cked the suffocating oppression of the Beaumont

ng to turn on the lights. She twisted the faucet and splashed freezing water onto her face, the cold shock making her gasp. Th

woman staring back had wild eye

e pale with worry. In her hand, she clutched a small orange bottle of pill

ile floor, the plastic cracking, pills scattering everywhere

oss the floor. "Harlene, please. Don't go to that d

ankle, she put her full weight onto her heel, crushing a pill into powde

astel dresses that Genevieve approved of-colors meant to make her invisible-an

y, was the dress Mitch had found. A deep crimson velvet gown, tight, floor-len

n into a dull, manageable throb. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She looked like a flame about to consume everything in its path. She ran her hand along her thigh, feeling t

mple pearl earrings. "At lea

a drawer and pulled out a pair of sharp, metallic

yes. Instead, she took a charcoal eyeshadow and smeared it heavily, making

ied it carefully, then deliberately smeared the edge

ou doing, Harlene? Are you trying to win

n, a laugh erupted from her throat. It was a harsh, g

"Win him back? No, Winter. I'm going to sho

unter. The screen lit up w

fool of you

er fingertip, the cold glass offering no comfort. The las

iley face. It was the most sarcasti

ging on the wall was a portrait of her grandmother. Th

whisper. "If you see me tonight, Grand

a can of pepper spray into

lights. The Christmas decorations still glittered on the streets, but i

emergencies only. "She's on her way," Winter whispered into the phone, her voice tight with fear. "She's going to the gala. I think... I think she's going to burn it

ment the door opened, a barrage of camera flash

the car with her chin held high. The red velvet dress caught the li

e you having a breakdown?" "How do you feel about E

d that creepy, serene smile, soak

, reaching for her elbow. "Miss Beaum

s clicking on the red carpet like gunshots, her stride steady only through a sheer, man

lden doors. She pushed t

ds of faces turned to stare at the woman in the bloo