Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Painful Truth

Lavinia drove the pair home.

Casey was silent for much of the drive. Occasionally, though, she would sniff and look at Lavinia.

She would stare at her for a long time, but when Lavinia looked at her, she would just smile sadly and look away.

However Lavinia looked, and she couldn’t begin to comprehend how utterly disheveled she looked, Casey was little better.

She still clutched the bloody rag to her neck. Her breathing was coming in bursts and was sporadic.

Lavinia could even hear her heartbeat. Almost. She thought she could but she couldn’t be sure. Her hearing was keen, surely, but she also might be wishing to hear a heartbeat. At least it was a sign that Casey and she were still alive.

‘Casey…’ Lavinia frowned. ‘My sweet girl. You’ve done far too much for someone so kind and open-hearted.’

Casey had let Adelaide drink from her.

And Lavinia let it happen.