A Second Chance For Eva

When I stepped into the dark hallway, the house looked deserted. I wasn't surprised because Julius had given his descendants tasks that they were probably doing in the neighborhood. My first idea was to wait in the kitchen, because that was the place where the family was most likely to meet up again, but I immediately discarded it after looking down at myself. I should change my dirty, torn dress. And I'd better clean and treat the scratches on my hands and knees so they didn't get infected.

So I climbed the narrow, steep stairs to my and Leni's room. Halfway up, I thought I heard noises coming from above. Surprised, I stopped and listened. Indeed. I heard the voice of a girl shouting inarticulate cries. It sounded urgent and pitiful, as if she needed help. Oh, God! It had to be Leni, because who else could it be in this house but her? Did she have an accident?

I hurried up the rest of the stairs, driven to hurry by the high, sharp shrieks. I also recognized the dark bass of the grandfather and the creaking of wood, on which a heavy weight regularly settled. What was going on? The cacophony sounded from behind a door that I had to pass on the way to my sleeping place. It was firmly closed.

I hesitated, my hand already raised to knock. I was a stranger and shouldn't be invading these people's privacy. But it sounded so urgent, Leni was moaning so pathetically. And Julius's droning came out in such a muffled voice that I couldn't understand a word he said.

I took heart. Maybe it would be a chance for me to offer my support and prove that I could contribute something good to the community. I hammered my fist against the brittle wood.

“What's going on? Does anyone need help?”

The noises behind the wall fell silent. I waited breathlessly for a “come in” or any other answer.

Instead, I heard the creaking again, short and final, followed by heavy footsteps approaching. The door was wrenched open, so forcefully that I felt the draught.

I looked in dismay at Julius' furious face.

“WHAT?”

His piercing steel-blue eyes pierced me.

He was barefoot and wearing only a long linen shirt that reached to his knees. Behind him, a wide four-poster bed took up almost the entire room. Through a gap between the drawn bed curtains, I thought I recognized Leni as she quickly slipped on a chemise.

“I ... um...”, I stammered. My throat was tight. Where had I just barged in?

Julius' arm shot up. He pointed imperiously at the door to my bedroom.

“In you go! And you wait there. I'll take care of you later.”