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"I think so," she said "The clear bottle from the closet"
He took a step toward her She flinched when his hand shot out, but her reaction didn’t stop hi her chin, he forced her to look at him "I don’t expect perfection, child Make sure the house is decent, the beds are made, and the laundry is done, and we shouldn’t have any probleht, unless I tell you otherwise Got it?"
"Yes, sir"
Dr DeMarco let go of her, and she looked away, eye contact uncomfortable He turned to walk out of the rooht on his heels "Is there soht I should start dinner"
He sighed "Toht off"
She stood there as he walked away, leaving her alone in front of the stairs Take the night off The words ran through her uage
Who are these people?
1:47 AM
The glowing red numbers on the alar She’d never been on her own for so long before Even at night in the stables the animals had kept her company while she slept She usually had her mama, and she realized, as she lay in the dark rooranted She had no one now She was alone
2:12 AM
She thought about herand if she was okay Did she knohat happened, or was she i help? Haven pictured her standing on the front porch of the ranch, gazing out at the desert and waiting for a sign Waiting for rescue Waiting for her
3:28 AM
Haven wondered ould’ve happened had she found soined the their own house, with a backyard and a fluffy white kitten to keep them company They’d name her Snowball and she’d clihts and scattering pine needles They’d have presents and hot chocolate, and there would be snow outside Haven had only ever seen snow in pictures, but her mama talked about it sometiround, how the cold flakes tasted when they landed on your tongue Haven asked how she knew, since she’d never had a life other than the one they had "I dreao anywhere I always go to the snow"
4:18 AM
Haven pictured her mama, skin flushed fro as she twirled in the snow She was happier than Haven had ever seen her before, living a normal lifethe kind of life she always should have had
5:03 AM
Her cheeks were stained froht in the as she struggled to breathe, but no et nowhere
5:46 AM
The faint sound of onizing silence The soft melody comforted Haven She relaxed as the tension left her body, but it did nothing to shut off heras she stared at the clock, wishing for relief
6:30 AM
The tiotten up at the ranch Haven climbed out of bed after the music stopped and wiped the tears from her face She quietly slipped into the library and wandered along the tall stacks, running her fingertips along the spines of the books She kept the light off, but thelet in enough of a glow for her to see A strange sense of peace settled over her For the first ti time--possibly ever--Haven alazed out, the sky lightening as the sun rose The backyard was lush and green, trees scattered throughout the clearing with the edge of the forest a few hundred yards away Haven wondered how far the trees went and which direction the closest toas, how long it would take soh warned her she was no longer alone Care on his head that hadn’t been there yesterday The sight of hiaze shifted to her, and he ju?"
"Just looking," she said,toward the
"In the dark? You couldn’t turn on a light?"
She tore her eyes from his "Sorry"
"It’s fine," he said "Just try to make so around Maybe you need a bell"
Traitorous tears formed Don’t let him see you cry, she silently chanted "I’ll try"
"Who are you, anyway? What are you doing here?"
"Haven," she said quietly, peeking at hiazed at her peculiarly His eyes were bloodshot, dark bags under theet why you’re confused, since I’ in front of you" She stared at hi Well, kindaI have been told I’ve taken a girl to Heaven a time or two"
"Haven, not Heaven," she said, louder than before Nothing about the conversation made sense to her "My name’s Haven It means--"
"I knohat it means" His sharp voice cut her off She recoiled frolass of theHis et a read on his frame of mind "So, what happened to you? I mean, no offense, but you’re kinda fucked up Looks like you’ve been to Hell and back"