His Silence : His Silence - Chapter 35 by Jacob1395 |
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.
Music starts playing. It’s soft, classical. Well, I hardly expected Oliver to start playing Eminem or Taylor Swift. Michael would be cringing if he was here, he’d want some rock and roll, something everyone could let loose to. Oliver claps his hands together and stands from his chair. Everyone stops talking and turn their heads towards him. It’s like they all wait for his lead. Even Abigial and Mary stand still by the kitchen door, carrying plates in their hands. ‘Danielle would you like to dance?’ he asks, holding his hand to me. Callum shifts in his seat beside me. I sink into my chair. No, why is he asking me to dance? I can’t dance to save my life. I roll my shoulders back. Everyone’s going to be watching us. I watch Abigial and Mary take the plates through into the kitchen. ‘Um, OK, sure,’ I say. I take his hand and stand up, my head giddy from the wine. I’ve only drunk a couple of glasses. The kitchen door flaps open and Abigial returns, rubbing her hands together. She saunters up to the man with the tattoo on his next and whispers into his air. He gets up, takes her hand and they drift onto the dance floor, beaming. Callum’s still sitting, watching me. Well, at least Eve hasn’t asked him to dance. I focus on Oliver, keeping my gaze fixed on his blue eyes. ‘I would like to try the exercise again with you tomorrow, if you’re feeling up to it,’ he says. I’m letting Oliver lead. He’s definitely had some dancing lessons in his time. His steps are in perfect time to the music, I’m hopeless. ‘But of course if you don’t feel ready I’ll be happy to wait a few more days.’ I shake my head. ‘No, tomorrow will be OK, at least I sort of know what to expect, so hopefully I won’t go down the same dark path.’ He beams at me. ‘Excellent, Danielle. It will be a beautiful experience for the both of us, I can assure you.’ ‘How long did it take everyone else to learn how to . . . how to complete the exercise?’ I ask Oliver, a lump bobbing in my throat. Abigail smiles at me as she catches my eye. We continue to dance in time to the music. ‘Oh, well of course everyone is different, some take longer than others, but you need not feel ashamed, Danielle. You’ve suffered horrors in your past people here can scarcely imagine. Perhaps it was wrong of me to start today, but I’m glad you’re feeling up to it again.’ ‘I am,’ I say, half-smiling. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the man I saw at the end of the table, not talking to anyone else, get up. He takes his empty wine glass into the kitchen. The door swishes shut behind him. ‘Actually, Oliver I really need the loo, do you mind if I?’ ‘Of course not, Danielle.’ ‘Thanks.’ He releases me from his grip and I head in the direction of the kitchen, my heart ramming hard in my chest. Callum frowns at me, but I don’t look back. I don’t want Oliver wondering what I’m up to. I push the kitchen door open and scan the room, breathing in the scent of washing up liquid. The man isn’t here. There’s a squeak which makes me spin round, but it’s the kitchen door, the one leading out to the garden, flapping on its hinges. Someone’s just shut it. I dart over to it and step out into the cool night air, looking over my shoulder to make sure Oliver hasn’t followed me. I know I won’t have long. The man’s standing over by the vegetable patch, looking towards the sky. ‘Hey, hey,’ I say, sprinting over to him. He looks at me, eyes wide. ‘What are you doing?’ he asks, keeping his voice low. From where we’re standing by the vegetable patch, the soft tone of the music from inside the barn reaches me. ‘I . . . I wanted to talk to you,’ I say, my words coming out fast. He shakes his head, and holds his hands out in front of him. ‘No, you need to go back inside now, before you’re missed.’ He can’t look me in the eye. ‘Please,’ I insist, stepping closer to him, my shoes squelching in the soft grass. He can’t leave me hanging here like this. ‘You’re the only one who doesn’t appear to be head over heels in love with Oliver and this place, whatever it is. I want to know why.’ His breath mists out in front of him. His dark eyes fix on mine. ‘You need to be really careful, Danielle,’ he says. ‘Why?’ His eyes dart about. ‘Because . . . because your parents left here for a reason.’ I shake my head. ‘But you must know why they left, don’t just say they left and say nothing else.’ I spit the words out. If he knows something he needs to tell me. ‘You need to get out of here while you still can, Danielle. The longer you stay, they . . . they won’t let you leave,’ he hisses at me, stepping closer. ‘They’ll go after everyone you love if you try to defy them.’ A shudder pulses through me. ‘Who d’you mean?’ I ask. ‘Do you mean Oliver and Luke?’ My body trembles. He backs away, his face falling away from the light coming out of the window. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have –’ ‘Look, I’m not leaving until I find out why my family left.’ He shakes his head. ‘You’re making a mistake,’ he replies. ‘You should’ve learned from what happened to your brother.’ I stare at him. It’s like I’ve been punched in the gut. Cold air whips through my hair, in the distance an owl hoots. ‘What d’you mean?’ He shakes his head. ‘Your brother signed his life away, when he . . .’ he breaks off. ‘He’s . . .’ My heart slams against my chest. ‘Is my brother innocent?’ ‘Look, I . . . I have something you might want to see,’ he says, the tone of his voice coming out softer. Why won’t he just bloody tell me? I clench my fists. ‘What?’ He shakes his head. ‘Come and find me tomorrow, I can’t do anything now.’ The man disappears into the darkness. I want to follow him, but something compels me to stop. I didn’t even get his name. There’s a creak of a door opening. ‘Danielle.’ A voice calling out to me makes my blood freeze. I turn around, it’s Oliver, closely followed by Mary and Luke. They’re making their way out of the kitchen. ‘Is everything alright?’ I told him I wanted to go to the toilet. He’ll know I haven’t been to the bathroom. Shit. I swallow. ‘Yep, fine.’ ‘Come on, we’re about to light the bonfire,’ he says. Everyone else is filing out behind him, Callum’s towards the back standing beside Eve. I hurry over to them, holding my hand to my forehead. ‘Everything alright?’ Callum asks, raising an eyebrow. I shake my head. ‘Later.’ Oliver picks up a wooden torch lying on the ground and Mary drifts over to him, striking a match, a big smile on her face. The tip of the torch alights, and sparks spit against the blackness of the sky. ‘Danielle would you like to do the honours?’ he asks, turning to me with a big smile. Why’s he not asking Callum, I thought tonight was supposed to be about both of us? Swallowing, I edge over to him. I clasp my hand around the smooth wooden torch, breathing in the sooty smell, the heat of the flame warming my cheeks. I hold the torch out to the bonfire and the fire takes hold, licking up the wooden planks. Someone let’s out a cheer and then everyone starts clapping and whopping, the back of my neck prickles. Oliver holds out his hand. He’s staring at me like he’s the proudest person in the world. Everyone else clasps hands and we all dance around the flames. The movement gets faster, the flames grow angrier, attacking the sky. My head’s hot. I need water. I need. ‘Danielle,’ someone shouts. I’m sure it’s Oliver. The ground races up, and everything goes black.
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Jacob1395
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