ods-especially the ones beyond the old iron fence that marked the edge of town. That morning, Ellen met Lila just after dawn, bo

led t

thing had passed through long ago and bent the world in its wake. After about thirty minutes of walki

he left. "I remember the rocks. The

ila had said-smooth, blackened by time, arran

woods, until the trees opened just

ike Ellen had se

gotten. Swal

ed its mind halfway through. Vines strangled the windows, and the old wood was blackened-not burned, but

.. with an eye

e. Not in her dreams-in her memo

crunching on dead leaves. "It's real

rvously. "I don't like this place. I

t felt tight. But she

in was exactly like her dream-dusty photographs, warped flo

there was no

heavier. She walked to the fireplace an

with a sharp jaw and hollow eyes.

behind one of the frame

ver l

ed as she picked i

tos. One of the wom

drop

s of a girl who loo

y scar on her chin from when sh

aded. Ancient. At le

her, her voice low. "

ce was barely a whisper. "It'

p in her bones, like a me

been her

d live

her chest. Her vision blurred

n the wall g

he reflection staring

e photo. Older now. Pal

ips m

finish what

-splitting down the center-an