Read Online These Unquiet Bones by Dean Harrison - Free Book Online Page A

She began playing Für Elise.
    Sad times called for sad music.
    After a few minutes passed, her father peered into the room to say that he was leaving. Amy nodded but kept playing, never taking her eyes off the keyboard.
    When she heard the backdoor slam over the music, she knew she was alone. Her father never used to work the weekends, but ever since the economy went south he put in more hours and for that she was glad.
    She enjoyed having the house to herself. Today more than ever she needed solitude.
    She only wished her father had apologized for hitting her before walking out the door. It hurt that he didn’t.
    She hit the keys harder in exasperation, furious that he didn’t.
    She needed to know why he was going back to his old ways. The over-protectiveness she could handle, perhaps even understand given what’s been on the news lately. But the drinking? The abuse?
    After the last note of Für Elise, she prepared her fingers for another sad tune.
    “Amy. Oh, Amy.”
    But they froze over the keys when she heard that faint, feminine voice calling.
    “Amy. Oh, Amy.”
    A sharp spear of ice plunged from the nape of her neck down to her stomach. Fear shot through her veins, turning her blood to frozen sludge.
    Scratch, scratch.
    The hairs rose on the back of her neck. She turned her head toward the bedroom door. It was open. A chill drifted in from the dark hallway.
    “Come here, Amy.”
    Her heart fluttered. On rubbery legs, she stood. She approached her closet, and grabbed the neck of a metal Louisville Slugger.
    She stepped hesitantly into the hall.
    “In here, Amy.”
    She turned toward her grandmother’s old bedroom. As always, the door was closed.
    Scratch, scratch.
    Her breath caught in her throat. Her grip on the baseball bat tightened as she raised it protectively in front of her
    What’s going on? Who… what’s in there?
    She wondered if she were going crazy.
    Only one way to find out.
    Bat trembling her hands, she slowly approached the door. Her nerves frazzled, she reached for the knob.
    The brass was cold to the touch. It rattled in her shaky grasp.
    Oh, God.
    Stomach wound tight, she pushed the door open.
    The hinges squeaked, sending a shiver down her back.
    She almost expected a skeleton draped in cobwebs to jump out at her, but all that came for her from the dusty room was the musty odor of mothballs and faint traces of rose-powder.
    She lowered the bat and frowned. Every tensed muscle in her body eased. She stepped in, glanced around, and listened.
    She heard nothing but birds chirping outside. Dust motes danced lazily in the sunlight streaming in through the sheer white curtains covering the windows. All else was still.
    There was nothing to be afraid of in the room. No ghostly voices, no talking rats. Nothing.
    Feeling ridiculous— and fearing that she really was losing her mind— she turned to leave the room.
    Scratch, scratch.
    Amy jumped, lifted the bat, and swung it. The tip tapped the mirror over her grandmother’s antique bureau, cracking it.
    “SHIT!” She dropped the bat, and then her jaw. Her father was going to kill her for that.
    Scratch, scratch.
    She spun toward the noise. Her skin prickled as she stared wide-eyed at the old, wooden chest at the foot of the four-poster bed. Her grandmother had always kept it locked.
    What could’ve gotten in there?
    She heard the lock on the chest click open.
    It unlocked itself?
    Amy shook her head, mystified.
    I’m going insane. That’s the only explanation.
    She wondered it that meant she should start seeing Dr. Massie again. She knew she wouldn’t mind it.
    Taking a deep breath, she bent down to retrieve the bat with one hand. With the other, she reached for the chest.
    Can’t believe I’m doing this.
    A cold knot of fear twisted in her gut as she touched the smooth, walnut lid and threw it open.
    She jumped back, bat raised and ready to strike.
    But nothing leapt out to attack her. Harmless silk and cotton gowns were folded inside the