ena

ed men with a steel pipe-and saw only a cold stranger sta

lanation. The disease

ry," I w

caught my bandaged arm, and I held my breath, waiting for th

ooked

le inspection of the wound. Just a tight

for threatening me now couldn't mus

rbed. I opened the wooden box where I kept our old photographs-us as

write. My final words to her.

knock at

up my spine, severing my limbs from my brain's commands. I crashed to the floor, my shoulder sl

oftened through the door

h. A fragile a

. Tried to call out. My b

ence st

ia violence-detonated. She slammed

ng to torture

e floor, a prisoner i

whisper that slipped through the crack beneath the door.

choed down

released its grip hours later. Then I dragged myself to the kitchen and ate t

come home

the encrypted phone Dominic had given me for emergencies. I diale

e's lead physi

oice perfectly steady. "I

-