Chapter 21

I sat in the middle of the impossibly large bed, my knees pulled up to my chest and arms wrapped around my legs, covers bunched up around me. Harper had gone downstairs to get the wine we had left there earlier. I was studying my thumb, which had been throbbing for some time. I noticed that the skin had split again a little, a thin angry line of scarlet running across the flesh, probably aggravated by Harper sucking on it, opening the wound once again. The apartment was very quiet. Too quiet. I was used to music flowing through the house. At home there was always music playing in whatever room we happened to be in or the television chattered away in a corner somewhere, even if we weren't paying attention, it carried on regardless, filling the room with welcome noise. I hated silence. It always made me feel uncomfortable and eager to fill the void with any kind of sound. Harper appeared at the top of the stairs, carrying two glasses and he ambled o