Page 80

Moira

“Bad girls who don’t keep quiet get punished.” He may be dead, but Bert’s voice and the threat behind it has kept me from saying a word to anyone.

Even with the help that Dragon and Wrecker gave me.

Even knowing my best friend is growing angry with me.

Even having physically healed from the abuse heaped upon me.

If I don’t say anything, I won’t be noticed. If I stay silent, I can’t be punished.

I just wish Kracken would stop trying to break through, though. His unwavering kindness, even when I so obviously go out of my way to ignore him, is wearing me down.

So, I have to leave. I can’t stay. Because unlike Belle, I don’t deserve the good things in life. Otherwise, why would I have been treated so horrifically all those months ago?

Kracken

Discouragement runs through my veins these days. A few times, I thought I’d gotten in where Moira was concerned, only to be rebuffed once again. Sighing, I head up to her room to bring her down for some cocoa now that everyone’s settled in for the night. Only, when I reach her door and go to knock, it opens to an empty room.

She’s gone. Without a word, without a trace, she left me, left us, like a thief in the night.

“Moira!” I bellow.

I’ll find you, sweetheart. I’ll break through, but until then… I’ve been released.