trying to make it sound like she wasn’t freaked out. Despite her support, I could see it in her eyes. She might say she understood, but it was hard for her. At least she made the effort. It was more than Dad had done.
    More than most people had done.
     
    ***
     
    Claire. Help us.
    I blinked in the darkness, confused. Mom snored softly on the couch next to me, and Grant was a dark lump nearby. I shifted, then realized that my arm resting on the outside of the sleeping bag was so cold it hurt. Like I’d just carried a bag of ice for miles.
    I chalked the whisper up to my dreams and laid back against the pillow. Whimpering echoed around me. The sound was faint, but undeniable. Sobbing followed, getting only slightly louder. My heart pounded, but sympathy coursed through me. It sounded like a woman whose world had been torn apart. Raising my head from the sleeping bag I searched for the source.
    In front of the now-blank television, Grant moaned softly and rolled over. The sound ceased, instantly. I waited for what seemed like hours. As I laid down, I grabbed the ear buds from where they’d