state that wasn't on most maps. The trees grew taller, thicker. The fe
ng out of the forest. Grey stone, high turrets, windows that
d came to a halt in front of the main entrance. A
ened the d
nking into the gravel. The
t was tailored to within an inch of its life. Her blonde hair was pulled back
ng. The stepmot
n to greet me. I ha
r, forcing myself to look up
a gloved hand and grabbed my chin. Her grip w
I were a horse she was considering buying. "But t
ame," Hig
the West Wing. Do not bring her into the main house. I have guests co
having a wedding?"
her fingers, and a man in a grey suit stepped forward
ready processed the license in your absence. You are legally bound to this family
suffering. "There is no cake. There is no
walked into the house. The
red to the le
ergrown with ivy. The West Wing was separated from the main ho
. It smelled of antiseptic an
was a keypad and a retinal scanner. He
ss Gr
r hisse
ychiatric ward. The walls were white padding. The floors were linol
ng is automated. Food comes through the secure slot. Medications are dispensed remotely. The panic butt
nutes?" I
et and pulled out a key card. "This opens his room. Do not go in unless he
nd was shaking. "Is he
toward the en
ry not to provoke him. T
or slammed shut behind him. The lock engage
s al
the hallway
en, from the room at the very e
oss the floor. And then, a low, guttura
/1/104682/coverbig.jpg?v=2438ba9222836b1aaef7057ccb930b0f&imageMogr2/format/webp)