Midnight had settled deep over the mansion, the halls quiet except for the occasional creak from the windows and the distant hum of the wind.
Michelle sat curled on the edge of her narrow bed, still fully dressed, unable to sleep, when a soft knock came at her door. She flinched so hard she nearly knocked over the lamp beside her.
"Michelle, are you awake?" Roderick's voice was low through the door. "Salvatore wants to see you."
Her stomach dropped straight through the floor. She knew. Somehow, she knew this moment would come.
She was too scared. She knew she would die soon. She looked at the pills on the nightstand. Was it time to take them? She had thought about it a long time ago.
But she couldn't make herself do it.
She held her hands together. If it was her time to die, then let it be. Even though she couldn't control her fear.
She got up to face Roderick. "Something happened?"
Roderick looked at her. "Just come with me."
