rld tw

against the dirty metal wall of a moving van. Dizziness washed o

p had h

become the grieving brother. And I was here,

ncles. The endless, back-breaking work on their compound. The constant fear. A

sharp. This wasn't just about Ethan anymore.

talk. They bragged about how easy it was, how stupid kids and their parents were in

rf

I remembered: a collection of rundown buildings surrounded

rd man with cold eyes. With him were his two brutish, unmar

is time, I stared at the ground and mumbled

ied. He handed a thick env

ton uncles staring at Mama Rose and Jennifer. It w

e my m

uncles with wide

" I asked, my voice

d, shaking

aky finger at

said, my voice filled with a child's sim

r went

w, greedy smile spread across Mr. Benton's face. Why pay f

er realized what was

tammered, her kindly facade

he uncles clamped a hand over Jennifer' s mouth while the other twisted Mama Rose' s

om Mama Rose' s hand and pocketed it. He th

e the shed door slammed shut

te. Mama Rose and Jennifer were now prisoners on the compound

, terribl