Tangled

158

158

158 Ava: From the Past

"Ava, is that you?"

The familiar rasp has me frozen, my heart lurching into my throat. Slowly, I turn around, coming face-to-face with a ghost from my

past.

Our neighbor. Margot Mitchell.

Her once vibrant auburn hair is streaked with silver, her face a

roadmap of wrinkles and scars. It's her eyes that haunt me. Piercing green eyes that see everything and do nothing.

"Margot," I greet, my voice tight with caution. "What are you doing

here?"

She limps

toward me, her gait uneven from some injury she incurred long before I was born. I remember asking about it once, and my mother slapped the back of my head, admonishing me for my rudeness. "Oh, Ava. I'm

I tense as she reaches out, half-expecting her to grab me, to drag me back to the hellscape I escaped. But she merely places a hand on my arm, her touch feather-light.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry for everything. For not intervening when..." She trails off, her gaze flickering to the ground.

The shame she tries to portray leaves me feeling dirty. Unclean from her mere presence.

Memories flash through my mind, unbidden. Margot's face in the

$2.00

150 As from the Pant

window, watching as I was taunted and beaten, even by her own son. Listening at the front door as my parents berated me, their voices carrying through the window. Her figure rushing inside. when I tried beggi I was thirteen.

He broke my wrist.

Hours. Until my parents, tired of my

always watching. Never

my arm away, taking a step back. "You're sorry?" Anger surges through me, hot and bitter, fueling my words. "Why are you even saying that? What does that do for me

of us could help you. Please." She grabs at my arm

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

almost miniscule, that was hopeful her apology was genuine. It's dead now, like so many other

her head. "I am hired to clean the

Ava From

until I saw you." Her eyes fill with tears. "Please, Ava. Think of your pack. So many of us are separated now. Taken from our

intention of helping you or anyone else. from that pack. Not after everything I

into an ugly mask of

her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She positions herself between Margot

the growl, her eyes flashing amber. For a moment, I think she might actually shift and

Margot's demeanor changes instantly. She straightens, smoothing her expression into

"We can talk when you've settled in." With

go, then turns to me, curiosity etched

"An old neighbor," I manage, my

316

From the

I don't hear her. I'm already

as I tremble, overwhelmed

vivid and visceral. The jeers and taunts of my packmates. The pain of their blows, both physical and emotional. The sinking realization that no one, not even our neighbors, would help

doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear, anger, betrayal-they

breaks through

slowing down. Meeting her

something to be ashamed of. If you're interested, just talk to me. Everything will be kept be Gratitude wells up inside me, and I manage

Vanessa leaves, I turn my attention back to Selene, running my fingers

Ava: From

of my

had to face that, she says, her voice a gentle caress in my mind. But

escapes me. "Strength? I'm shaking like a

It's facing it head-on, even when it terrifies you.