My phone rang just as I was getting ready to pick it up and make a call. I smiled when I saw Willow's name scroll across the screen. She'd reached out to me again. I intended for it to be at least a daily occurrence. I hit the connect button. "Hey, cupcake. I was just getting ready to call you." A low, mechanical whine rose over the line. I could hear her breathing, slow. Measured. The hairs rose on my arms as I waited for her to speak. "Willow?" I called. What the f**k was going on? A feeling of dread sank into my neck. Nothing but that droning whine filled my ear. I pulled the phone from my ear, checked to see if we were still connected. We were. I put the phone back up to my head. "Willow Chase," I barked, putting steel in my voice. Nothing. Nothing but a motor spinning in the