Chapter 52
"what are you looking for in the dark?" my husband's voice was smooth, too smooth. i slowly stood up, forcing my face into a mask of sleepy confusion. i told him i thought i heard mice in the walls, a blatant lie that felt like ash in my mouth. he stared at me for a long moment, his eyes scanning my face in the dim light before he smiled and gently guided me back toward our bedroom. but the way his hand gripped my arm was just a little too tight, a silent warning. the next morning, i waited until his car pulled out of the driveway before rushing back to the hallway. mia was already there, clutching a fresh sandwich wrapped in a paper towel. she looked up at me, her innocent eyes filled with tears, and whispered that the boy in the wall wouldn't wake up. panic surged through my veins as i grabbed the loose floorboard and pulled with all my strength.
