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I retraced ht turn I walked along the corridor until I reached an open door I peeped through it In a hall I’d never passed by before, a wo wide open Her whole body convulsed as she cried out against thewas so heart-wrenching, I had to remind oing up to her and asking her what on earth rong I had never expected such a creature could experience sorrow and grief Even the witches back at The Shade were guarded with their e disturbed me deeply

I stood dumbstruck for several minutes I was knocked to my senses only when footsteps came down the main staircase I scrambled away in time to see three ht through to the dining room I climbed back up the stairs and returned to , I jumped into bed and curled up beneath the blankets, the witch’s wails still echoing in rief reached into the marrow of my bones

Whatever and wherever this place is, its halls are haunted with sorrow and pain

I miss The Shade

I miss home

Chapter 22: Rose

The noises started again soon afterup in a ball, but I couldn’t stop the sounds froh to ensure that night would yet again be sleepless

I pulled on a dress and my coat and rushed out of the rooain but this ti the door, I sat down in a corner of the corridor, outside the roo on the wall My i on in there

When the door handle finally turned, I held my breath as the witch exited, her hair disheveled, her dress awry Once she had disappeared down the corridor, I stood up and eased Caleb’s door open I slid inside and closed it behindthe wrecked corridor and peeked around the corner

The balcony doors were open, the curtains blowing in the wind I walked over to the in the cold, leaning against the banister, his muscled back bare and scarred with bloody cuts

I couldn’t help but gasp But although he must have heard it, he didn’t turn around

I stood next to him and looked up at his face His eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the ocean sparkled beneath the light of the moon

I was at a loss for what to say to hi that was going on I questioned why I even came up here Somehow, after I’d heard the noises froo back to sleep as if nothing had happened I had wanted to see his face Look hi, "Did you bring me these?" I indicated todown at me

"But you asked her to?"

He breathed out and shivered He walked back into the roo the balcony doors behind us