He took off jogging up the ramp, past the now-permanently opened security arm. She slid into the car, and exhaled.

She wanted to peel out, take a sharp right, and meet up with the National Guard caravan. She’d find Shelia and make her get in the car. You’re not going to believe the crazy thing that happened back there. I think I was drugged or something. Or maybe sleepwalking? She would leave New Orleans. Maybe she’d take her parents’ advice and relocate in another city, one that was far inland—

I’m just outside.

Jane gripped her steering wheel. Her every instinct was to drive as far away from this man as quickly as she could.

She began to tremble as she found herself putting the car in reverse and heading out of the garage. In the exhilaration of the moment when William had touched her and the storm changed course before her very eyes, she’d failed to realize her ability to take control of her own actions was gone.

She’d followed the Jeep to a row of shotgun homes, growing angrier by the minute. She’d even tried a few times to take a sudden hard left or right, to break away. But her body had refused to listen. My God, had he injected her with something while she was sleeping?

When they pulled up in front of one of the homes, she knew her face was flushed in anger. She quickly turned off the car, practically jumping out to begin her full-on tirade.

Then the little girl had flown out of the front door and scampered towards William, her neon-yellow dress brighter than the pouring sunlight.

“The sun is out!” she said, jumping into his arms. “You made it stop!”

He smiled at her and shook his head. “Not me. Her.”

They both turned to Jane. “Lily, this is Jane.”

The little girl shyly waved. Jane instinctively smiled back at her, and then shook her head. “William, we need to talk. Privately.”

“Let’s go inside,” he said, carrying Lily across the lawn.

Jane once again felt the horrible sensation of something propelling her to follow, a heartbeat before her own consciousness could even register what she actually intended to do.

Now the anger was turning to fear.

Inside, a senior citizen at the door had quietly introduced himself as Steven and shut the door, locking it. Her heartbeat was pounding now, as the old man made sure the small opening in the curtain over the front window was closed.

“Let me go,” Jane said.

William set Lily down. “What?”

“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, what you slipped me or whatever, but please let me go. Now.”

William looked genuinely confused. “I’m … not sure what you’re talking about.”