And there, next to it, a hand – its delicate fingers splayed out against the hardwood.“Bridgette,” I whisper, and then – without thinking – I’m in motion.I hear voices call out behind me as I sprint for the back door, but I don’t process what they’re saying as I push myself over the threshold. The
Desperate, panicked as pieces of the ceiling start to slam down around be, revealing flames behind, I haul myself to my feet. Determined to give it one last shot, I grab Bridgette by her shoulders again and pull, putting my whole weight into it – Suddenly, I feel something at my back. I gasp and th
Victor seethes, closing the distance between us and taking me by the shoulders to give me a rough shake. “You could have done anything else, Evelyn! You were surrounded by Betas – you could have sent one of them in –““And have them risk their lives?” I say, appalled at him, though – actually – I ha
A few hours later, in the early light of dawn, Victor and I lurch back into the cottage. I consider the calm peace of this space, which is so close to Victor’s house but now feels like a separate world. It’s almost bizarrely quiet here after such commotion all morning. Victor and I stayed through i
I sit straight up in bed, my jaw going slack, staring at the closet where the phone rings again. Victor turns his head towards me. “What is that?” He asks, blinking sleepily.“Nothing,” I say hurriedly, pulling my feet out of the blankets and rushing to put them on the floor. “Go back to sleep.”Vi
“I was so sorry to hear about your little tragedy tonight,” the voice says, its tones mocking. Victor goes very still, still looking at Evelyn, wondering at the strangeness both of the call and her actions. What the hell was going on?“What do you mean?” Victor asks, wanting the voice to keep talkin
“Victor!” I cry, pounding down the stairs after him. He’s already at the back door, ready to pull it open and storm out. “Stop!”He turns on me then, and I can see that he’s working hard to keep a leash on his rage. I stop dead in my tracks, my eyes going wide, knowing very well that I should not p
“Go upstairs, boys,” I whisper to them. The room is so quiet that they have no trouble hearing me. “We’re…we’re talking.”“Mama,” Ian says, concerned, starting to take a few steps down the stairs towards me. In that moment, spurred by Ian’s tiny act of disobedience, Victor fully loses his grip.“GO