aw, animal sound of agony. She kicked out instinctively, her foot connecting with the dog's snout. It yelped and lo

he door shut just as the dog slammed its body against it. The thin wood shuddered, splintering near the hin

hloe were gone, off to celebrate a victory built on lies while she was left here to die. The hope she' d clung to, the foo

r second had been a desperate plea to Chloe, the sister. There was only one number left to try in that poisoned fa

er. It rang and rang. F

ll again," Chloe's voice was sharp, ann

in and blood loss. "It attacked me. My leg... it's bleeding

ping moment, Ava thought she heard

ted. "Are you sure you didn't just provoke it? You need to learn to be

e devastating than the dog bite. Chloe wasn' t just a manipulative girl; she was a mo

ing to die in here!" Ava shrieked

ld. "Just be quiet and think about what you did to our family. Think about how you made me feel. Whe

ne wen

erate pleading. It was filled with the cold, hard clarity of absolute abandonment. They were

nto dust. She was not a part of their family. She had never be

loset door, and a large crack appear

he fog of pain. To hell with the Millers. She

d the three numbers she should ha

1-

answered immediately. "91

n her face. "I'm trapped in a dog kennel at the Westwood Animal She

er voice steady and reassuring. "I'm dispatching paramedics and

Ava

y. Can you tell me exactly wh

et," she gasped, her vision starting to b

e units are just a few minutes out.

heavy bucket of cleaning supplies crashed down, striking her on the head and shoulder. The phone flew from her hand, skittering across

was ge

voice was a tiny, tinny sound of panic. "Ava

shattered door, its eyes fixed on her. She tried to crawl backward, her injured leg leaving a thick smear of bloo

ing is locked. They can't get in. Ava, listen to me. If

as the dog gathered itself to lunge agai