Hender

were already out there. My mother's disgust, Christopher's fury. What did I hear?

ot through my injured head, and I swayed. He dragged me, stumbling, through the hallway, past the gaping faces of the staf

light. It was a study, dark and imposing, filled with towering bookshelves and heavy leather furniture. The air was thick with th

sed a button on a sleek remote, and a large monitor embedded in the wal

de. Kaylee skipped ahead, holding Deborrah' s other hand, looking like the perfect, happy family. One video showed them on a yacht, Deborrah' s hair blo

the bone. "Look carefully, Aisha. This is your mother's life now. A

er, freer than I had ever seen her. The woman in those video

. Her confinement. Now, she has a chance at joy. A chance at a fresh start. And yo

house, but you will not interfere. You will not approach Deborrah. You will not speak to her. You wi

upset Kaylee, if you even look at Deborrah the wrong way... I will make sure you disappear. Not just

was nod, a small, jerky movement. The words were a bitter poison, b

wasn't how it was supposed to be. But the logical part, the part that had sur

ing menial tasks, cleaning rooms, polishing silver. I ate what the staff ate – mostly basic, unseasoned food – but even that was often pick

ouse. The only faces I encountered were those of the other staff, most of whom regarded me with a mi

to seek me out, her cruel eyes finding me ev

ner of the sprawling gardens, soaking in the fleeting warmth. A small, ragge

She stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face.

ng. "I'm not playing," I said so

hief. You're always lurking, trying to steal something, aren't you? My mo

" I insisted, my voice gain

nk I don't know what you're up to?" She picked up a heavy, ornate

ned. "What a

wn. Not at my head, but at my knee. A searing pain ripped through my leg. I cried out, collapsing on

n't belong here. You never will. Go back to whatever trailer park you crawle

beside her. "Get her, boy!" she commanded, pointin

n hard enough to break bone, but dragging me, tearing at the fabric of my sleeve. I screamed, not

oom window. It was open. Could she hear? Could she see? My eyes met hers

ea echoed in my mind.

gaze for a split second. Then, she slowly, deliberately

seen me. And she had chosen to turn away. My

opped struggling. A strange calm washed over me. It didn' t matter a

car, different from Christopher' s, sped up the driveway. It wasn' t co

. He wore an expensive suit, but his face was etched with urgenc

ng authority. The dog, as if recognizing the voice of ultima

knelt beside me, gently examining my bleeding arm and knee. "

ly streaming down my face. My body was

ushes. The hospital was a blur of white coats and hushed voices. Bandages, antiseptic, a searing pain as they stitched my kn

r, Doria, and Deborrah rushed in, their faces tight with wor

arling!" Deborrah crie

bed, a small bandage on her forehead, tears streaming down her face.

' s side, stroking her hair. Doria sto

ious Kaylee?" Deborrah sob

stepped forward. "Miss Deborrah, your daughter, Kaylee, sustai

ghter,

re for me. They had come for Kaylee. My mother, the woman I had just literally bled for,