Page 62 of Deadfall

I was frantic. I couldn’t breathe. My family was in there. Why was I out here? Why was I alone?

The screaming intensified, loud even over the thundering storm that ripped through the trees and mercilessly pounded the ground.

The scene glitched—

I was on the lawn. The house was burning.

When did it catch fire?

Did they get out?

No, of course they didn’t.

Why was I out here?

I saw a body lying in the mud.

Cole.

I rushed to him and threw myself down at his side. My hands grabbed him, but he was cold. So cold.

Blood pooled under him. It seeped out and coated my knees.

“Cole! Cole—” I sobbed.

His face was distorted. I couldn’t see his eyes. I needed to see his eyes. Why couldn’t I see his face?

“Cole, please—I can’t do this without you!”

I clutched his body against my chest, buried my face in his neck. Iron flooded my mouth. The rain wasn’t rain anymore—it was blood.

My vision ran red—

I threw back my head and screamed, and screamed and screamed—

Everything dissolved.

“No, no—come back—don’t leave me—”

The scent of the smoke vanished. The trees disappeared.

The crisp cold of the forest dissolved into the damp cold of the stone cell.

Mahoney’s voice came from somewhere nearby.

“Again.”

Everything was burning.

“I’m sorry—I love you—”

Blood ran down my face.

“Look at my fish, Emy!”

The pine scent clung to my senses.

“Dinner’s ready!”