At the multimillionaire’s wife’s funeral, a homeless girl pointed at the casket and screamed, “She’s not dead! I saw him lock her in!” The husband sneered, “Get this lunatic out of here.” But when the lock broke and the lid slid open, what lay inside made the entire crowd freeze in terror…

undeniably empty.

I staggered backward, the breath punched from my lungs. The crowd erupted into chaotic shouts, but the noise faded into a dull ringing in my ears. I looked at Tala, standing small and defiant in the rain. She wasn’t just a child; she was the only beacon of truth in a world built on lies.

“Take me to that house,” I whispered to her.continue reading …