Chapter 25

Mom stood by while I pulled back my feet. She didn’t do anything. Her eyes weren’t loving and caring anymore.

I ran back inside the house. Everyone who had come to my party had run off, especially when they saw Dad dead. I slammed the doors to my bedroom. I used my wardrobe to barricade the door.

Outside, I could hear Grandfather calling out to me. “Elisabeth, my child, don’t run away from family,” he said while his feet slowly approached my room door. “Didn’t your dad tell you anything?” he said.

I went to my room window and peeped out, trying to find the only thing possible that could help me jump down and get away from my crazy grandfather. I thought he died — or was I missing something?

“Stay away from me, you demon!” I shouted back while I used the bedsheets as a rope to climb down.

“Baby, don’t say that. Come out and let’s talk. I promise to tell you everything,” Grandfather banged heavily on the door.

I turned, and the wardrobe I used to ba