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PROLOGUE
Darkness, black as a night’s fickle soul was her refuge, but the rampant beats of her fearful young heart threatened to strip her of even that small a cover.
"Sarah, honey, stay in there.” A woman’s muffled, frightened voice implored her. “No matter what happens, do you hear ?"
Sarah had never known this voice but in caution and fear, however the fume of terror it carried today was nothing as she had heard before. Its echo magnified the weight of her own dread tenfold, and so burdened, all she could do was nod in answer.
There was no nook or cranny left in her room where her desperation had not led her to seek a cloak of safety. Once she had been small enough to hide under a pile of clothes. But no matter what place she chose to scurry behind or beneath, a feeling of bone deep chill always found her. Today, it followed her into her closet, and turned to beads of primal fear upon her forehead as a man’s foul oaths rapidly rose into hulking bellows, bringing along tormenting memories of the times when her back bore the furious lash of his anger.
She shut her eyes against its vile effusion. Clapped her ears to render mute the approaching flounce of his heavy feet. But as ever, both actions proved no protection against either threat.
A loud bang rent the air when the door to her room was kicked opened.
"Where’s Sarah ?” The man snarled.
Within the darkened closet, Sarah heard no answer given. The agony of unknown weighed her down. But the short silence was instantly shattered by a purposeful stomping. Then a deafening scrape of what she believed was her bed being shoved aside, together with an outraged, “Where ?!” reduced her to a wad of jangled nerves.
“Bradley, I.. -” The woman, too, faltered.
“I’ve seen you muttering thin’s to her.” He gritted out the accusation. “Have you already taught the girl how t’ barter for the meat on her bones ? Don’t delude yourself, even fo’ a second, that I know nothin’ of those countless bastards who come sniffin’ aroun’ your prime ass !"