Chapter Two

Calla

"Calla, please come in here."

"Just a minute, Dad." I rubbed face with both hands. I had been dreading this moment. He would be devastated after talking to Dr. Reyes about what happened at school today.

I let my hands fall to my lap and rose to my feet. Flinching, I paused in front of the last picture taken before the murder. It hung on a single nail in the middle of the hallway. A small fracture in the glass caught the light. The police had taken it in for evidence and damaged it in the process.

In the photo, my dad had one arm around me and the other around my stepmom, Laurie. I had a proud smile on my face. We were celebrating my last day in fifth grade. After a small celebration at school, we had gone out for sushi and ended the night with banana splits around the kitchen table.

"Calla," called my dad.

I reached out and let my fingers brush against the picture. Less than twelve hours after it was taken, Laurie had been brutally murdered and my father had been arrested.

My dad stepped around the corner and let out a sad sigh. "I miss her too."

I blinked back the tears that welled up in the corners of my eyes.

He took several steps forward and wrapped his arms around me. "Dr. Reyes called. She told me what happened today."

I let out a slow exhale. "I didn't mean to hurt him."

Squeezing me tighter, he gave me a kiss on top of the head. "I know, Muffin."

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I tried to ignore him."

"I know." Releasing me from the bear hug, he cleared his throat. "Your principal showed me the video."

My stomach contracted. I knew she would call him, but I didn't realize that she would show him the tape.

With concern in his eyes, he tilted his head to the side. "I'm proud of you."

I bit my lower lip. "Thanks, Dad."

Motioning for me to follow him into the kitchen, he cleared his throat. "Would you like to transfer to a different school?"

I shook my head. I had thought about this possibility a million times. It sounded good, but I knew better. I knew that if I switched schools, the students would still find out about my family's past and unlike my school now, I wouldn't have Rowan there to keep me sane.

"There's only one more month until summer break." I ran a hand through my dark brown locks. "Maybe we can reevaluate in June?"

He nodded, pressing his lips into a tight line. "Maybe it would be best if you went back to your aunt's house for your Senior year?"

Nausea settled in my core. "No."

My dad leaned forward and splayed his fingers out on the kitchen table. "Cal, I just want what's best for you."

I clenched my fists. "What's best for me, is to live here with you."

He held out his hands in a surrender position. "Okay. Tell you what, how about we order a pizza and watch something funny on Netflix?"

Forcing myself to relax my hands, I nodded. "Sounds great, Dad."

As I reached into my pocket to fish out my cellphone, the sound of tires squealing made the hair on the back of my neck stand up straight.

Ignoring my dad's pleas, I raced toward the front of the house.

A scream escaped my lips as a large brick sailed through the bay window in the family room.

"CALLA," screamed my dad.

I ducked, but it was too late. As glass shattered and flew across the room, the brick struck me just below the knee, instantly splitting open the skin. As I crumbled to the ground and clutched my bloody leg, I stared down at the blood-soaked brick. I slapped my hand over my mouth and stifled a shrill scream. Whoever had thrown the brick had spray-painted it first. It read, "DIE KILLER!"

*******

Cliffhangers,

What do you think of the new cover? I like it WAAAAAAAAAY better! Let me know what you think in a comment below!

Hearts and Daggers,

Kelly Anne Blount xoxo

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