Chapter 43. Escape Attempt

Sitting cooped up in my room, at some point I lost track of time. I didn't feel like doing anything, so I just waited for it to get better. But it never did.

I didn't want to see anyone either. Even though I heard all those voices, I couldn't get through to them. Something was holding me back. Maybe… A huge emptiness that had formed in my heart.

How much longer would I feel like this? When would it end?

Never before had I thought I could lose the will to live so quickly. And the old me would never have believed a few years ago that I would ever stoop to this.

But I really… I couldn't help myself.

Sitting on the floor beside the bed-I touched the emerald pendant around my neck and grinned faintly. That gift… had been a lie, too.

I was more than sure now-that Maxie's murder of the maid had been Rachel's doing. She'd killed her and taken the pendant… But instead she'd lied as if she'd bought it at a pawnshop.