r's

of the clock-it was always there, constant, familiar. But t

the hallway from the sitting room while I sat on the c

d just because you need his money and expect som

sed to feel anything. I eat when they tell me to. I talk when I'm spoken to. I walk whe

gain. "Did you even hear yourself? He

was Si

e wanted obedience. "If you still want to live in this house and enjoy th

At least your friend won't know! He

f course, I knew wh

your older sister," Father replied, like i

him. He's blind, remember? He can't tell which of us is older. Send Amber. She's

e floor. I didn't cry. I did

er's growl. The thud of his chair scrap

th

Amber

sed m

e door open like I was some wild animal they had to cage

" one

idn't speak. I let the

y cared about. The one everyone pretended didn't exi

ing in the underground. But his greed swallowed it all. He lost everything

was the perfect one. The b

e

t the fir

s nothing. Like I didn't matter because he wouldn't even

y dragged me down it. My heart t

n't s

used

me to the ground

he pain shot up my ribs so fast I couldn't breathe. I curled int

ted. My father crouched next to me lik

ers lifted my chin, too gentle to be real. "You're goi

d in the eye. I

ev

didn't change-b

head snapped sideways. My body followed, collapsing to t

he roared above me. "Ho

haking. My hand trembled as

id, voice cracking. "I'm not a pawn. I won't le

ur father. You've been nothing but a curse since the d

it harder t

e for years. Years! And now, the only thing you can do to repay all the good I

. Not from fe

o marry someone old enough to be my fa

d straight at her-Skyla-leaning on the wall like a queen

," I snapped, breathing hard. "

smile

all do. But you'll never say it out

You've always been crazy. You

appen. I don't care if I have to tie your hands and drag you to th

itterly, wi

Father. Because the day I marry that man.

wear-I saw something

e

l f

s fast, it

And lock her tighter this time. No food. No light.

, Skyla leaned closer,

You should've stayed quie

n't r

e eyes and thought-One day,

single

~~~

, curled up in the corn

arms hugged my knees tightly to my chest. I could barely feel my fingers any

I hea

llic click

ding. The key turned slowly

s. Just

Purpo

pour in. Whoever was there didn't speak. I

her

ade my bloo

yl

ugh hands yanked me up

voice cracked from dryness and

ans

struggling. "What are you

he ground. They dragged

sharp and quick. My he

Please-just tell me where

l no

red me more than he

idn't speak, it me

y ser

pulled me out of the ro

now where

s finally doing wha