Silent Screams: Not Safe at Home, #2

By May Black

She sees murders in her sleep. She might be married to a serial killer. And now her cat is possessed…

It hasn't been a good year for Dolly. The young bride thought she was making all the right decisions. Then her nightmares began playing out in real life. Alone and out of options, she accepts help from a stranger with an unusual solution. One that could either save her life or lead to a catastrophic disaster.

Can she overcome her demons, real and imagined, before she loses her soul?

If you enjoy twisted tales of strong women defeating evil, domestic thrillers with a touch of the supernatural, and a little humor sprinkled throughout, you'll love May Black's Silent Screams today!

 

This book was previously published as The Unheard. Only the cover, title, and pen name have changed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fat Cat Publishing
• Release date: Apr 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224553426

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Jody sat straight up in bed.

Did you feel that? She nudged Lu.

I feel you poking me, Lu mumbled.

Seriously, Lu, did you feel it? Something just happened.

Sleeping.

Jody reached for her cellphone just as it began ringing. It’s Lynda. She put the phone on speaker and answered.

Did you feel it?

Yes, what happened? Can you tell?

Lu sat up and yawned.

It’s all over. Dolly is okay, Lynda reported. But she will need you soon.

Why? What happened? Jody asked.

Lynda told them what she had just learned. Before she finished, Jody was grabbing Lu’s phone and punching in Dolly’s number.

CHAPTER 2

I ’m not even sure we’ll be able to have a party, Dolly said. I don’t know why I’m spending all this time worrying about it and trying to plan it all. Maybe it’s best to just drop it and reschedule when all this is over. I don’t know who we’d invite, anyway. It’s not like I have any friends left.

Whatever you want, Randall mumbled.

You don’t even care.

Randall put down his iPad and sighed. Of course, I care, he said gently. But you’re right. We probably won’t be able to have a party. It wouldn’t be safe. Let’s just do something small. You and me. We’ll plan a huge first anniversary celebration later in the year. Or just do up the second one real big. And we will invite our friends, he added.

Dolly nodded glumly. Stupid COVID was ruining everything. As she began to wallow in self-pity, she forced herself to stop and think about the people who were not planning anniversaries but were instead planning funerals. She had to keep things in perspective.

Dolly and Randall had known each other for only two months before they got married. A whirlwind romance was putting it mildly. He swept her off her feet and married her before she really knew what was happening. Despite the chorus of negativity and the warnings from friends and family, she went ahead with everything, just the way Randall wanted it.

There were no family or friends at their impromptu wedding. It was just the two of them at a small resort surrounded by strangers who pretended to be happy for the newlyweds. Randall insisted there be no announcements in the paper or wedding registry. There were no parties or gifts. One day she was just Dolly and the next she was Mrs. Randall Loomis and everything went on just as before. Except now that the news began to trickle out, the people in her life had no qualms about telling her exactly what they thought of her speedy and isolated wedding. And what they thought of Randall.

She wished her loved ones were more supportive of her, even if they didn’t like Randall. But over the following year, she became more and more alone, choosing to side with the man she had only known for a year rather than her family and lifelong friends. Conversations were filled with awkward silences, and eventually stopped altogether. Dolly was stuck. She thought finally being married at thirty-one would solve her loneliness, but instead she was feeling more alone than ever.

Dolly didn’t fear being alone. She just wanted the company. Someone to do things with. Someone by her side. At first, that’s what she had with Randall, but as the year progressed, she began to realize he wasn’t the one who was going to keep her company. He traveled for work and would often be gone for weeks at a time.

The first few times he left, unannounced, for an extended time, she tried to be agreeable. She wanted to be the loving and understanding wife. But after the third time she found herself alone for two weeks straight, she became angry.

You didn’t tell me I was getting a part-time husband, she railed at him.

The look on his face frightened her. His eyes went black, and he clenched his jaw so hard the muscles on his face stood out. He held his hand over his heart as though he were in pain. Then a darkness passed over his entire being and Dolly took an involuntary step back, unconsciously holding up a hand to ward off whatever it was he had just become.

He didn’t say anything to her, and he certainly didn’t harm her, but the look on his face was enough to convince her that she would never again challenge him about his work. In fact, she quickly learned never to challenge him about anything. She pushed the entire event to the back of her mind and the next day the couple went back to a version of normal. Something had changed within her, though. Dolly had an inkling that her family and friends might be right and there were things she didn’t know about her new husband. There were layers that went deeper than what she saw. Instinctively, she knew she didn’t want to explore any further for fear of what she might uncover.

Randall was sprawled in his chair, engrossed in whatever he was reading. He obviously didn’t want to talk right now, so she decided to drop the conversation. A party was a bad idea anyway.

Randall flipped the cover of his iPad closed and stood. Gotta go, he said.

What? Where? Now? she stumbled through the one-word questions, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Work, he said. He walked from the room quickly. She followed him.

He was in the bedroom, pulling suitcases from the closet. He began to pack his nicest suits, the ones he never wore around her but only took when he traveled.

Dolly was speechless.

Will you be gone long? she finally managed to ask.

Don’t know, he said.

Did something happen? I mean, this seems like it came up really suddenly. Did you know you were leaving all this time? she asked cautiously.

Randall stopped packing briefly and looked at Dolly.

She froze and waited for the storm to pass. She watched his features shift through various emotions. She could tell he was angry. He didn’t like to be questioned. Still, it was a fair question, and she knew he knew it too. Dolly held her ground.

