Esme took a single step backward. Then another. Her forced smile twitched, faltered, and finally cracked as she seemed to recognize, far too late, that remaining in Arabella's presence any longer would only worsen the nightmare she had invited upon herself.
And so she turned as if she had just seen a ghost coming after her.
She practically bolted out of the place, her cloak snapping behind her like a creature fleeing for its life. Her hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, as if the faster she ran, her biggest fear wouldn't come into existence.
Arabella watched her without moving, without speaking. She simply stared after Esme as she ran— as if the sight itself confirmed something she had long suspected.
When Esme finally vanished around the far corner, the silence that settled was sharp and cold.
Isaac was the first to break it.
