gates of Patterson Manor. He wore his oldest clothes. A faded gray

oked back. The manor sat on a hill, surrounded by m

ention away. A rusted city tram stopped

He walked down the narrow aisle and sat in the very b

he perfectly cut green lawns disappeared. They were replaced by cracked sidewalks, bric

cheap cigarettes and unwashed clothe

ese people with disgust. Now, he just closed his eyes and leaned his head agains

le of the industrial district. Emmett stepped off. The

ment. He headed toward his fam

r grocer. The bell ab

rton of milk, and three boxes of the expensive chocolate his younger siblings love

dirty apron, scanned the items. He l

mocked. "Did the rich folks kick you o

el the hot flash of anger he used to feel

itely. He picked up the heav

g. He took a deep breath. He walked up the wood

He stood in front of a doo

nock. He stopped. His f

suffocating. The last time he saw his mother in his past life, she was lying in a cheap coffin, dead f

ard. He knocke

inside. The lock clicked.

, Elspeth, peeked out. Her

yes went wide. Then, her f

ly. "Did you come to beg Mom for more

knife twisting in his

lifted the heavy grocery ba

move as she swallowed. She was hungry. But she

side the apartment. "Elsp

r open gently. He ste

air smelled heavily of dam

sofa in the living room. She wore

antly filled her eyes. She pushed her weak

long strides. He dropped to his knees on the dirty carpet. He reach

ion broke through his flat mask. "I'm sorry. I'm s

led one hand free and touched his

e home. As long as you're s

Maeve and Tobin. They stared at him with big, scar

bag. He pulled out the boxes of chocolate. He looked

ed the

They ran across the room

around their small bodies. He pulled them tight ag

Her eyes turned red. She wiped her face with

d, poor room. The block of ice

he had to spill. He didn't care who he had to destroy. In this life, he was going to r