dark liquid sloshing inside. The smell

n?" she said, her voice a low, taunting

lted t

yes shut, braci

was hot enough to be a shock of intense heat, soaking through my thin dress instantly.

w the empty pot into the trash can, where it landed

" she said, looking down at the da

door, their eyes wide. One of th

," she said, her voice barely a

how many women like her I have to deal with? They circle this building l

eyes raked over my body,

ing in her eyes. "It' s the fact that she' s clothed at all. These creatures

wo assistants. "Ta

hesit

Ginge

me. I tried to scramble away, to curl into a ball, but they

weak and they were strong. They tor

' re hiding under the

poked her head in. She was older, with kind eyes. When

anded, stepping into the room. "You can' t do this. Thi

threat, Martha. Something our incompetent front desk staff failed to do

Whose side are you on, Martha? Hers?" She gestured at me with

less expression to my terrified one. She took a half

cue vanished. No one was coming to save me. I wa

ed to me. Her victory over

inting. She reached out and grabbed the collar

olent yank, she r

. A long, gaping hole appeared from my neckline down to my waist.

that burned hotter than the coffee. I stood there,

d me back against the wall. The impact knocked the wind out of me, a

ontorted with a jealous rage that was terrifying to beho

ard on my side. A searing pain shot through my ribs. I curl