a stranger. Blonde hair dyed badly, roots showing, skin pa

unscrewed the back of the left one and tapped it into her palm. A receiver,

ear, crisp. This is Wolf. We hav

ered. She watched t

is core temperature is erratic. Heart rate variability is dangerously low. It's consistent with high-dos

just imprisoning him; they were erasing him. Understood,

x. The Vances are the least of your wor

floorboards in the hallway were old; they groaned un

ed it just as the wood of the door frame splint

bottle of vodka in one hand and a small, silver object i

the door? she slurred. T

t the dresser. I'm sorry, she said, her voi

behind her. She looked at Serena, really looked at h

pat. Under all that dirt. You think you c

rena held up her hand

She

dermaplaning razor, small but sharp enough to sl

with for ten years-tachypsychia. In the high-stress moment of

Kayla's weight shifted entirely onto her right foot, her balance c

three places before she blinked.

he trailer park gir

nd threw herself to the side, flail

r momentum carried her forward, and

nd, the razor slashing wil

ow space between the bed and the bat

t her wrist. To her, it would feel like a desperate grab. To Serena, it was a calcu

going numb. The razor cl

entum and pivoted her hips. She spun her around and sl

robe. Serena pressed her face down toward the water for a fraction of a second-

ayla gurgled

in the hall. Heavy, a

floor, scrambling backward until her back hit the toilet. S

e room. What the hel

ughing, water dripping from her nose. She att

ena. She was huddled in the corner,

as dancing... she had the knife...

. She looked at the razor. She looked at her d

a hissed at Kayl

st! Kayla wailed

inspected it. It's not broken,

he walked over and slap

ad to the side. She let the tears spil

if you touch my daughter again, I will

sorry. Serena kept her head dow

a heard them arguing down the hall, Kayla's

lowered the towel. Her expression was blank. She touche

would help sell t

he mirror again. She wiped t

whispered to t