by the time Haven and Brenda

t plastered her hair to the back of her neck. They walked down the

front porch, Haven stop

d. The metal casing was bent outward, the

contracted. She dropped

ehind her back. Haven kicked the door. It swung open

room, occupying the only armchair. His gnarled han

Cletus. Cletus was chewing a thick wad of tobacco, his small, pig-like

?" Brenda screamed, pushing past Haven.

ane and brought it down hard against the fl

"Your lease is up at the end of the month, Brenda. I ain

face, leaving her looking sickly pale. This house,

astic cup he was holding. He wiped his mouth with the

yellow smile. He took a step toward Haven. "Grandpa says if Haven

s stomach. The smell of the tobacco, the sight

She lunged toward the corner of the room, her hands cl

ing the rusted metal edge

chest heaving. "I will kill yo

the linoleum. The plastic cup crushed in h

e pushed himself up from the chai

bellowed. "I'll have the sheriff drag you

Her fingers closed around the cheap flip phone she had saved up for at a pawn sho

irmly over Brenda's trembling fingers o

yellow smile returned, wider this time. He took a confident

od girl," Cl

't use a trained fighter's strike. She threw her entire body weight forward, swinging her arm with everything she had, her open palm cracking viciously acros

he kitchen table. He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his face, a thick line of

wooden cane high above his head,

directly into his space, her eyes

her voice dropping to

air. The sheer lack of fear