The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 12

Killian caught her just in time. He felt the heat radiating from her skin.

“She’s burning up,” he said to Nikita.

“Get a doctor!” Nikita cried.

Latisha drifted in a long, dark dream. She was a child again, locked in the storage closet by Renata. The darkness was absolute, swallowing her whole. She beat against the door until her hands were raw, but no one came.

Just as she was giving up hope, a sliver of light appeared. The door creaked open, and a figure stood silhouetted against the light, a savior descending to banish the shadows. He held out his hand.

In that moment, he was her god, and she, his most devout follower.

But as she reached for his hand, he pulled it back. The door swung shut, plunging her back into darkness.

Latisha’s eyes flew open. The bright hospital lights seared her vision. She gasped for air, the panic from the dream still clinging to her.

“She’s awake,” she heard Nikita say.

“You tell her.”

“No… bro, you should do it.”

“…You really think that’s a good idea?”

Latisha turned her head. Nikita and Killian were standing by her bed, arguing in hushed tones. Killian cleared his throat, patted his sister on the shoulder, and quietly left the room.

Latisha pushed herself up. *What are you talking about?* she signed.

Nikita handed her a lab report. “See for yourself.”

Latisha took the paper, her eyes scanning the text until they found it: Pregnancy: 5 weeks.

A little over a month ago.

She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to still her racing heart. She thought back.

It was Clifford’s birthday. They had gone to Lambert Manor. He had drunk too much that night, and when they got home, they… The next morning, she had woken up late and gotten an earful from Polly. In the chaos, she had forgotten to take a pill.

That must have been when it happened.

Nikita watched her pale face and sighed. “It’s okay. It’s still early. It won’t be a difficult procedure.”