AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s silent, and I think about what he said yesterday about silence giving us answers.
“It still hurts,” I whisper, referring to everything, not my arms.
“It always will.”
I frown at the beautiful man I’d now call my friend, listening to his heart beat softly underneath me and curiosity gets the better of me, wondering what on earth this man could’ve done so badly to end up here.
“Why are you in here, Puck?” I ask in a low whisper. He’s silent for a while and I think he’s just going to ignore the question, but then he whispers back.
“My mother was one of Carlo Rhivers’ housemaids. When I was sixteen, my father was killed, caught up accidentally in a shooting happening between the Districts and some outsiders from the Newlands. So I was sent to live with my ma at the Rhivers’ mansion.”
I frown at his confession, mourning his father with him.
“You’d have loved my ma. She made the best mac and cheese.”
I laugh and his chuckle vibrates through his chest.
“What’s her name?” I ask.
“Maria. God, I wish I knew if she’s still alive. I haven't seen King or Dax in so long, I haven’t been able to ask them.”
My gut churns and I hope one day he can find the answers he’s looking for.
“You’re close with King and Dax?”
“I was, once.”
I think about his story but still don’t really know why he’s here.
“Puck, I still don’t understand.”
He sighs, pain laced with his voice. “Whilst walking around the grounds one day, I met the most beautiful girl. You can call me naïve, but we fell in love. Two years later, I got her pregnant.”
I furrow my brow.
“It was his daughter.”
I shoot my head up, looking at Puck to make sense of what he’s saying.
“Whose daughter?”
“Carlo’s,” Puck says so quietly.
“Carlo has a daughter?” I’m trying to think of any recollection of knowledge about Carlo having a daughter.King has a sister?
“Carlohada daughter,” he continues to whisper, emphasising the past tense. “A year younger than King. He hid her away, convinced she wasn’t his. He couldnever have had a girl.” Puck imitates a childlike voice. “No one knew about her apart from those in the Rhivers’ mansion circle.” He pauses again, collecting his thoughts. “I was eighteen and she was sixteen when she fell pregnant. Carlo sent me straight here.”
I feel his heart beat faster, knowing what’s coming next.
“What happened to her?” I ask quietly, laying my head back on his chest.
“He killed her. And my baby.” His voice cracks and my eyes water. She was hidden all her life, only to fall in love and die for it. I take a deep breath and hold on to his shirt.
“And what was her name?” I ask, so I can pray for her and her baby to be at peace.
“Bonnie.” There’s a smile in his voice as he says her name.
I smile, picturing Puck with his Bonnie.
