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“The key, Briar,” Mrs. Fritz told me, and I took it gratefully from her hand.
“Thank you, Mrs. Fritz. I’ll make sure you get it back.”
I sprinted toward the house, leaving my bags on the stoop as I fumbled to let myself inside. I’d return for them after, but first, I needed to find the test.
To my relief, Father’s office was unlocked, and I quickly found the test I needed, rushing to the bathroom to perform it.
As I waited for the results, my head dropped against the wall, knees up to my chest. At the toilet, I pondered my options.
“Briar!”
Gasping, my eyes flew open and fell on the test, dread and shame overflowing me.
The test was positive, but I barely had time to register that as footsteps hammered against the stairs, my father’s voice booming out.
“Briar!”
Jumping to my feet, I raced to meet him at the door. Confusion and worry colored his eyes as he looked at my face.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Did you escape?”
Desperation and panic laced his tone, neither of which I understood, but I shook my head, throwing my arms around him as tears began to flow out of my eyes.
“Ash, let me go,” I sniffled, clinging to him tightly.
Without returning my embrace, my father set me back and stared at me, his face clouding.
“Let you go? How? What happened?” he demanded.
“I know what you did, Father,” I moaned. “You traded me as collateral.”
My father’s mouth became a line of annoyance.
“Don’t get hysterical, Briar. I knew nothing was going to happen to you. The loan is paid. That’s why you’re free.”
I drew in a breath, shaking my head.
“That’s not…” I started to say, but I realized it didn’t matter.
In the end, he had paid the loan, and the subject was moot now. I hadn’t been harmed by anyone but Ash. Why didn’t I feel more relief? Why couldn’t I muster something more than this utter despair consuming me and threatening to swallow me entirely?
My father looked over my shoulder, into the bathroom, his cheeks waxing.
“What is that, Briar?” he growled, shoving me aside to march inside. He picked up the pregnancy test and waved it at me, eyes popping. “Is this yours?”
I nodded, swallowing as more tears slipped down my cheeks.
“You’re pregnant?” His voice sounded odd, off a pitch as he peered at me.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I don’t know what to do, Father!”
“Who is the father?”
I hung my head, humiliated. “Ash.”
He drew back as if I’d punched him. “The demon?” he choked. “He defiled you?!”
“No. No, of course not,” I said, feeling the need to defend Ash, even though the demon didn’t deserve my loyalty. “He…” I pursed my lips together, my shame growing with each second. “It doesn’t matter how it happened. He doesn’t want the baby. I don’t know what to do.”
