Chapter 6 - The Visitor in the Dark
The nursery door swung open with a slow, agonizing groan.
Framed against the dim gaslight of the hallway stood a tall, broad figure wearing a heavy black oilskin coat. In his right hand, the man carried a long, brass-handled syringe filled with a clear, deadly liquid.
It was Jonathan Vance.
"Leo," Jonathan whispered, his voice sickeningly soft, mimicking the soothing tone of a loving relative. "Are you awake, my boy?"
Leo didn't move. He kept his eyes half-closed, breathing slowly through his nose, pretending to be asleep.
Jonathan stepped into the room, his heavy leather boots making a faint, wet sound against the Persian rug. He walked slowly toward the side of the bed, reaching out his hand to pull back the wool blanket.
"The doctor gave me a special medicine for you, Leo," Jonathan murmured, lifting the syringe into the moonlight streaming through the window. "It will make the bad dreams go away forever."
Jonathan leaned down, his cold breath smelling of stale tobacco and port wine, pressing his heavy palm against Leo’s shoulder to pin him to the mattress. He raised the needle, aiming directly for the boy's exposed throat.
Leo opened his eyes wide.
With a desperate, explosive surge of energy, Leo lifted his small feet and kicked Jonathan squarely in the face with his hard leather shoes.
The heel of Leo’s shoe struck Jonathan’s nose with a sickening CRUNCH.
Jonathan let out a muffled howl of pain, staggering backward, dropping the syringe onto the floor, where it shattered into a hundred glinting shards of glass against the hardwood. Blood poured from Jonathan's nostrils, staining his white shirt collar.
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"You little brat!" Jonathan snarled, wiping his face with his sleeve, his eyes flashing with murderous rage. "You're going to die tonight just like your father!"
Leo scrambled out of the other side of the bed, his small feet hitting the cold floorboards as he sprinted toward the open doorway.
