The moment Carl stepped outside the room to make a call, I stayed frozen in the room, squeezed on the floor and my back against the wall, eyes on the floor, body trembling. Everything inside me was still vibrating from the chaos.
I stared at my hands. My fingertips were still stained red. I hadn't even noticed.
And then, behind me, I heard a whisper that jolted me like lightning.
"You bitch… you want to run away?"
I screamed.
It wasn't the kind of scream you rehearse in horror movies—it was primal, broken, the sound of a girl unravelling.
Anne.
She was talking. Breathing. Awake.
I didn't wait to process it. My body moved on instinct. I bolted out of the room like I was being chased by a ghost and ran straight into Carl, who was still on the phone. He caught me just before I crashed into his chest.
"Whoa! Hey—Sidney?"