Page 46 of Glimmer in the Darkness

It caught on fire.

She squealed and dropped the stick, shooting a glance to the man to see if he was angry. But he only laughed as he picked up the stick and blew on the marshmallow. The flame went out.

“The burnt ones are the best.” He made a marshmallow-chocolate sandwich and held it out to her.

“I don’t want it.”

His eyes got squinty, and his lips lost the smile. “Try it.”

“It’s burnt.”

“You love them like that. It’s delicious.”

“You eat it, then.”

He scowled at her, holding the food closer to her. “I said, try it.”

She crossed her arms and looked at the fire. She wasn’t going to eat that stupid burnt marshmallow. Her stomach hurt, and she didn’t want it. She didn’t like him or his stupid s’more.

He broke the sandwich in half, then broke it in half again and held out the smallest piece to her. “Please? Just a little bite?”

“No.”

He stood so fast, she jumped.

She scrambled to the wall and pressed her back against it.

He looked down at her like he wanted to hit her or kick her. “I went to a lot of trouble to give you a special night, Maryann. I bought these things just for you. The least you can do is try.”

“I don’t feel good.”

“I don’t feel good.” His high-pitched mocking tone reminded her of the boys at school. “Don’t be such a baby. Eat a bite.”

She should. Maybe then he’d leave her alone. Except she thought she might throw up, and she hated him and his stupid marshmallow and hated that he was trying to have fun with her. She shook her head and mumbled, “You can’t make me.”

Before she knew what happened, he’d pinned her to the floor. He straddled her, squeezing her cheeks hard and forcing her jaw open. He shoved the bite of food in. Then he pressed his hand over her mouth. “Chew and swallow.”

His hand was thick and hot, and she couldn’t breathe. She struggled to get out from under him.

He let up just enough for her to inhale. “Do it. Now.”

She could hardly move her jaw with his hand like that, but she did what he said, afraid of the wild look in his eyes. Wild as the bear that had visited the night before.

Tears leaked from her eyes as she swallowed the bite. The marshmallow tasted like dirt, and the graham cracker was too dry. Even the chocolate was yucky. She swallowed again when it wanted to come back up.

He climbed off her and stood looking down at her with a dazed look in his eyes, like he didn’t know who she was or who he was or anything. “Maryann never said no to s’mores.”

Her whole body was shaking. She was even more scared than when the bear was there. More scared than she’d been when he’d first slipped his hand over her mouth and stolen her from Nana and Papa’s backyard. More scared than she’d ever been in her whole life.

“Maybe you’re not her.”

She wasn’t her, and she wanted to say so. Maybe if he realized she wasn’t Maryann, he’d take her back to Daddy. If she just told him…

But inside her head, someone said, Shh.

So she didn’t say anything.

He snatched the ruined food off the cave floor and tossed it in the fire. “I should leave this out, let the bear find you again.”