Excerpt:
“Why won’t you ever listen!” Taryn screamed. He turned away from Mackenzie, his shoulders set with rage.
Before she knew what she was doing, Mackenzie picked up a heavy plant pot from a nearby table and brought it down on the back of Taryn’s head. His body crumpled to the floor.
Dropping the remains of the plant pot, she stood over him, waiting for him to get up and start screaming at her again. When she saw the blood pool out onto the carpet, that’s when she knew how serious it was.
“Taryn?” She dropped to the floor beside him, reaching out to check for a pulse. Nothing.
“No, this isn’t happening,” she whispered. She turned him over, stifling a scream when she saw his eyes open and staring back at her. “Taryn.”
She shook him, willing him to respond, but he didn’t. He couldn’t.
Oh God, I killed him.
This couldn’t be happening, she didn’t mean to get so mad, she just lost control for a moment.
Sobbing, she rested her head on his chest. Her whole life was over now. Taryn was gone, their life together, their home, their future. She would go to prison for sure and then...She sobbed harder.
“Mackenzie?”
She turned to find Annie standing at the top of the stairs. How did she get in?
“What’s happened? Is he okay?” Annie asked, taking a step toward her.
“No. He’s dead.”
Annie kneeled down beside her, placing a comforting hand on her back. “Oh my poor girl.”
“I need to call the police,” Mackenzie said, wiping her face.
“There’ll be time for that. You need to focus on what is important.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I need you to tell me who you are,” Annie said.
Mackenzie stared at her. “What?”
“You heard me. Tell me who you are.”
Mackenzie shook her head in confusion. “You know who I am, Annie. Are you okay?”
Maybe Annie had hit her head or something.
“I know your name, but I need to know who you are and why you are here.”
Mackenzie got to her feet, eager to put some space between herself and Annie. Annie’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist.
“Answer the question!” she barked.
“Get off me,” Mackenzie said. She pried Annie’s fingers off her wrist and hurried downstairs. She would call the police and maybe a doctor for Annie.
Before she could reach the phone, Annie caught up to her. “You can’t escape me. Answer the damn question.”
Mackenzie whirled to face her. “Enough. I don’t understand your damn question. You know me. My name is Mackenzie. I’m here because I bought a damn house.”
Annie’s face twisted into a snarl. “Not good enough.”
There was a flash and for a moment, the entire room changed. The furniture vanished and she was sitting in a chair with a strange man standing over her. She blinked and she was back in the room.
This isn’t real.
Annie advanced on her.
