across the antique desk. Emily had read the spines on the shelves twice-Tolstoy, Du Maurier, Atwood, Morrison. Th

fountain pen lay next to it. She picked it up and wrote nothi

tick of a clock that wasn't visible. She tested the door: unlocked. But every time she opened it, Bianca

y returned to

fast. It was beginning to ache, that

epped into her ro

ic

ar, but

d the far wall. The one

an

urgent, laced wit

doing. But she doesn't. She's still

ed, muffled. Male. C

, ma

ened, stil

co watches her like she matters

ps move

y ex

confirmation. She hadn't imagined the

wanted

tion now

-

, dinner w

ss table that could seat twenty. Only two

her eat. Sa

walked around the table. Stopped be

nca today," he

ork p

alls,"

neutral. "Are you t

ting eve

. "Did you place me in

cour

mera. The photograph. All o

. Not close. B

tching me,

ight. "And you'r

he scent of him stil

-

of her room, checking corners, edges, floorboards. She opened every drawer again,

ing

n't mean it

rce to control her. He didn't need bars

the lights. Wai

djust. Let her

er chest, arms around them. The room was so q

A full hour

a s

o

ay. The faintest sou

arefoot across the carpet an

th

ed into t

onces. Her breath fogged slightly in the cool air. She

flickering light from under one door. Music playin

a v

a

Low and

s a problem, w

stop

er left was o

. Men. One was seat

oser, just en

d. If she steps out of line

ut of line. She k

hat is

iabi

ch turn. She backed

Her feet made no sound. Her breath was t

door. Closed it

again

m felt

-

idn't

r, wrapped in her blanket, star

men were. But she knew w

weighed. Measu

p, and she

Ma

ded how far she could fall