ing I heard after I made my call. It was a chorus of

named Chad, snorted. "Who does she

d in with a high-pitched giggle. "She' s just some orpha

ng with condescension. "You better hope your ima

f insects, buzzing and biting. They delight

ge. He grabbed a piece of loose rebar and threw it on th

" he sneered, his

floor is all wet here." A moment later, I felt a splash of cold water

balance, my bare feet

" Haylee said, her voice cloying. "Maybe i

menace. "You hear that, Joslyn? Apologize. Get on your

ead because of the woman I

e dangerously quiet. "You pro

s are worthless, Brighton. You promised to lo

name!" he roared. "She mig

by Haylee, had taken r

h a strength I didn't know I possessed, "ap

was an accident! You know I would never... I was just like you once,

righton told me-of Haylee' s temporary childhood blindness, a psychosomatic response to their parent

art a stone in my chest. "

h me a lesson." He' d said it was to make me understand how Haylee felt when she was scared and alone. At t

crumbled into dust. There was nothing left b

venomous caress. "She's not sorry. She'l

ck, his rage coalescing into a terrifying new resolve