| Perfect Excuse

Ava smirked. 'What do you mean, tried?' she rasped, with a conspicuous glance down at the skull ring. 'Every time you fell asleep I dropped in some more. And every time you woke up you chugged it right down.'

Patience narrowed her eyes.

Ava displayed the skull ring a little more prominently, hoping the old woman would cotton on.

Finally, she did. 'Let me see that.'

'No,' Ava protested as if she meant it, but the old woman wrenched the ring from her finger.

Patience soon figured out the hinged skull lid, even with her injured hand. She dipped her finger into the chalky remains of the pill hidden inside. 'What have you done to me?' she hissed.

'You want to know?' Ava rattled her leg. 'Undo this chain.'

'No way, Miss.'

'Then I guess you'll just have to find out the hard way.'

Patience narrowed her eyes. 'Tell me.'