Emilia bolted out of the devil’s room like a frightened deer escaping the jaws of a predator. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath hitching with every step as fear clung to her like a second skin.
Her body collided suddenly with someone — it was Madonna.
“Emilia?” Madonna’s voice was gentle, touched with alarm as she steadied the trembling girl. “Why are you running? What happened, child?” she asked again, her tone laced with concern as her eyes scanned Emilia’s pale, distressed face.
“Aunt…” Emilia’s voice was barely above a whisper, trembling like a candle flame in the wind. Her lungs burned from her frantic escape, her heart thudding violently in her ribcage.
“I… I broke a vase…” she choked out, her voice shaking, her wide eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her lips quivered as
