a Col

voices about Billy Hicks's abrupt departure. The argument soon died d

d began the final

a worn-out backpack, the onl

Billy and the pittance from Susan-from u

pouch of dried herbs. It was Dust of Deep Slumber, a potent concoction

ot of tea sat on the counter,

he dust into the teapot, swirling it gent

out ten minutes later, the sounds fr

e slumped over the table, fast asleep, gre

eling nothing. T

sh on their table. I knew where

from my past life, I found a loose floorboard u

he old, rusty lock. Another skill

s savings, scraped together over years, along

y backpack. A portion of this had belonged to

rapped in a piece of silk, I fou

was my mother's. Our family's heirloom. In my past life,

s cool touch was a small comfort, a connecti

ossession, I still didn't leave.

g room and took out a p

t as a "concerned neighbor who could no longer st

llegal seizure of their niece's inheritance, trafficking with a known

ling clarity, including Billy Hicks

atters with extreme gravity. This

the most conspicuous spot on the ta

gures. Their breathing was even. They would

would be

had held me for two lifetimes, and

the Moonstone Locket around my neck. It res

d out into the pre-dawn dark

e lay a rotten past. Ahead, a

letter into the secure mailbox reserved for t