Night arrived and Melody had stayed in her room all afternoon. She’d listened to them talking about cases, making phone calls, use the bathroom, walk down the stairs, and even laugh and joke about things she couldn’t hear or see. She had just recently snuck out to use the bathroom and saw half of them gathered in the living room playing cards. Someone was in the kitchen and others were in the surveillance room. 

     She curled up against the window and took a deep breath. She smelled something delicious coming up from downstairs. They were cooking. Her stomach rumbled and she wondered how she was going to eat. She guessed most would go to bed at some point, leaving anyone still awake to monitor the cameras. That would give her time to hurry down for a snack without being seen. 

     A movement in a nearby tree caught her eye, and she stared in fear as her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the distance. She watched as an owl flew from one branch to another, its hoots echoing across the yard. 

     She broke out in tears and cried into her hands. The sound was a reminder of that night, and she wondered if there would ever be anything that wasn’t. 

     Kai was gathering a few things from the pantry while Paul started putting food onto their plates. They heard her crying again from the bedroom above the kitchen and stopped what they were doing. 

     “I’ll go,” Kai said when Paul looked at him in wonder of what they should do. 

     He made her a plate and brought it with him, along with a glass of water. 

     When he reached her door, he knocked. “Ma’am, I brought you dinner. I didn’t want to disturb you, but I thought you might be hungry.” 

     Melody stared at the door but didn’t go to it. She was incredibly hungry but afraid of what would happen should she open it. She didn’t think he would hurt her, but he might insist on answering his questions. 

     She knew they must have wondered about her reaction to what she saw on the screen. She didn’t want to talk about it. The terror that shot through her upon seeing the familiar design only grew when she realized she was in more danger than she thought. Her attacker had to be one of those people across the river, and she began to wonder if he knew she was there all along. 

     “I’ll set the plate down on the floor,” she heard Kai say and listened for his footsteps. 

     As soon as she heard him descend the stairs, she ran to the door and opened it. She pulled in the plate and gobbled down every bit of barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes, and corn. 

     When she was done, she changed into her pajamas and curled up in bed. She listened to every move the officers made and tried to understand their words as they spoke. Sometimes she would catch enough of a conversation to know they were speaking about her. They spoke of her attack, and she remembered that Kai had researched her with her ID. 

     She covered her ears and hummed a childhood song in hopes of blocking out more reminders. After some time, she finally fell asleep, with the nightmares returning as strongly as when it all first happened.