Faye

My entire body revolts against every move I’m trying to make as Emelda stands in the doorway, her body casting a long shadow across the floorboards. My skin feels numb. My mouth is bone dry, and my eyes sting against the firelight, but I can see the outline of a tall, darkened figure moving in Emelda’s direction.

Anger ignites, waking my body from what she meant to be an eternal slumber. A final rest.

“What are you doing here?” Emelda asks sharply into the darkness as Matilda’s face appears, glowing with amber light cast from the fire in the hearth.

Her blue search Emelda’s face as she takes another...