Because the unshakeable, unchangeable truth of the matter was this: what did she really have to live for anyway? Her parents were dead, slaughtered in their kitchen, and it wasn’t like her life could return to any semblance of normalcy. In fact, if she was being completely honest, if she and Em somehow survived this, all she could see in front of her was the emptiness of her future.

Addis was ripped away from her misery by the sound of water, only this time, it came in an absolute sudden, drenching downpour that rained down to intermingle with her streaming tears. Every other thought was shoved aside as she tilted her head back and opened her mouth wide as she allowed the rain to flow down her throat.

Only when she began to choke did she stop. And in that moment, watching Emerson quench her thirst as well, Addis remembered what she had to live for. If she gave up, so would Em. And she couldn’t have that.

A clear picture of Aunt Grace cheering from the sidelines of her track meets, yelling out encouragement to dig deep and fight on gave her that little extra boost of the mental strength she desperately needed to cling to if she and Em were to survive.

Somehow, someway, they would find their way out of this nightmare.

They had to.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sunday, October 6

It was after ten when Alyssa finally got home, tired and cranky and unable to shake it even when she realized Holly was there. And now her less than stellar mood was on display as she scowled at the way Isaac crammed his index fingers into his ears, dramatically singing ‘La-la-la-la’ as loudly and as off-key as he could safely get away with. In the meantime, Holly rolled her eyes at her brother.

‘Oh, grow up,’ she muttered.

Alyssa snapped her fingers in front of Isaac’s face. That, along with the glare she shot his way, effectively cut off his last la. ‘No one invited you to be a part of this conversation, so if you don’t want to hear what your sister has to say, then grab what you need and get out of the kitchen.’

Armed with a family-size bag of Cheetos, a jar of salsa to dip them in – a combination Alyssa found repulsive – and a sports drink, Isaac bounded back upstairs, leaving her alone with Holly once more. Since she was more concerned with what was going on with her daughter, she chose to ignore her son’s late-night snacking.

‘As you were saying before your brother derailed you, you and Nick had a late dinner, and afterwards, he walked you to the door and kissed you goodnight.’ Her heart smiled at the notion of her daughter’s boyfriend chivalrously seeing her safely inside.