Chapter Sixteen
The next morning I wake up to a bloodcurdling scream. The sound rips through my body like a tangible cut, jolting me from the bed in a sleepy stumble. A crash pulls me into the hallway, where a broken shell of china rolls drunkenly across the walnut floors.
Inside Penny’s room I find her huddled under the covers, only her eyes peering over.
Mrs. B stands at the foot of the bed, her round face a mixture of worry and frustration. A silver tray hangs loosely by her side, dripping with something that now darkens the rug.
“What’s going on?” I ask mildly even though I know perfectly well what’s going on. It happened early on. Ever since then I made sure to bring Penny her breakfast.
After last night I must have slept in. My body needed the rest.
“She needs to eat,” Mrs. B s
