. My knees were pressed to my chest, and the scent of wood mixed with my own sweat filled my nostrils. Time dr

take it anymore. With shaky hands, I pushed the wardrobe door open and climbed out. My feet

t hallway. My body trembled, but I forced myself to kee

staircase, I gripped the

ught in my throat. A woman I had never seen before sat before them, her posture

e Ph

y father struggle. My dad's best friend. Our f

red under my breath, my fing

e the key is?" the woman asked, he

nwavering. "I don't know what you're

ink I'm going to buy that? Either you provid

cked up. I wanted to scream, to run to her, but my feet refused to move. My hands trembl

lickered toward me

ign

me not to move.

couldn't disobey her now. My whole body shook with

ugh me, but then

loset," Michael whispered harshly

voice shaking. "Who are those pe

im. "I don't know, Lily, bu

ving them behind. Uncle Phillip was holding a kn

aw. "I don't know! But

it. "No! I am not

ars. "They are going to kill us too, don't you get it?" H

ong, brave brot

uldn't. My hands fumbled for the

ed them," Michael ins

oward the stairs. My heart pounded as I

ed the bottom step, my

s the way they looked-lifeless. As if something invisible was pulling the life right

a scene from

it w

as r

Let my parents go, you monster!" I sc

curling into a cruel smile. "Well, well.

"What do you want from my parents? Why are

's a brave one. Just like you used to be."

whispered weakly, bare

smirking. "Do you know your fckng mistake,

st

hed. No. That

u watch as I kill yo

shot forward, wrapping around my throat. My feet lif

-anything to break free. My vision blurre

ed?" She twisted her face into s

bit of strength I had, I opened my mo

instantly. I hit the gro

t urgent, rang out. Then she shov

I whispered, my voice breaking as I stared at Da

, her breath shaky, her strength fad

ple?" I asked, des

nds, her warmth barely there. She wiped the tears from my face and p

ut

d, turning to fac

goodbye," the woman taunted, her voice dripping with mo

lane, sister." Mum said to h

ss her face. "You brought this on yourself-on you

rkened with fury. "You think you have a

wallowed it down. I didn't want to l

y ribs as I searched for Michael. Where was he? M

pt

hadow loomed in the doorway. Uncle Phillip. His usual

nightmare. "That was quite the show downstairs, don't you think? Your mum and aunt

ive? That I would run into his ar

sts clenched. "I'm eleven, not one. Dad trust

our dad was a d*ck." He took a step forward. "Now,

way, but h

ut of n

AC

k of potatoes. Michael stood behind him, g

need to

y, my fingers curled around the necklace at my throat. I could still feel th

he night. Our house-our ho

buried my face in Michael's c

ed, pulling me into the shadows of an abandoned alley. "

n't even save Mum. Michael, Dad was on the floor. She killed

his eyes filled with som

. She trusts you. You have to be strong." He hesitated, the

olently, gripping his shirt.

r get separated, I need you to protect what's inside this bag." He hand

sita

ce was firm, hi

se," I w

We need to rest. Tomorrow is

ind us, I realized our ni