Finally, he said, It just came up. Just now. I’ll try to be back for our anniversary, okay? It’s not like I can control this.

Dolly nodded. He seemed to be trying.

Okay, I’ll leave you to it then, she said softly, as she turned to leave the room.

Hey, he called after her.

What? she asked.

You know I love you, right? His tone had softened into that gentle cadence he used when he knew she was upset. It was manipulative, but it was also very effective. He smiled and his striking blue eyes flashed at her as the surrounding lines deepened. Despite her anger, her heart melted, and she jumped to justifying.

After all, marriages had their ups and downs, and it certainly wasn’t unusual for a newly married couple to start finding little things about the other that annoyed them, especially after one year. And, yes, he had a temper. She could see that clearly. But wasn’t he allowed to have feelings too? Even though he was often annoyed, angry, irritated, he had never hurt her and that’s what would have been the deal breaker. He knew it and she knew it. He could be as grumpy as he wanted, as long as he dealt with his feelings in an appropriate way, she reasoned.

I know, and I love you, too, she smiled. He winked at her and then went back to packing.

Dolly walked to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. She told herself that this time she wasn’t going to sit around the house bored, lonely, and missing him. Why did she think she had to stay in just because he wasn’t there? She mentally ran through a list of people she could call. It was a very short list.

She wanted girl talk, coffee, and something sweet to eat. Who would drop everything and meet her at the coffee shop later today? Of the few people left in her life, there was only one possibility, and it was a long shot at best. Throwing caution to the wind, she sent a text.

I’m off, Randall announced as he swept through the room. Any plans?

Dolly knew he didn’t really care and only asked out of obligation. She surprised herself by answering honestly. I’m trying to make plans with Mariana.

Randall stopped tightening the strap on his bag and looked at Dolly.

Huh, he said.

Dolly waited for what followed. She knew his dislike for her friend, but didn’t fully understand where it came from. He disliked all of her friends, so she never really thought too much about it.

The bitch from the beach, he muttered. She’s a busy-body you know. Tell her anything and she’ll spread it around town. She’s not your friend.

Dolly nodded. That was his nickname for her almost from the beginning. Dolly had no idea why he felt such a strong dislike for Mariana. She couldn’t see any reason for it and hesitated to respond. The whole thing was irrational, but there was no way she was going to tell him that. Instead, she stayed quiet and tried to look as though she was seriously considering what he had said.

Her feigned thoughtfulness seemed to placate him. He smiled, kissed her cheek, gathered his bags, and then, just like that, he was gone.

After Randall left, Dolly puttered around the house for a few hours. She kept watching her phone, anxious and nervous, but also excited for a response. She hadn’t seen Mariana since just after she’d married Randall. There were a few awkward attempts at get-togethers and double dates, but the animosity Randall felt towards Mariana, and Mariana’s hurt feelings about being snubbed at the wedding, made it impossible for them to get along.

Added to that, Mariana herself had changed since her marriage to Ellis several years before. As time passed, the friends began to find there was less and less in common between them. The yearly beach trip was the anchor that held them together, and after last year, Dolly doubted the trip would happen again, pandemic or not. Still, Mariana was her oldest friend and the only one who still lived in town.

She sat down and pulled her old cat, May, onto her lap. May was seventeen years old, overweight, and perpetually angry. She stomped around the house on short legs, her face in a constant scowl that only relaxed when Dolly would sit down and provide a warm, soft lap. She didn’t mind. She needed May as much as the cat needed her.

Finally, she heard her phone ding. She smiled.

Who’s that? Ellis asked.

Mariana was smiling at her phone.

Dolly, she said. She wants to meet for coffee.

Why?

Well, I suppose she wants coffee, Mariana said with a smile and a sideways glance.

Ellis huffed. You’re funny.

I won’t be long, Mariana said. She pulled on her shoes and looked for her bag.

You’re going? Ellis asked. Really? After everything?

Mariana paused and considered his words. It had been a tough year, and she still had hurt feelings about the way everything happened. But she missed Dolly. She missed their friendship. And she worried about her. Mariana wanted to make sure Dolly was happy. All she did was sit around that house, waiting for Randall. It was a major personality change from the outgoing, active friend she had always known.

Finally she said, Yes, even after everything. I miss her.

Ellis took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. No Randall, okay? I don’t want you around that guy. I don’t like the way he watches you.

Mariana nodded. No worries there, she said. He bugs me too. Anyway, he’s out of town right now. That’s another reason Dolly wants to meet. I guess she’s lonely or bored. I won’t be long.

She leaned over and kissed Ellis on the cheek.

CHAPTER 3

L et’s sit by the window, Lu said as she and Jody scanned the restaurant.

Is there anything outside? Jody asked. She really just wanted to find a table already and sit down so she could take the damn mask off her face and breathe. It was beginning to get to her. Jody had a touch of claustrophobia, and the mask was making it worse.

Here, Lu said. She grabbed Jody’s hand and pulled her through the dining area to the back porch. There were three tables spaced out, and only one of them was taken. Lu deposited Jody at the furthest table.

What do you want? she asked.

A flat white and something crunchy, she said.

Something crunchy, Lu mumbled to herself as she turned back towards the dining area to place their orders.

Jody removed her mask and smiled at the young women sitting at the other table. They smiled back and then went back to their conversation. Jody tried not to eavesdrop, but it was difficult. It was a small patio and there were no other noises. She heard every word.

Anyway, that’s where we are now. He’s left for business again, but I really want to take advantage of his time away and focus on rebuilding relationships. Starting with you. I’ve missed you, Dolly said