The Door at the Top of the Stairs by Alison Naomi Holt Read Free Book Online

stomach in knots. She'd been listening to the whole conversation, and she was scared to death. She trusted Ryland, but she also knew herself. She wasn't a people person, and she definitely wasn't cut out for psychotherapy. Breathing deeply, she concentrated on nonchalance. Seeing the mutilation of Jesse's back had shaken her more than she'd realized, and if Ryland needed her to help this woman, she'd do whatever she asked.
    Ryland took a step forward. “Will you try something for me, Jess?"
    Jesse shifted her feet, casually trying to find another exit. She needed to leave, now , but she didn't want to hurt anyone doing it.
    Her head started to ache and she pushed her fingers into her temples.
    "Jesse?" Ryland touched Jesse's arm and watched as the girl’s eyes shifted to meet her own. Jesse was close to panic, and Ryland knew she had to keep her here. "Jesse, you're all right. Think a minute. Why do you think you have an overwhelming urge to escape, when we haven't talked about anything threatening?"
    Ryland saw a confused shift come into Jesse's eyes, and she breathed easier. At least she was listening, thinking. "Do me a favor, Jesse...look at Morgan, and try to slow your breathing and relax."
    Morgan took a deep breath, shoved her hands in her pockets and waited for Jesse to look at her. This was it. She couldn't back out now . Her hands had bunched into fists, and she made a conscious effort to relax.
    Jesse swallowed. Why couldn't she do this? Her head throbbed with every heart beat and she reached up and pulled her hair to try to ease the pain. "Why are you doing this to me? Don't you realize what you’re doing?"
    Ryland squeezed Jesse's arm. "Yes, I do. Your head is pounding. Your subconscious knows it has to keep memories locked up, but those memories are starting to slip out. And it must be...what, Jesse? What must it be? Tell me...please."
    Jesse pulled her hair with both hands and covered her face with her elbows. "Stop it!"
    Morgan took a shaky breath and decided if she was going to be any help, this would be as good a time as any to dive in. She reached up and inserted her hands between Jesse's elbows, placing her palms on either side of the young woman's face. "Look at me, Jesse."
    Jesse shut her out, not wanting to listen or believe anyone could help.
    "Jesse, I've got you. Look at me."
    Her eyes opened and she yelled, "You don't have me. You can't do it!"
    Morgan raised her eyebrows. She'd never liked people to tell her she couldn't do something, even though she had no idea what Jesse thought she couldn't do. She was on familiar ground now.
    Her face became hard and they locked eyes.
    Jesse blinked and looked confused again, but less panicked.
    She'd expected Morgan to be irritated, and seeing what she'd expected had somehow grounded her.
    Morgan held Jesse's head steady. “Answer her question. What must it be like?"
    Jesse knew exactly what had been going through the man's mind because she felt it every moment of every day. “It was terrifying. He was terrified."
    Morgan continued to hold Jesse's eyes with her own.
    Terrifying. The word had come out barely a whisper, but it held an almost-visible stranglehold on the woman.
    Ryland stepped up. “Come back to the couch, Jesse. We need to talk." Some of the tension left Jesse's shoulders, and she allowed Ryland to lead her to the sofa where she sat turned toward the wall, her forehead on her hand. Ryland motioned for Morgan to sit in a chair opposite Jesse.
    Morgan caught her eye, and Ryland winked, letting her know she'd done perfectly. Easy for you to say , Morgan thought as she sank into the chair, already exhausted even though they'd only been at this for ten minutes.
    "Jesse, when Morgan and I first walked up the path and I saw you leaning against the porch, I felt…almost a quickening inside. I know that's a strange way to put it, but I think some higher power, whatever higher power you may or may not believe in, sent you here because Morgan and I