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“You’ll change the world You’ll change the world”

Cassie could only lay there and feel the armth of her blood The straps cut her, but they didn’t hurt nearly as bad asas the stitches that her father was putting into her skin

But Cassie didn’t cry out again There was no point Daddy wasn’t going to let her go

She turned her head More nurses were around her Mrs May even brushed a soft, gloved hand over her cheek

Cassie held her body as still as she could and wished, so very badly, that her father hadn’t brought her back

Because in those few moments, she’d enjoyed death

Cassie crept quietly down the hallway Soht into the facility She’d heard the raised voices The thud of footsteps

Her daddy had said that his progra

Her daddy scared her

When she saw hi the room at the end of the hall, she ducked back into the shadows He passed her flanked by two big uns, and he never looked her way

Her hands were shaking so she balled the no sound, Cassie slipped down the hallway

She opened the door to the last room, but no one was inside Stairs were in the corner Stairs leading down below

Cassie bit her lip She wasn’t supposed to be there Her daddy had said

Daddy’s bad He hurt me

She went down the stairs Then she saw him

Big, dark In acage?

His head jerked up, and he spun toward her “Who are you?” the e de growl

But she crept closer to him

He stiffened as his dark gaze raked over her “Why is there blood on you?”

“He killed me” She understood exactly what had happened And ould happen “He’s going to kill you, too”

The man came toward the heavy bars that separated theirl?”

She nodded

“Go back upstairs See if you can find a key to open the cage and—”

Her fisted hand opened She’d already taken the key

Sometimes, her daddy didn’t realize how smart she really was

She put the key in the lock Heard the snick “I don’t want him to kill anyone else” Soft, sad

The e He bent before her Stared into her eyes “Who are you?” he asked again

His eyes were so dark Just like the darkness that had claimed her when she died

“CassieCassandra”

“Co out of here” His fingers wrapped around hers

His hand felt too warm

“I want to get out,” she whispered, nodding quickly “Please, help me”

His fingers tightened around hers “I will”

She heard the thud of footsteps, co down the stairs

“Cassie!” Her father’s shout “Cassiewhat have you done?” He was there He wasn’t alone More uns