Page 86

GRANT

When she fell to the ground, face forward, the enormity of what I had done hit.

I stood there, my body half-hunched forward, as if I had tried to catch her but hadn’t, and attempted to process the drastic step I had just taken.

Her leg twitched and then she was still, a pool of blood beginning to stain the white blanket around her head. Again, like clockwork, the image of Lucy entered my head.

But while I had the familiar ache at the thought of my sister, I didn’t feel bad about Perla. For once, just like her, I felt nothing.

I didn’t make the mistake Leewood had. A minute after she stopped twitching, I very carefully moved around, making sure not to step in any blood or disturb any item, until I could see her face.

Her head had landed with her face to the left. Her eyes were open and still, her mouth agape. Like a doll. A beautiful dead doll.

That gave me an idea, and I straightened and slowly scanned the room, looking for something. I didn’t see what I was looking for.