andle." She whisper

ain. Hella froze mid

nd, then the nails

loorboards creaked.

the words that Alli

is in o

manage a nod. They h

ew that their father di

they had no cause for

dly house seemed to

weak wall

her legs over the be

the candle

?" Allie asked as s

e

ad, make sure it wa

Hella stepped away

ay, looked both ways,

r fathe

ter, though the terror

w that their father w

the girl"s would he

lowed herself a quick

her sister into the

e on the bed. Allie, n

into her. "What is

around he

sister"s warnin

on the bed and fro

Mr. Harbor lay. Two

directly over the hear

lue t-shirt was torn

sheets were covered in

pped forward and hel

warmed her hand. She

face. She turned to fa

so violently it was

d paled to a ghastly

hat marched across he

filled with tears un

le braid that reached

braid clung to her

sweet and lovable.

ed like an abandone

have been much, but h

tion to their formerl

last connection. The

ere thwarted by th

ized in a flash of te

whoever had done this

us

examination, Allie n

ards did she turn. Th

, and he had come back

gh her heart, though i

sical. Soon their sma

hopes she ever had n

r mind. Buried hope

ive through this night

stole her breath. Hell

er. Hella could escap

and hopes. Allie blin

ked up a folded paper

pened t