This Changes Everything Read Online Free PDF Page B

your teeth,” she called after her.
    “I won’t.”
    The back door
opened and closed as Ellie headed up the staircase. Daddy said if he didn’t
find the gate to hell, he’d give up the curse. Could he really do that? What if
he didn’t find it but it was still real? Who would close the gate then? Would
the spirits and gods break loose and hurt people?
    Ellie put on her
lacy white nightgown, the one that made her feel like a princess. Daddy had
bought it for her on his trip to Atlanta a month ago. Grabbing her stuffed
rabbit, she put her dirty clothes into the hamper, then moved to the edge of
the staircase, listening for signs that her mother was back. Her back prickled
with fear but she didn’t know why. She only knew she needed her mother’s
reassurance.
    “Momma?” she
called downstairs.
    “I’ll be right
up.”
    Relieved, she
went into the bathroom and set Bunny on the counter. She brushed her teeth,
thinking about which book to read with Momma and deciding on her new favorite, The Secret Garden .
After rinsing her toothbrush, she grabbed Bunny and headed into the hall.
    Suddenly, her
right palm burned like it was on fire, and Ellie cried out in pain and
surprise. She ran to the stairs to tell her mother when she heard shattering
glass.
    Then her mother
screamed.

Chapter Four
    Ellie’s heart
jumped into her throat and she started toward the stairs, then stopped, nearly
falling forward when she heard a man’s angry voice.
    “Where’s the
ring?”
    “I don’t know
what you’re talking about,” her mother answered, the words shaky.
    The howling wind
shook the house.
    The man’s voice
lowered to a growl. “I’m going to ask you nicely one more time: W here is the ring ? ”
    Momma started to
cry. “Do you want my wedding ring? Here. I’ll give it to you.”
    The loud sound of
a slap echoed up the stairs, and Ellie’s mother cried out.
    He ’ s hurting Momma .
Tears burned Ellie’s eyes, but she remained frozen with fear.
    “Amanda. I
thought you were smart. Isn’t that why Higgins asked you to come to Charlotte?”
    “I don’t know”—she
took a breath through her sobs—“what you’re talking about.”
    “I’d hate to cut
up that pretty face. All you have to do is cooperate.”
    Momma didn’t
answer, but the sounds of her crying made Ellie panic. I have to help Momma.
    She bolted for
the staircase, her foot landing on the top step, but the gentle voice of an
older man spoke softly in her ear. “No, Ellie. Don’t go downstairs.” He sounded
so nice and insistent that she stopped in her tracks and looked behind her,
finding no one.
    Was this what it
was like for Claire when she heard voices?
    Ellie wanted to
go to Momma, but the man’s warning sent a new wave of terror through her blood.
Sinking to sit on the top step, she clutched Bunny, shaking uncontrollably. She
struggled to breathe through her tears, but a comforting warmth pressed against
her side.
    The mean man
asked her mother, “Why were you in Charlotte a few days ago?”
    “I was invited to
see an antique collection.” Momma wasn’t crying as hard, but her voice was
shaky. “But it wasn’t a man named Higgins. His name was Juan Ricardo.”
    A flash of
lightning lit up the downstairs, and a loud clap of thunder behind it made
Ellie jump.
    “See?” the man
asked, trying to sound nice but Ellie wasn’t fooled. “That wasn’t so hard, was
it? Now tell me about the ring.”
    “I don’t know
anything about a ring.”
    Why was Momma
lying? Why didn’t she just tell him that Daddy had the ring? Then he’d go away
and stop hurting her.
    Ellie heard the
bad man hit Momma again. She clutched Bunny to her stomach, once again ready to
spring down the stairs.
    “No, Ellie,” the
kind man cooed in her ear. His voice reminded her of her grandfather, warm but
strong. “You can’t tell him about the ring or he’ll hurt you, and I can’t let
him do that. You’re very special to me.”
    Ellie’s chin
trembled. “But I