the basement ceiling and splashed onto

ontract from his briefcase, and unfolded it in front of her. The no

ered a marriage certificate a

iolently. She stared at

ered and sho

labor agreement. Legally,

iggled be

ver years ago to cover your living expenses. All that

-five years a free slave-and she'd sig

t down, lips

rt attack? I swapped hi

on the spot. Cary Ashley-the only family who'd poured every

collar with the last of her strength, nails digging in. His sh

darkened, and he slapped

, you have a

. Her forehead slammed against the rusty iron

er, pulling out a handkerchief

dying woman. She'l

d in disgust and kicke

en minutes. I don't want to h

The fake contract lay on the floor, smeared with her bloody th

hrough the vent, casting the couple'

ent down, and yanked out the oxygen tube

e, dear

es stayed fixed on the two figures. Bertrand watched

Wait for the m

cked shut, cutting off the last light. Darkness swallo

memory

e blood, those two faces-gone. She was still sitting on

ands. No blood. No scars

t drop of blood debt from those twenty-five