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Chapter Three

Vanessa

Where am I? There are people shouting. “Jesus Christ, who the fuck are you ...”

“ Who the fuck am I? Who the fuck are you? ”

“ I’m gonna fucking ... ”

I must be dreaming because the voices sound familiar. A murmured response is followed immediately by, “ Brother? She ... Margerie said I should bring her here. She lives with you? ”

Another murmured response is drowned out by a louder voice that shouts, “ What the fuck did you do? ”

“ Jesus Christ ... ”

“ Hand her over and get the fuck out of here, asshole. ” Is that the sound of a shotgun being racked?

“ Jesus Christ ... ”

“ Where’s Elena? ”

“ Jesus Christ ... ”

“ Don’t you curse in this house, boy! And don’t you dare fire that gun! ”

“ Where’s Elena? ”

“ Jesus Christ ... ”

“ Stop saying Jesus fucking Christ! ”

I’m cold, then I’m hot, then I’m cold again, then I’m nice and dry and toasty warm, and people are bringing me things to drink, and right at the point that I think I might throw up again, consciousness eludes me.