Chapter 23. Nightmare

S:

It’s past midnight.

The day's work is almost wrapped up.

Kieran and I sit in the office, silent, the weight of the evening pressing down on us like a heavy blanket.

I’m about to rise when the door bursts open — slamming so hard against the wall that both of us jump.

Eliza stumbles in.

She’s a mess.

Wearing nothing but a wrinkled T-shirt that barely covers her thighs, like she rolled straight out of bed and sprinted here.

Her hair is tangled, sticking out in wild directions.

Her face is blotchy, streaked with tears.

And her right hand—

Her right hand is dripping blood.

Knife wound.

Deep.

Without a word, she rushes toward me, my arm with trembling fingers.

But she can’t speak.

Her lips move, but no sound comes out.

She looks... shattered. Like something inside her has broken and she’s still falling.

Kieran moves quicker than I do.

He catches her in his arms, ho