Death waited.
But Noelle couldn’t fight, and the darkness took her once more.
* * *
THE NEXT TIME Noelle’s eyes opened, she was surrounded by a sea of white. The scent of antiseptic told her she was in the hospital even before the room came into focus.
She blinked a few times then saw her mother’s tear-filled gaze. “You’re okay, baby,” her mom whispered.
Noelle didn’t feel okay.
“We need to ask her some questions.”
Noelle’s gaze darted to the left at those words. Her father stood close by. He looked pale, and...older than she’d ever seen him.
Right next to her father, Sheriff Morris Bartley stood, his stare on her. He leaned toward Noelle.
“She just woke up,” her father gritted out.
“I know.” The sheriff sighed. “But she’s the only one who can tell us what happened. I got a dead body, and I got her and I need to know—”
The darkness waited.
Noelle gave a hard, negative shake of her head.
“Noelle, how did you wind up in that cabin?” the sheriff asked her.
“This needs to wait,” her father barked.
The machines around Noelle began to beep, faster, louder.
“Who was the dead man? Is he the one who took you? Is he—”
“I don’t remember,” Noelle whispered. Her throat hurt. She hurt.
The sheriff exhaled on a rough sigh. His hands gripped his hat. “Start with what you know. Tell me who took you from your house. Tell me how you got to that cabin and how—”
“I don’t remember.” Her voice was even softer now.
The sheriff’s brows shot up. “Did you leave your house willingly? Is that what happened? Did you—?”
He didn’t understand. “I don’t...remember anything.”
Her mother gave a little gasp.
“I was in my room, in my bed.” Noelle’s heart galloped in her chest. The machines raced. “Then I was in the dark.” She blinked away the tears that filled her eyes.
Something happened in the dark. Something bad.
“I don’t remember,” she said again, and it was almost as if...as if the words were a vow.
The machines beeped louder around her. Noelle’s mother pulled Noelle into a tight hug.
And, over her mother’s shoulder, Noelle glanced up and met the eyes of the sheriff. There was concern in his gaze and suspicion.
I don’t remember.
There was only darkness in her mind, and Noelle didn’t know if that was good...or bad.