The Witch's Shadow

ouldn't

nd her, voices overlappi

ome h

re alwa

le never

p forward, her too-dark eyes gl

is tiny fingers clutching her s

er di

eady her voice. "W

er head, as if amused.

s behind h

merged-c

tanding in the da

llow. Some held tattered dolls, othe

th

epped

gi

than five, her hair tangled,

breath

rl looked... e

ion That Sh

ack, nearly trip

es, the same scar on her knee from

king into a mir

er head, eyes wid

h went dry.

led into a small, s

small whimper. "E

was

ome deep, buried part of her-kne

pounding against her ribs

e was gentle. "Becaus

spering walls shifted, revealing something

wooden frames swaying gently,

by darkness, sat one cradle

s hand tightened. "Ele

er di

ouldn't l

e cradle w

wrapped in a blank

besi

mepl

stomach

were faded, nearly lost to time

WHIT

na

cra

she had nev

e That Ne

s felt froz

eside the cradle, her small ha

re," the girl whisp

r head. "That'

her smiled.

walls grew loud

radle, let

ll neve

keeps its

side her. A memory-faint, bl

rk r

t lul

of being

been her

just a hau

was a

bias had walke

se That

Tobias' hand.

d. "Oh, Elena. You'v

ooked at her with sad, know

hed her jaw

tu

d

ruggling to keep up as they sprint

d violently, the

idn't l

dn't n

r's voice echoing through th

outrun wh

ignore

ias through th

d it shut

le

ce entering the house,

ath came in

ffled. "Ar

didn't

wn, she already

escaped

e still insi

se was stil