ts of old pines. The structure stood there, listing to one side like a wounded animal. Rotted p

cracked wooden rain barrel sat beneath a sagging gutter, half-full of m

utes. No

r face. Cecile did not repeat herself. She just sta

ng her breath for an instant. She held the arm submerged, watching the grey water soak through the sleeve of her white t-shirt, feeling th

d forearm. The pressure steadied the deep contusion. She flexed her hand into a fist and released it tw

alked back toward the shack without glancing at

ile's weight. The sound was a sharp, splin

eb in the corner, then panning up to the gaping hole in the roof where the grey sky

ien's hand and began pacing the perimeter of the room. He

ulted his nose. His severe OCD flared up, making his skin crawl. He cro

g wind that cut straight to the bone. In the corner sat a wooden bed fram

aw Damien shiver

he unfairness of it all. She walked over to

her voice steady and absolute. "I promise

the chat rolled thei

usi

ven know how

hirt, folded it neatly, and placed it over the relative

white t-shirt. She rolled up the slee

to the room an

re hands, hauling them out the door. Dust plumed into the air, coating

debris, her fingers brushed against cold, heavy metal. She pulled ou

and adjusted her hold until the hammer's balance carried more of the strain. Her first swing sent a jarring shock up her arm. She did not stop. By the tenth strike, the hammering had settled into a gr

s jerking downward. He stared a

hat f

a

measure that

y nails she had salvaged from the shed.

Bang

hmic, brutal efficiency. Within five minutes, the window was completely sealed. T

of the woman swinging the hammer. In his five years of life, he had neve

s this

ected the splintered joint where the leg

She shifted her weight, driving the force through her left arm and her shoulders, breaking the rotted joints free one by one. The slats came loose with a sound of snapping rusted nails. She too

had built a low, incred

ay from the camera, pretending to inspect the sealed window. In that brief blind spot, she cradled her right forearm against her stomach, her fingers tra

and let out a breathless, triumphant exha

A shaft of weak sunlight broke through the clouds, filtering th

carried a sound fro

p, angry voic

missed the key! Do you wan

jarring contrast to the qu

hreshold. She held out her

aid softly. "Welcom