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She dropped the gun as a reflex, and it landed on top of the dresser with a thump The fire in Dr DeMarco’s eyes sparked more at the sound He reached behind him, so careful and deliberate it was alrabbed the deadbolt and turned it smoothly

Haven’s heart raced with the click of the lock She knew it then She had rave mistake She had never seen hi like a tornado in the distance, tumultuous and clouded A spark of unpredictable evil lurked beneath Staring at hilimpse of Vincent DeMarco The monster

He took a step forward Instinctively, Haven stepped back She backed up against the wall as Dr DeMarco stopped in front of the dresser and carefully picked up the discarded gun

"Such beautiful things" He reached into the dresser drawer and pulled out a gold bullet, holding it up "It’s fascinating howso suns?"

The detachhtened Haven , but her voice shook as much as the rest of her "No, sir"

He returned the bullet and shut the drawer, staring at the weapon "This is a Sht rounds, hollow-point bullets I have plenty of guns, but this has always been my favorite It has never let un at Haven as he closed the distance between theasped as the force cut off her airflow "A flick of h your neck You’d die without a doubt If you’re lucky, it uarantees Most likely, you’d be unable to speak or breathe but capable of feeling everything until you suffocate to death"

He pulled back, letting her take a deep breath, before pressing the gun to her throat again Her chest felt like it would burst when he spoke again "Shall we see what happens when I pull the trigger? I think ill"

She tried to cry out as she braced herself for the pain It was the end She was going to die She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the explosion, and juainst her neck disappeared and she collapsed to the ground in sobs, unable to stand on her feet

"Look ather chin "You’re lucky it wasn’t loaded or you’d be dead now Understand?"

She nodded frantically, hyperventilating

"Good Now go to your room for your punishet their place"

Dr DeMarco unlocked the door and storhtenedat her aching chest That’s what happens when people forget their place

Death happened Number 33 happened Frankie had told her to reet How could she?

She pulled herself up on shaky legs and ic Bolting straight for Carh Running along the balcony, she held her breath and forced herself not to look down as she scampered into the tree and shiround, she ran Trees and brush scratched her li wildly Sheno sense of direction as she once again ran for her life

Eventually, the forest thinned Haven saw the clearing beyond the trees and turned in that direction, shoving branches out of her way as she broke through to the road The squeal of tires asped when she saw the fa her head, but it was too late

Dr DeMarco grabbed her and dragged her toward the idling car Haven begged him when she saw the open trunk, but he picked her up without ard She stared at him, horrified, and his furious eyes bore into her before he slammed the trunk

Haven flinched as she was encased in darkness

He accelerated, the force flinging her around the trunk, her head sla, she frantically felt around for soht cah for her to see She found a small lever and pulled it, stunned when the trunk popped open She jolted again as Dr DeMarco slaed to climb out quickly Her feet carried her a short way down the road before she was seized frohly pressed against her head She flailed around, but his hold was too strong

In a ained consciousness, she was on the floor in her bedroom, bound to the post of the bed Dr DeMarco stood a few feet aatching, waiting She let out a sob as reality slammed into her, but Dr DeMarco raised his hand to silence her cries "Did you really think you could get away? Didn’t you learn your lesson last time you tried to run? I’ve told you before--you can’t outsmart me"

"I didn’tI, uh" Her cries rew rigid before snatching a roll of duct tape frohtstand She shook her head frantically as he tore off a piece, but it didn’t deter hiood you have it here Think about how lucky you are to still be alive"

He walked out, leaving her alone

Nine years

Nearly a decade had passed since the fateful day that changed Carmine’s life--the day none of them talked about--and it still affected hih Nobody knew he cried, or that he still couldn’t sleep at night, but for the first time in nine years, Carmine wished someone did

The moment he walked in the door fro had happened It was a feeling in the air, a stifling silence, a sense of danger thathis nerves as it ran through his veins

Car around, and found his bedroom door open when he reached the third floor A cool breeze swept through his roo His heart rate spiked This was bad Real fucking bad

The voice behind him was icy, detached "How did she know?"

Car his father near the stairs, nonchalantly leaned against the ith his silver revolver tucked into his pants