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Sebastian. What am I going to do about you?
If he breaks my heart this time, I don’t think I’ll survive it.
“Well, well.” Connor strolls in, hands tucked into his pockets. “If it isn’t my two favorite ladies.”
Mary’s face lights up, and she bounces to her feet, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Hey, you. I thought you had work.”
“Decided to call it a day. Figured I’d rather spend time with my fiancé,” Connor says.
I drain the last of my tea, glancing at the clock. “Is that the time?”
Mary follows my gaze. “Yeah. We’ve been here for hours.”
“I should get going.” I push to my feet. “Let you two have some alone time.”
“You sure? You can stay for dinner if you want,” Mary says.
“I’m good, but thanks.” Sebastian’s probably wondering where I am.
Mary pulls me into a tight hug. “Call me if you need anything, okay? Even if it’s to vent.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The apartment is dark when I let myself in, the only sound the soft hum of the refrigerator. Sebastian’s not back yet. I don’t know if I should be relieved or disappointed.
I flip on the lights in the library, my gaze drawn to the sewing machine still sitting on the desk.
Fuck it. I can’t keep running from this. From my past. Maybe it’s time I faced it head-on.
I settle into the chair, my fingers hovering over the controls. It’s been years since I’ve used one of these things. Not since… I give my head a quick shake, pushing the memory away. I can do this. It’s a machine. It can’t hurt me.
I start slow, feeding a scrap of fabric through the needle. The familiar whir of the motor fills the room. I lose myself in the rhythm, the hum of the needle, the glide of the fabric beneath my fingers. It’s soothing, meditative almost. I can almost forget—
Pain lances through my finger, sharp and bright. I jerk back with a hiss, staring in horror at the blood welling from the tip.
Crimson. Thick and viscous, like…
Hide.
The room spins, colors bleeding together like a macabre kaleidoscope. The metallic tang of blood fills my nostrils, coats my tongue. I can’t breathe. Can’t think.
Mommy. Why doesn’t Daddy move?
Footsteps, heavy and ominous. The creak of a door.
Hide.
The monsters break in. They’re on me, all around me. I’m trapped. I scream for my mother to help me, but she never looks up from her sewing. She ignores me while they…
You’re trapped. There’s no way out.
I have to—
Chapter 30