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Bits and pieces That’s all she got Frag half a story fro at all

Ain front of an elaborate glass trophy case Tiny crystal birds filled the first two shelves Melody saw a beautiful vintage music box — she knew it from the treble-clef on its front, and because she owned a siiven it to her on her eighth birthday He’d given her her name, too

Focus

Above, on the higher shelves, she saw old and silver trinkets There was a s pistol, set in a wooden stand Melody stood on her tiptoes, straining to see She saw a drinking — no, a powder — horn An engraved flask A scrolling filigree box with the ca though, she decided

SKRIIIIIIT!

Melody’s heart leapt into her throat So in the shadows, on the other side of the room

She recoiled i into a ball She felt vulnerable and naked in only her underwear She was torn i to run as fast as she could

For now, she stayed put

SKRIIIIIIT!

It was a shifting noise A dragging sound Like soainst a stone floor

Get out of here! her mind screamed Go!

She was up and out,in one fluid motion At the base of the staircase she turned to look back It was horrible, staring into the darkness of the previous doorway Wanting but not wanting to see what h it…

SKRIIIIIIT! SKRIIIIIIT!

She took the stairs two at a time And then she was back, back in the hallway Back in her hallway, in front of the door to her roorabbed the knob Turned it…

But the knob didn’t move