“Looks like you’ll be dead before I get back, anyway,” Alan says, looking Lynell up and down. “I guess I’m not the only one who saw what you are and what you’re good for, you pathetic piece of—” His words are cut off by Daniel’s fist slamming into his temple.

Alan crumples to the ground with an angry shout. He looks up at Daniel, who stands over him, breathing hard. Lynell grabs his bicep and whispers, “Daniel,” before he steps back.

“Leave, Alan. Now,” Daniel says.

Alan sends them another string of curses before he turns and heads to the car. Daniel watches him climb in and drive away before he grabs Lynell’s hand.

“You okay?” he asks, leading her into the house.

She nods, despite memories assaulting her from every angle. A red and brown plaid couch with sunken seats sits on the far wall. There’s still a frayed tear on the left armrest. She scans the rest of the room, noting the empty bottles and only a handful of takeout containers. The whole place is cleaner than she expected, which is probably due to the woman he’s with, even if she doesn’t live here yet.

The face she drew on the door all those years ago is gone, as are several notches and cracks on the wall.

She feels Daniel watching her as she crosses the room, carpet flattening under her feet. A magazine with a picture of a young movie star sits on top of the coffee table. She picks it up and fans the pages. Never before has she seen a magazine in this house. Maybe Alan truly loves this new woman.

Lynell drops the magazine back on the table and sits on the couch, pulling her legs up and resting her chin on her knees.

Daniel sits next to her, rubbing her back. “We can leave.”

“No, we can’t. We don’t have a car. Or anywhere to go. I really am okay, Daniel. I’m just . . .” She shivers, and Daniel shushes her, running his hands through her hair.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to explain. I know.” Lynell looks up at him and sees the tension in his jaw and glistening in his eyes. She lifts her right hand up to his face and he covers her hand with his. “You shouldn’t be the one comforting me,” he whispers.

“I’m familiar with the demons that live here. I know how they work. You’re fresh meat,” she says.

Daniel presses his mouth into a thin line and takes a deep breath. “I’m going to raid the house for some first aid supplies.”

“Good luck.”

Daniel nods and stands, rubbing his nose. He walks over to the door and locks each individual lock saying, “We can’t leave any of those injuries untreated. You need a doctor.”

“We can’t go to the hospital.”

“I know,” Daniel says. “I’ll do what I can. But I was thinking, what if I called my great-uncle? He used to be a doctor. He’s retired now, and we haven’t talked in a couple of years, but we aren’t on bad terms. I don’t think they’ll think of him, but he could come help.”