Page 159 of Anton

“Yes,” I tell her, giving her the answer we both desperately need.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

THORA

ONE WEEK LATER

Where the hell am I?

I keep running through the endless darkness, unable to see a thing, the ground beneath my feet the only proof that I’m getting anywhere at all.

The silence presses in around me. Why isn’t anyone here? Why am I alone?

“Hello? Can someone hear me?”

But just like every other time, no one responds.

My hope fades as I come to a stop, accepting that there’s no point in running when every path leads me in circles through the same endless darkness. I lower myself onto the ground, hoping nothing jumps out and eats me. That would be tragic. I’m not ready to die.

For a while, I just sit there, trying to figure out how the hell I got here. I should be terrified, considering I can’t see a damn thing, but there’s a strange peace around me that makes no sense at all.

Oh my God. Am I dead? Is this heaven? Hell? Somewhere in between?

Crap. What happened to me? Did I get stomped by a horse? Did a dog eat me?

Ugh, I hope not. That sounds vile.

Maybe I got shot by the person who shot Anton.

As soon as I think of him, my heart drops. Will I ever see him again?

Tears spring to my eyes, and I shake my head because I don’t know how we’re supposed to get past all of this.

He was right, though. He didn’t kill me. He could’ve done it so many damn times, and he chose not to.

Is that enough to hold on to? Can we make it to the other side?

Before I can think too much about it, a woman’s voice startles me.

“Don’t stop. You can’t stop running here.”

“What?”

Instead of answering, she smiles, her eyes warm, even with the urgency written across her face. “You can’t stay here, Penny. You need to find the door. You need to get out before you’re stuck here forever.”

Images of Charlie flash through my mind and I gasp, clutching my chest as the air disappears from my lungs.

What happened to me? What did he do?

“What door?” I ask, knowing I need to save myself.

“Just keep running. Don’t stop until you see the light. My boy needs you.”

Her words drift farther away, and panic rises as I call out, “Wait! Don’t go.”

But she’s already gone.

Sucking in dry air, I do what she said and start running again, pushing forward until my legs are ready to give out.