She stood and lifted Charlotte, snuggling her close, peering through the trees toward the dark structure she’d spotted earlier. It looked abandoned, a place to hide.
A place where no one would find them.
Delaney stumbled forward, Charlotte clinging to her, each step taking them deeper into danger. As they approached, the structure’s weathered siding and sagging porch became clearer.They spoke of years of neglect, windows like empty eye sockets staring back at them.
But maybe someone was watching. Delaney had left her rental nearby. Maybe someone had noticed it.
Please, let someone see us. Let someone intervene before she gets us inside.
“Move faster,” Violet hissed, jabbing the gun into Delaney’s back.
Charlotte’s tears had subsided to silent shudders, her little body curled against Delaney as if she were trying to disappear.
Delaney pressed her lips to the child’s forehead, wishing she could absorb all her fear. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, praying it was true.
They circled to the back of the one-story house, where nobody would see them from the road. Wooden porch steps groaned under their weight.
“Open the door.”
Delaney tried it, but the knob didn’t turn. “It’s locked.”
“Then kick it in.”
Right. Because it was that easy. She turned slowly. “Let me try the windows.”
Violet seemed to consider that, lips rubbing together. “Put her down. Lottie, come to Mama.”
Charlotte clung to Delaney, burying her face in her shoulder. The rejection was obvious, and Violet stiffened.
“She’s just scared,” Delaney said. “It’s dark, and she doesn’t understand what’s happening.”
“She understands her mother wants her,” Violet snapped, her voice rising. “Do as I say.”
“It’s okay.” Every maternal instinct screamed at Delaney not to release this terrified child. But Violet wasn’t in her right mind. Delaney needed to tread very carefully right now. She tried to setCharlotte on her feet, but her little legs and arms locked around her like vices.
“No!” Charlotte wailed. “No, Miss Laney! Don’t let go!”
“I have to, sweetie,” Delaney whispered, her heart splintering. “Just for a minute.”
Charlotte’s fingernails dug into Delaney’s skin as she tried to pry her loose.
“This is your fault,” Violet hissed. “You’ve poisoned her against me.”
“She’s just scared of the dark. And the gun. Please, put it away.”
“So you can run? Not likely.”
As if she’d leave Charlotte alone with Violet.Think. When she crouched down, she was able to set Charlotte’s feet on the boards. She took her little face in her hands. “Sweetie, I’m just going to get inside so I can open the door. It’ll be warmer in there. You stay here with your mother. She won’t hurt you. She loves you.”
As much as she was able, anyway.
Charlotte’s eyes were wide and terrified, but she let Delaney stand and step away.
Delaney descended the porch steps and tried the first window. Locked.
But the second, when she pushed hard, slid upward. She managed to get it high enough to squeeze through.
“Go on, then,” Violet said. “You have ten seconds to open the door.”
