Chapter 14 · Mara's Still Alive

The screaming stopped around four in the morning.

I'm sitting on the kitchen floor with my back against the cabinets and Ethan's gun in my lap. The note's still on the counter where I left it. If I lose control, call Viktor. He'll know what to do.

Yeah. I'm not calling Viktor.

I haven't moved in three hours. Every time I started to stand up, another round of noise would come through the floor. Bone cracking. Something heavy slamming into concrete. Once I heard him roar and it didn't sound human at all.

Now it's quiet.

I should run. The front door's right there. I've got the gun. He told me not to come down and I won't, but I could be out of this house in thirty seconds.

I don't move.

The basement door's still shut. I'm staring at it like it's going to explode.

Then I hear footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Coming up the stairs.

I lift the gun. My hands are shaking so bad I'm going to shoot the wall if I try anything.

The door opens.

Ethan comes through and he looks like shit. His shirt's gone.