His Silence - Chapter 51

I pick my phone off my bedside cabinet. It’s just gone one a.m. I sit up in bed. I haven’t been to sleep at all. My head’s swimming. Images keep crashing through my mind of Callum and Eve, then me and Oliver sitting together in a restaurant. Why does he want to take me out and no one else? I fling off my covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed. Noah’s face fills my mind. I think back to what Oliver said about him not being well. I’d seen him earlier in the day, when he’d gone out with the others into town, he’d seemed fine. I think about lying back down and trying to get to sleep, but I’m wide awake, there’s no way I’m going to be able to relax until I’ve checked to make sure Noah’s OK.

I grab a coat from the wardrobe, pull it on, and creep over to my bedroom door. Any sound I make I’m certain Oliver’s going to hear it. Unlike the bedroom doors in the house, mine and Oliver’s, for some reason, aren’t locked. I stare at my door for what seems like a long time. I keep picturing Oliver sitting outside. I reach out for the door handle, my heart crashing against my chest, and turn it. There’s a slight squeak which makes me freeze. For a second I consider going back to bed and diving under the covers. There’s no further sound. I ease the door open and step into the dark hallway. There’s no light peeking from under Oliver’s bedroom door. There’s every chance though he could be sitting in the kitchen in the house, like he was the first night I stayed here, when he told me he suffered from anxiety. At least, perhaps, I could use that as an excuse if he’s there.

I edge towards the door of the annexe and ease it open, wrapping my jacket tighter around me. The distant hoot of an owl makes me jump. Keep calm, nothing out here can hurt you. I grit my teeth and make my way towards the kitchen, keeping to the grass, so no one can hear me coming on the gravel pathway.

There isn’t any light on in the kitchen. Oliver can’t be here. I look back towards the annexe, which remains coated in darkness. Keep going. He’s not following you. He’s not in the house. Hand trembling, I reach out for the kitchen door handle and turn it. It opens. I was sure it was going to be locked; perhaps Mary keeps it unlocked in case Oliver wants to come in and use the kitchen.

Taking a deep breath I step into the cool kitchen. Something electronic thrums, making me freeze; it’s just the dishwasher. There were at least a couple of people still stacking it when I left to go back to the annexe at half eleven. Callum and Eve both helped with the washing up; Callum appears to be settling in better than me, and he didn’t want to come here in the first place.

I pad into the hallway, keeping a focus on my breath as I edge nearer to the stairs. The house is so silent. There isn’t even a clock ticking. Am I really the only one awake out of twenty people here? I begin to climb the stairs, trying to remember which room I saw Noah going into the first night I stayed here. I’m pretty sure it was the third door on the right.

I reach the top of the stairs. I eye my old room at the end of the hallway. Callum will be in there right now. Will he be asleep, or will he have been lying awake like I have? I push further on ahead. There’s no point in trying the door handle, they’ll be locked; Mary will have made sure of that. Edging further along the corridor, I keep my focus on the door I’m pretty sure is Noah’s. What if I get the wrong one and someone else opens it? Shit what if it’s Abraham’s door? I consider running back down the stairs and all the way back to the annexe, but I’ve come this far now, I’ll be annoyed with myself if I don’t do what I set out to do.

I reach the door I’m sure I saw Noah go into on the first night and try the door handle. It’s locked, of course it would be. I rap gently on the door. He’s got to respond to me, he’s got to.

‘Noah,’ I hiss, as I continue to knock. ‘Noah please, it’s Danielle.’

There’s no sound from the other side of the room. He’s not going to answer me.

I’m about to call out for him again when a sharp voice makes my blood freeze.

‘Grace, what are you doing here?’