high window. But it wasn't the dark that terrified Ava; it was the sounds that filled it. Growls rumbled through the concre
ontrollable shaking that started in her core and radiated out to her fingertips. Every shadow seemed to move, morphing into the shape of a snarling bea
-link fence separating their enclosures. The metal rattled violently. Saliva dripped from its bared teeth. Ava screamed, scrambling backward until she hit the opposi
bination of screaming and thirst. The dirty water bowl in the corner remained untouched. She c
on the cage next to hers. The latch on the gate wasn't fully secured. It was hanging loose, held only by a single, precarious notch. It wasn't just negligence. It was deliberate. Liam' s wor
e scanned the small enclosure, her eyes darting around for anything she could use. Her gaze fell on a small, janitorial
st the weak latch. Ava flinched but forced herself to keep going. She pulled the closet door open. Inside, amidst brooms and buckets, was a beat-up
r manager's number, or the police. The only numbers she knew by heart were the Millers'. Her first instinct, des
number. It ra
oggy and annoyed, as if she ha
ou have to come get me. Please. The dog in the cage next
im shifting in bed. "Stop being so dramatic, Ava. You' re not g
ing. "I am telling you, this is dangerous. You put me
what you do, isn' t it? You manipulate situations to get what you want. Li
it made her feel like she was going insane. Then, she heard a
is it,
perated sigh. "She' s trying to we
Chloe' s voice was on the phone, drip
worried about you. We both are. We just wan
ing at her throat. "You have to make him understand.
ground. "You know, while you' re thinking about your mistakes, I was just cleaning up your room a little. I
the one who had seen her potential, who had encouraged her to dream bigger than t
n' t," Ava
ntinued, her voice taking on a cruel edge.
ough the phone. It was unmistakab
ature of innocence. "It slipped. The p
ish. It wasn' t just a photo. It was her hope. It was her pas
quences. Stay there. Don' t call again. We' re going on vacation to celebrate Chloe' s ama
ne wen
gave one final, powerful shove. The latch gave way wg, its head low, a deep growl rumbling i
the shattering glass echoing in her ears. She looked at the dog, then
og lu