Hold It Against Me| The Haunting Of Hill House|On Hold

1

*Hill House
Then*

"Steve." I whispered softly as I opened his bedroom door as quite as my weak 14 year old self could.

When he didn't wake up and respond I walked into his room slowly and went up to his bed. "Steve" I say again, only this time, I'm softly shaking him.

"Evie?" He quickly says as he rubs his eyes "did you have another nightmare?" He asks and I nod my head. He softly sighs then moves his blankets back signaling me to climb in next to him which I did. "It's okay Evie, I'm here, nothing's gonna hurt you. I promise." He adds and I nod my head.

"Steve?" I say softly

"Hmm?" He hums in question

"Promise, when we get older, you'll never leave me alone." I say as my voice breaks.

Steve pulls me into a hug and runs his fingers through my hair in a calming way. "I promise Evie. It's gonna be you and I against everything and everyone." He replies softly and I nod my head then close my eyes quickly falling asleep.
•
I woke up when I felt someone pick me up.

I opened my eyes to see dad carrying me. "Daddy?" I say tiredly

"Shh... Go back to sleep princess." He replies. I nod my head closing my eyes and cuddling into him before I fell back asleep
••
I woke up the next morning in my own bed and to the smell of food.

I quickly changed into a light pink floral dress with black high top shoes then I threw my hair into a high ponytail before running out of room and down the stairs.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw my youngest sister Nellie looking around her, lost until she saw me. "Stevie! Finally you're awake, Shirley and Theo don't want to have a Tea party with me. Will you?" She asks and I sigh

"Nell, I just woke up. I'm hungry" I tell her and she look down sadly "No ever wants to have a tea party with me" She softly shouts then runs off

"Nellie..." I trail but she was gone before my voice can carry over to her. I sighed heavilythen walked into the kitchen where I saw Steve eating chips and half of a sandwich with two cups of what looked like tea in them.

I walked over to him and sat down as he placed the second cup in front of me and then placing the other half of his sandwich on the plate that was in front of me with chips already on it. He smiled at me before turning back to eat his food and I started eating mine.

As I took the first bite of my sandwich Mrs.Dudley walks in carrying a stack of plates. She's goes over to the shelf by the fridge and grabbing some other stuff, then walking to the table

"Hello, children" she says as I look at her confused

"What are you doing?" Steve and I ask her in unison

"Arranging the china and some of the flatware, so that your father can sell them. These are valuable." She answers and I shrug

"Dad says you and Mr.Dudley come with the house." Steve and I say again in unison

"Houses like this one require a staff." She replied

"Why don't you live here?" I ask

"We live close by. At the edge of the property, through the woods, right by town." She answers and I nod

"But there are so many rooms." Steve adds

"The staff hasn't lived on the grounds since 1948." She replied

"So the people that lived here before us..." Steve trailed

"The Hills." She added for us

"So they were all alone?" I ask and she nods her head