r, red and blue lights splashing against the alley walls in f

le image: the last silver needle sliding into its cloth roll. The safe box clutched

ace him. "Please... wait," he called, his v

ys, her silhouette etched against the dista

tion." Theodore's voice cracked with desperation.

back, distant and cool as a w

ey. A heart restarted with seven silv

lications meant vulnerability. She had spent one lifetime tangled

resolute back as she melted into the shadows - this girl who was more than skil

niforms and equipment. In the ensuing scrambl

arched the empty alley for h

s subordinate had rarely heard. "Use every resource. Find her. I want to

red in his eyes. This was no longer ro

ng the city lights smear past. Her muscles ached from a chase her body had no right to survive. Her shoulder throbbed wher

light, a clerk who didn't look up from his magazine. She paid in cash and cl

der the spray until the grime of the Sears house, the dust of the ma

l didn't recognize. Soft cheekbones. A mouth that hadn't yet learned to sneer. But the eyes. The eyes staring

the reflection, I

of missed calls. A flood of texts from the Sears family - threats and insults

, Warren, Ariana, the house landline - and switched the phone off.

illa, the air was c

oice had worn itself hoarse hours ago, reduced to a venomous rasp. "That ungrateful little bitch. She a

ment of sisterly concern. "Mom, don't be so angry. Maybe June is just confused. I'm sure

ther armchair, a whiskey glass sweating rings onto the side table. "She'd better get her ass back here, and soon," he growled.

fety. Only her utility. Only the warm,

ird time - blocked. The realization hit her like a slap. Her face purpled. She

The nerve - the

ticed frown. The more June rebelled, the more perfect and obedient she appeared by co

a?" Ariana suggested, her voice syrup-sweet. "Some

rning, I'm calling the police. I'll tell them she stole from us

nt that a penniless, friendless, seventeen-year-old girl with nowhere to

ited al

door nev

atisfied, she lay down on the lumpy mattress - springs digging into her back, the pillow th

, dreamless sleep. The fi

the grimy curtains. June opened her eyes. Her

y was only the beginning. She had walked out of their prison. Now she had cap

ght was abo