Chapter 11 It Speaks Like Him

The thing in the hallway stared at her.

Not with malice.

With recognition.

"Riley," it said, her father's voice wrapped in a breath too even, too perfect. "I thought I lost you."

She didn't lower the gun.

"Take one more step," she said, "and I'll find out what bleeds under that skin."

It did not move.

Instead, it blinked