Chapter 3

Delma tossed Amari onto the wet grass of the backyard. Mud splattered against Amari's face. The cold seeped through her torn overalls.

Kyler walked out of the back door. He held a thick leather leash. At the end of the leash, a massive Rottweiler strained against the collar.

Kyler laughed. He walked over and kicked Amari in the ribs. His sneaker connected with a dull thud.

He pulled a coil of rough nylon rope from his pocket. He grabbed Amari's arms. He twisted them behind her back. He wrapped the rope around her wrists and tied her to the trunk of the large oak tree. The bark scraped her skin raw.

The Rottweiler lunged forward. Its jaws snapped inches from Amari's face. Saliva flew from its teeth.

Amari squeezed her eyes shut. Her body shook violently. She pressed her head back against the tree. She waited for the teeth to sink in.

Kyler unclipped the leash. He dropped it in the mud.

The dog roared. It lunged at Amari. Its teeth caught the leg of her overalls and ripped the fabric.

Back at the hospital, Nurse Jenna pushed the door to Room 302 open, her eyes wide with panic. The heart monitor was flashing red. She sprinted toward the bed to check the disconnected leads.

On the bed, Evalyn's eyelids snapped open. Her sclera was entirely red with broken blood vessels.

She gasped. Air rushed into her lungs. Her chest heaved up and down. The sudden expansion burned her ribs.

She focused all her energy on her right shoulder. Her muscles trembled. Her arm lifted an inch off the mattress.

Her hand found the plastic mask on her face. She gripped the edge. She ripped it off. The elastic band snapped against her cheek.

She reached for her left hand. She grabbed the IV line. She yanked it out. Blood spurted from the vein and dripped onto the white sheets.

Nurse Jenna froze, letting out a startled gasp. "Mrs. Dale? You're-"

Evalyn didn't have the strength to speak. She threw her dead weight sideways. She rolled her body to the edge. She slid off the mattress. Her atrophied legs gave out instantly. Her knees slammed into the hard floor. The impact sent a shockwave up her spine.

"Help! I need a doctor!" Nurse Jenna screamed, turning toward the hallway.

Evalyn bit down on her tongue. She couldn't let them sedate her. She dragged her heavy, useless legs across the linoleum, using her forearms to pull herself toward the emergency wall phone mounted low near the baseboard.

She reached the phone. Her fingers shook so hard she dropped the receiver twice. She picked it up. She slammed her palm against the single red speed-dial button.

The line clicked. A long, electronic verification tone buzzed in her ear.

Her heart hammered against her sternum. Sweat dripped down her neck.

The tone stopped. A deep male voice spoke.

Evalyn's lips parted. They were cracked and bleeding. "Andres."

On the other end of the line, glass shattered against a hard floor.

Evalyn spoke fast. Her voice sounded like gravel. She gave the town name. She gave the address. She told him Amari was going to die.

Above her, medical staff rushed into the room, their voices a chaotic blur.

Evalyn dropped the phone. Her vision went black. She slumped against the wall, her body sliding down to the floor.