Surviving Eleanor: A Daughter's Rebellion

t still sent a jolt of pure terror through me. My brief moment of relief va

ice, muffled but sharp with anger. "Mar

m behind hers, laced with

nor?" It was Mark. "Don't

picking the lock. My blood ran cold. The dresser I had pushed

rantic pitch, a sales pitch for my own violation. "He'l

ny phantom pain in my head. She was not just com

ng, everything. My heavy desk chair. I dragged it across the floor, the legs screeching in protest, and wedged

had to cal

rembled as I

ergency?" a calm voi

," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I'm at 125 Oak St

on the line. Can yo

" I cho

hook the entire frame. It was Mark, throwing h

nted from the other side. "Don't m

d in the door panel. The dresser slid an in

doorway, a cruel smirk on his face. He was bigger than I remembered, his presence filling the entire frame, bloc

m, his eyes raking over me.

d on the floor. Pain flared in my tailbone, but adrenaline drowned it

I screamed, kickin

ain, a raw, desperate sound, and thrashed wildly, trying to land a blow, anything to make him le

his face close to mine now

orway, her tone casual, as if she were commenting on t

sted my body and sank my teeth into the fleshy part of his hand. He

scrambled away, crawlin

he yelled, clutchi

e room. She didn't come t

cooed, dabbing at his hand w

aside. "I'll

grass of the lawn below, landing awkwardly on my ankle. A sharp, searing pain shot up my leg, but I

hes torn. My neighbors, the Hendersons, were just getting

ointing back at my house. "My mother

oked from me to the house, his expression hardening. Just

ice carrying across the quiet street. "Sh

r porches, drawn by the commotion. My mother

The psychic said she's possessed by an evil spirit from a past

in old traditions and superstitions. Mrs. Gable's "pronouncements" were whispered about at the local diner and the groce

of frustration and helplessness streaming down

r suspicions about my sanity. I saw pity mixed with fear on their faces. They we

elped, I had never felt more alone. I was trapped, not by a locked do