Chapter 4

Melody went to open the door. It was Nanette, our downstairs neighbor.

The moment Melody opened the door, Nanette laid into her.

"Melody, what's Cornelius doing wailing his head off at your place in the middle of the night? Can't anyone get any sleep?"

"If you can't look after him properly, don't let him stay over. Are you trying to smother the poor kid to death?"

In my past life, this Nanette went around telling everyone that my sister had seduced Cornelius, that my sister was a pervert who couldn't even leave a simpleton alone.

Melody flushed a little and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, Nanette. I fell asleep. I'll go let him out right now."

After she shut the door, Melody grabbed the key and opened my bedroom door.

Cornelius stood in the doorway, tears streaking his face.

When he saw Melody, he lunged over and threw his arms around her waist, pressing his face hard into the crook of her shoulder.

"Melody, are you going to leave me? You scared me half to death."

On reflex, Melody shoved him away, her face bright red.

"Didn't you need the bathroom? Go on, then."

Cornelius froze for a second, a sinister flicker in his eyes, but he quickly put his meek expression back on.

He shuffled off to the bathroom.

Melody waited for him to come out, then told him to go back to his room to sleep.

He cried and refused.

"Melody, it's so dark in the room. Can I sleep in the living room?"

"I want to be closer to you and Bella. I'm scared to sleep."

I shouted right away, "No way! If you want to sleep, go to my room. If you don't, get back to your own place!"

Cornelius's tears fell in an instant as he looked pitifully at Melody.

Melody didn't agree, but she didn't deny what I'd said either.

Cornelius went back to his room looking wronged. As he shut the door, I saw his eyes sweep back and forth over Melody.

Like always, we locked his door from the outside, and Melody and I went back to our room.

Melody bolted our door, but her body still wouldn't relax.

"Bella, if you hear any more noise, you are not to come out."

I gave a small hum of agreement.

Three times. I'd stopped him three times.

This time, it should be fine.

I let my guard down a little, and my eyelids slowly grew heavy.

In a haze, I suddenly heard footsteps in the living room.

Closer and closer, until they stopped at our door.

I jerked awake and grabbed Melody's hand.

Melody hadn't slept at all, and she tensed up when she heard the noise too.

Outside the door, Cornelius asked softly, "Melody, are you asleep?"

My sister and I held our breath, not daring to make a sound.

The doorknob turned slightly.

"Melody, it's too dark, I'm scared. I want to sleep with you."

"I'll just sleep on the floor. Please."

Goosebumps rose all over my body.

He pressed down hard on the doorknob.

"Melody, if you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes. I'm coming in."

That line didn't sound anything like a simpleton.

Melody realized then that something was wrong too.

Fighting down the trembling all through her body, she spoke up. "Cornelius, if you're scared, go home. I'm going to sleep."

I was so glad I'd warned my sister.

In the past life, Melody would surely have gone soft.

She'd have opened the door and comforted him.

And in the end, she'd have fallen into the trap he'd so carefully laid.

The noise outside the door stopped for a moment, and then came a very faint, cold laugh.

After that came the sound of the door being slammed hard.

"Melody, open the door. You let me stay, so you have to take responsibility for me."

Melody held me tightly, her voice shaking hard.

"You're an adult, you can take care of yourself. If you don't want to stay, you can leave."

"I'm not leaving. I want to sleep with my sister. Melody Dickerson, if you don't open the door, I'll go outside and scream that you're abusing me!"

He rammed the door twice more, and the door frame shook violently.

Melody climbed out of bed, shaking, and pushed the dressing table over to block the door.

She kept me tucked tightly behind her.

"Bella, in a bit, if he breaks the door down, take the chance to run out and go get Mr. Cruz downstairs."

I shook my head hard. "I'm not leaving. I'm staying with you."

Melody's tears spilled over.

"Bella, I'm so sorry..."

I covered her mouth. "Don't say that. Don't be scared. Call the police."

Melody looked at the door, where the noise had gone still, and hesitated.

"Call the police? What if he really isn't? Wouldn't that be bad..."

Before she could finish, the door was slammed open.