“She did, but she also said that’s conventional therapy. While I have respect for traditional routes, I don’t have the time it takes to chip away at my mind’s barriers. I need to know what happened to me and why I’m so convinced this man will find and destroy me.” Elle patted Adam’s hand as if he were an anxious nanny. “We didn’t really fail with the hypnosis. If anything, we succeeded too suddenly. Rune’s theory about her hand holds merit.”

Leaning heavily on the rail, Rune climbed the stairs holding up a pendent necklace on a black cord. “This flowing form is created from blown glass shimmering with cool blue and lavender iridescence—”

“Won’t that remind her of the ocean?” Adam felt he was being logical.

“And etched with tiny vines and leaves.” Rune glared at him.

Elle cupped the pendant in her hand. “Rune, this is beautiful. You have exquisite taste!”

Rune beamed. “I carry local artists, and here in the City of Lost Souls talent congregates, irresistibly drawn by the swirl of spiritual beauty.”

“That is such bullshit,” Adam said.

“Like you aren’t here and a great artist,” Rune answered.

“I’m a metalworker.”

“You listen when the metal speaks.”

Elle coughed softly.

The two turned to face her.

She clasped the pendant in her palms. “Yes. I’d like to use this.”

Rune took the pendant, seated herself across from Elle and swayed with it, back and forth, back and forth.

Adam sat down and watched and for the first time realized how well hypnosis could work.

“Elle, you’re here with Adam and me. You know that. At the same time, you remember what you fear. You remember...”

“Yes. I remember.”

She couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t scream.

She couldn’t see anymore, nothing but flashes of light that flared behind her eyes like fireworks. She was dying. Dying. She kicked with increasing feebleness and clawed at his arms, at his sleeves.

She flung out her hands, slapped the wall—and touched cold, hard metal. A rod of some kind.

Inspiration joined with instinct. She grasped the handle, wrestled it free from whatever held it. It was heavy. It was long. She lifted it above his head and, with her last strength, smashed him in the back of the skull.

Cursing, he released her and staggered away.

Gasping, breathing, she collapsed where she stood. As she drew in great breaths, she could see squares of light. Windows. A door. A house.

Safety.

She tried to crawl toward them, but the world tilted and spun, and she rolled away into the darkness. A splash of cold water slapped her face, bringing her back to true consciousness.