, solid and real. Her chest heaved. A phantom cramp twisted violently in her abdom

s. This wasn't a dream. The air was too thick,

oor as students around her erupted from their

k slammed into

ed, not even glancing back as he

ld have shrunk back, mumbli

h him. Her gaze was dead, hollowed out by the memory

ed from his face. He swallowed

ce cracking before he practicall

rt. She grabbed the clear plastic pencil case off the desk. She didn't look back as she

le doors of the school. The June

otic sea of parents and

er

er faded blue work shirt, standing on her tiptoes, her wea

in Haven's throat.

, the only real mother she had ever known in her heart, wrapping her arms tightly around the o

ling back a step before her arms came

er rough hand stroking Haven's hair. "The

s against asphalt ripped

halt right at the curb, inches from where they st

ssenger door

weed jacket that cost more than Brenda made in a year.

ly dragged up and down Brenda's faded clothes, her l

carry over the noise of the crowd. "Not that it matters. We all know the sta

ria erupted into sha

tepped sideways, trying to put her body between H

aced her hand over Brenda's, giv

pped out from b

her chin up, meeting Gloria's eyes. A slow

len necklace. The sight of the diamond, the very one her adoptive mother had saved a decade for, sent a fresh spike of venom through Ha

eered, trying to recover her dominance. "They

ed Gloria's personal space, forcing the o

r lips hovered inch

low, raspy scrape, "when your parents ship you off

lood vanished from her face, leaving h

hiding for months. The secret threat h

ve. Rage, hot and blinding, overtook her fear. She rai

didn't

rs clamped down around Glor

Her perfectly manicured fingers curled inwa

ng, agonizing second. Then, she

g on the uneven pavement. She flailed, her back

, freezing in place,

er back on them, linked her arm through Bre

wrist throbbed with a dull, hot ache. She stared at Haven's ret

urse. She pulled out her iPhone and hit t