thly down a quiet, tree-lined

d the neat lawns and white picket fences pass by. The ab

pulled into the driveway of a plain,

e engine. He looked over his should

he stepped out of the van and followed

Before he could turn it, the front door w

nde hair and a floral apron sto

instantly onto Ava. The air around her seem

With terrifying, unnatural strength, she jerked the large

va. Carrie shoved Jerimiah against t

whisper that barely carried over the threshold. "You brought an unvetted

p pocket of her apron. The distinct, sharp outline o

oming tone hit her ears. Her backpack slipped from her

himself flat against the wallpaper. "It's an

pulled out the stamped paperwor

across the ink, scanning the signatures an

cument, the suffocating, murde

broke into a massive, glowi

inch, Carrie wrapped her arms around he

e couldn't breathe, but the intense, radiating wa

rehead repeatedly. "My sweet little angel!

d hot. "Mom," she

high-pitched sq

n, a faint, almost impercepti

He had pale skin and pitch-black, dead eyes. He casually tossed a

lo to your sister," she ordered. Her tone was so

ero sound. He stopped in front of Ava, his eyes s

Cody stated, his voice entirely dev

ng open. She assumed it was

with a loud smack. "Stop analyzing her," Carrie scolded,