a's

A strange smell presses against me, curling into my lungs. A bitter taste that burns my thro

n. I need help, but I can't speak. I see a figure watching from the window; I stretch my hands, si

**

run my fingers over somethin

y eyelids

fore darkness took over. The first thing I see is a grand canopy above me, luxur

near me. A deep vo

bl

light, making him look even more beautiful. He's wearing a different cloth now- a white shirt, sl

" I push the

e a sound because his gaze snaps t

llow

e call wit

e is calm with something

ere...?" My throat

ace,"

sit up, but immediately I budge; pain ru

s hand pressing my shoulder lightly,

Viviene and her mother always hide from me. I only hear his name. I never thought he could be

ything. The party, gas the door locked door, the realization, the pan

th

t here?" My v

ot seeing you come back to the ballroom made me reali

ess hi

was wrong. He had

t all I can focus on is one thing

ns firm underneath. He takes a teacup and several pil

doctor prescribed. You inhaled too m

esi

at his lips. "You t

y no

me, if I meant to hurt you, I wou

says i

ly, and a weird shiver runs through me. I ignore it. I focus on t

watch

e him star

ay," he says a

again. "

need

d to g

s unreadable. "T

up down. "I

ticks i

f and get out of bed. I shiver as the cold air stings my

driver to giv

n't

I need t

ar him-is dangerous in w

***

om

t a steady, heavy thud in my chest. Everyt

to a place that no

low and hushin

eading to the upper floors where my stepmother and Viviene's rooms are. The

ce is sounding frustrated. "She was suppos

ight, and a freezing feeli

g unbothered. "You were careless

being obvious?" Viviene hisses. "Be

le

start spea

t the party, and I'm

s. "That compl

ing so loud I swea

om. "He cares enough to interf

she says, "Then we must remove her. Permanently,

They're talking about killing

ke a knife to my gut,

uld run; I should leave

't get th

orboard which c

ad whips tow

hink. I j

g. A chair slides back loudly behind

t look

ng and my legs screaming. But when I reach

all with a

Racheal stands a few feet away, composed as ever. And

eally should've just d

asoline thicke

ire erupts. I hear them hurrying to leave while I am

't know I

new they wo

s close around the small kni

the rope they

run, but I don't go far before I fall