Evelyn fled down the staircase with such desperation that her hand slipped off the polished railing. Her feet barely touched the steps when they blurred beneath her as though the house itself were trying to hold her back, stretching the staircase into something endless. Her breath came in panicked bursts that clawed up her throat and threatened to choke her.
When she reached the bottom, she stumbled, catching herself on trembling legs before surging forward. The long hall opened before her like the mouth of a beast with towering ceilings, endless gleaming floors, chandeliers that reflected her frantic silhouette as she ran.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
She barely saw the figure turning the corner that ended up with her colliding hard with someone. Evelyn’s shoulder slammed into the ser
