Chapter 3

“Did you run away from home, or what?” Dayna asked.

“Of course she did,” Kevin said. “Your parents are bad, aren’t they?”

“No.” Even that was too much. Ash’s chest constricted. “If you live here, why do climb in and out through the window?” Her face burned. She shouldn’t be asking questions.

“We weren’t supposed to leave today,” Dayna said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. “But we’ve been stuck at home for a week; we didn’t want to stay here and clean everything again.”

“I don’t blame you,” Ash said. “Where did you go?”

Dayna and Kevin looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

“School,” Dayna said, as if there were no other possible answer.

Ash smirked. These kids were even younger than she’d thought. “I have to get out of here.”

“Wait,” Dayna said. “At least let me get you something to eat.”

Dayna walked into the bathroom, and Ash could hear the chair that blocked the other door scraping across the floor.