Silent Screams by Annette Gisby

PROLOGUE

The bedroom was dark. A shaft of light fell from the half-open doorway to illuminate the small figure on the bed. The little girl could hear the splash of water from downstairs as her mother washed up. She sat huddled on her bed, her knees drawn tight against her chest. The front of her dress was covered in food from the party. It was a multi-colored creation of birthday cake, jelly and orange juice. Her new dress was ruined. That was why she had been sent to bed early. She didn't mind about the stains on her dress. There were worse stains. Stains on her soul.

She was eight today. A big girl now, her parents had said. If she was such a big girl, why did she feel so frightened? Because he would come to her tonight. He had been at the party. She had been naughty and he would punish her. He liked to punish her, you could see it in his eyes. The alarm clock by her bed ticked louder and louder, in time with her heartbeat. How soon would he come? She hoped it would be soon. Then it would be over.

Footsteps. Footsteps on the stairs. She heard the last stair creaking. Any minute now. She jumped from the bed and dived underneath it. It was useless to hide, she knew he would find her, but she wasn't going to make it easy for him. As her bedroom door squeaked open, she held her breath and peeped out. First she saw the shiny black shoes and then the bottoms of black trousers. She had always wondered about the black. She had always assumed that the devil would wear red.

"I know you're in here! Come out this instant!" He seemed to be looking everywhere, everywhere except where she was hiding. The girl held her breath for as long as she could, but it was no use. She spluttered, trying to get some air into her straining lungs, and he heard her. He yanked her roughly from under the bed and she was thrown on top of it. "How dare you hide from me! That was very naughty! You know what happens to naughty girls, don't you? They get punished!"

She tried to scream, but no sound escaped from her locked throat.

Her screams, as always, were silent.

END PROLOGUE