ngers shaking. Behind her, the imposing Sinclair man

for her, that house

cautiously and slowly down

. Nolan would yell at her, tell her to stop and

ght remain

y. She paused beside the sleek b

ast glance at the mansion. The front doors stayed

commanding voice brea

n't comin

n tears but she foug

suitcase into the car's trunk, her every

nderstand she

e to be

mansion doors

s, nails bitting into her hands.

to her coat pocket and pulled out

ng herself to say to his face

rt. However, I can't be the onl

looked at the elderly woman behind the doorway-Mrs. Hat

e a whisper, she said, "Give thi

sorrow flashing in her ga

odded. She

got into

w lingering near the doorway. A pair of c

rs that reached for the

into the darkness, never

°

ending ribbon of darkness illuminated s

though the engine hummed steadily. Her knuckles turned

leaving behind, even though every mile she put between hers

es were un

stare when

p in the hopes that he would return home early, she was let down. The way he stood wi

t harder against th

ed to ge

y going on forever. The pain in her chest wo

name of a town she was unfamili

e, her vision fading at the edges. She only knew she

t flickered through the darkness ca

old, the paint peeling from its wooden walls. A single light buzzed a

breathe,

ilence was oppressive. As she exchanged money for a

m 1

oorly lit room. A faded floral blanket covered the bed

er hands on her st

made a m

supposed to f

up on the stiff mattress, her b

he first

at mansion, she l

she sobbed into the darkness, convinced

°

is tie. Evelyn had stayed behind, lingering too long with

close, but he hadn't pushed her away fa

a sharp

bel

explain, curled up on her side of the bed,

harp gaze scanned the s

as open. Her clot

hed. A humorless

she l

oud, too proud. He should've known

himself to stay calm. She would

st to argue, to demand answers. She possessed that kind of fir

passed.

enc

s. No m

t on the edge of bed and rolled

was a

orn, but this... This w

glass. Had she really left for

e. He could call her. Find out

dark and unyielding

ted to lea

chase after her. He wouldn't beg

swallow, forcing the unease deep

the empty bed, the whis

ly just about

ike this time, Isabel