Testing Nobility

Caroline's eyes landed on her mother who was strapped to a chair in the middle of the room. Her lips parted in a horrified expression, and she dashed forward, falling to her knees in front of Deborah. "Mom! You're bleeding!" And without looking around, she yelled, "How could you tie her up like this? Let her go!!!"

Deborah, on the other hand, was so deep in thought, that she didn't even look at her daughter—or more like, she was ashamed to look at her, judging by how she had averted her stare. Despite Caroline trying to call for her mother, Deborah remained unresponsive, her lips tight and her expression grim.

While the young woman was hysterical, trying to untie her mother from the chair helplessly, Katherine let go of Mr. Higgins and the old man fell to the floor, his face bloody and banged up.

Exchanging glances with Damien and Amelia, Katherine moved to a huddle with them. "I can move them out of here through the woods," Amelia offered.