Jamieson kicks open one of the doors, shoving Wendy inside. It isn’t until she sees the cast-iron tub full of water and ice that true panic takes hold. Jamieson planned this all along. Perhaps he even planted the rumor of the tree in the first place, knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist. How could she have been so foolish, playing right into his hands?

“Let me go!” Wendy thrashes, all decorum and control forgotten.

He will hurt her for real this time; he may not even care if he gets caught. He might even kill her. Accidents happen, and who would ever know? Wendy stomps her heel down as hard as she can, trying to catch Jamieson’s foot. But he’s wearing hard-soled shoes, and she only slippers. He doesn’t even slow, dragging her inexorably toward the ice-filled bath. Wendy throws her weight backward, but it’s nothing against Jamieson’s bulk.

She wants to be brave, to tell herself it’s only water. Dr. Harrington prescribes warm water baths to help her sleep, and once an icy spray to calm her blood. This is different. Her parents drowned in icy water. Now Jamieson means to drown her too.

“Get the blindfold,” Jamieson speaks over her head.

Wendy twists around to see Evans closing the door. She imagines Mary locked in her room, pounding against the door while the other attendants and nurses pretend not to hear. At least she’s safe. Wendy clings to the thought as hard as she can.

Evans approaches, and while Jamieson is distracted, Wendy jerks her head backward as hard as she can. Pain blooms at the back of her skull, but it’s worth it for the feeling of connecting with Jamieson’s nose. Instead of letting go, he punches her in the side of the head. Stars the color of ash burst behind her eyes, and her ears ring again. Her legs buckle, but Jamieson holds her upright. Evans slips a blindfold over her eyes, pulling tight, and Wendy bites her lip against a cry as it tightens over the spot Jamieson struck.

Jamieson lifts her, as easily as he might a child, keeping her arms pinned to her side. She kicks wildly, but none of her blows land.

He drops her into the ice.

Water sloshes over the sides of the tub. Her head goes under. Wendy comes up gasping and choking. The cold burns, like her skin has been stripped from her bones. She scrabbles at the sides of the tub, more water splashing, but Jamieson holds her down. He dunks her under, and time stops.