Something felt wrong. They should be at the window by now.
Nine minutes.
A sound from the house. Faint. A door.
Someone was awake.
Ten minutes.
I was on my feet before I decided to stand.
Fifteen minutes. Promise me.
I had promised.
Eleven minutes.
One step toward town. Another. My hands were claws. My vision was red at the edges.
Fifteen minutes.
I stopped. Forced myself to stop.
Twelve minutes.
A cry. Small. Terrified. From somewhere inside the house.
He had found them.
Thirteen minutes.
A voice. Male. Sharp and angry. Even through walls and distance I caught the tone.
She could handle this. She was capable.
Come back to me.
Fourteen minutes.
I heard Wren’s breath catch. The small wounded sound she made before she smothered it.
That sound.
That small hurt sound.
Come back to me.
I stopped fighting.
The beast won.
