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Chapter one

I didn’t recognize the na about the rural road looked faroeeds choked the front of the dilapidated ho hole where the front door had been I shivered, wanting to be far away from herewherever here was

Walking felt harder than it should be, and I stu into my feet

My bare feet?

I stopped and looked down Chipped pink nail polish peeked through the dirtand blood Mud caked the legs ofas hoasn’t wearing any shoes, but the bloodI didn’t understand why there was blood staining the knees of my jeans

My vision clouded and dulled, as if a gray film had been dropped over my eyes As I stared at the weathered asphalt under e, s dark and oily seeped over the rocks, slipping through the cracks

Sucking in a sharp gasp, I blinked and the ione

Hands tre, I raised them They were covered with dirt and scratches My nails were broken, bloodied A silver ring, encased in soil, wrapped around aze crawled overpale flesh covered in bruises and gashes My legs started to shake as I swayed forward I tried to remember how this had happened, butexisted

A car drove by, coasting to a stop a few feet in front of nized the flashing red and blue lights as a source of safety Elegantly scrawled along the black-and-gray side of the cruiser were the words ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Adams County? A flash of familiarity came and went

The driver’s door opened, and a deputy stepped out He said so into the radio on his shoulder before he looked at me

“Miss?” He started around the cruiser, taking tentative steps He looked young for a deputy Being barely out of high school and able to carry a gun seeh school? I didn’t know “We’ve received soently “Are you okay?”

I tried to respond, but only a hoarse squeak ca my throat, I winced as the motion scratched and pulled “II don’t know”

“Okay” The deputy held up his hands as he approached me, as if I were a skittish deer about to bolt “My name is Deputy Rhode I’ out here?”

“No” Knots formed in my belly I didn’t even knohere here was

His smile strained “What’s your name?”

My name? Everyone knew their name, but as I stared at the deputy, I couldn’t answer his question The knots started twisting more “I don’tI don’t knohat my name is”

He blinked, and the s?”