the hallway, guid

front of a fami

was

ousehold, Elena had "gently suggested" that

ngs and quietly moved into t

d against the doorframe with a smug smil

Are you sure you're okay with it? I could

aken her head. "No n

adn't be

tifling. The only window faced a brick w

thing. She thought silen

ck now...

the doorknob and

r creak

left it three years ago-except now the air was h

drawn, the light i

teppe

A

ammed shut

ey turning echoed thro

inct metallic snick of

s heart

around-

locked from

e and twisted, yanked

h

r from behind, pinnin

ped, pain shootin

d under warm lights. Laugh

s, her eyes flicking up toward th

right. things shou

was probably alr

ed smile curled

in quiet conversation with an old

t her glass down and walked o

she? Do you think she's okay? Maybe the dr

oughtful-just enough co

up toward th

glass down, voice calm-but

s she hurried to follow. "I'll come to

s exchanged glances and

ensing something am

up made their

lway wa

ad, her steps slo

side th

t so

roans. The scrape

t leapt with

eyes wide in feigned horror. "Oh my god...

ce darkened

d. His gaze tur

began to stir, murmu

attention, stepped forward.

alled out, voice trembling ju

ee

or swu

red into

re stoo

tousled, her exp

d, arms and legs bound with torn strips of fabri

his shoulder, pinning him in

ne was

rowd

pression of panic cracked, ey

slowly, her voi

disappointed. Were you hoping

then quickly f

eard noises-what were you even doing in here? Ho

forward, his vo

aid, "you'd be