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PROLOGUE
Something is very wrong. My entire body burns. I expected it to be painful, but that was excruciating. However, none of it mattered when I held my daughter in my arms for the first time. The bond of motherhood cemented my heart in place, and it was insta love of the sweetest kind. The way she stared at me as if she knew who I was drove so much emotion inside me I thought I would burst. At that moment, when I met my daughter for the very first time, I missed Jonny so much it physically hurt.
I denied him that moment. He will never forgive me and as I stared into my daughter’s eyes, I whispered her name.Hope.
It was never going to be anything else because she is my miracle from God. She has given me everything to live for and I will fight to the death to keep her.
I remember those emotions now as I lie with my eyes tightly shut, hoping like crazy I’m just having a nightmare.
They’re here.
Before I even open my eyes, I know that. The deep voice of the man who makes my skin crawl sounds too close to be a hallucination.
A million needles prickle against my skin as I wake up to the realization they found us.
If I don’t open my eyes, they won’t be there. They’ll disappear in a cloud of smoke and I’ll be safe again.
“Faith!”
The sharp command from the man who calls himself my father causes me to shiver in fear and the prayer for the damned is ringing in my ears as Reverend Peters prays for my soul.
“Dear Lord. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for not abandoning us to our mistakes, but for reaching out instead to bring us home.”
Home.
House of monstrous evil.
That’s what those letters stand for, and they always have.
The word fills me with terror and only the sudden realization I don’t hear my baby causes my eyes to snap open as I sit up with a start.
“Hope.”
I stare around me wildly and note the empty crib by my bed and I shout, “Where is my fucking baby!”
My parents visibly wince and hold their hands together in prayer and the reverend carries on chanting some kind of psalm for the damned.
“Where have you taken her?”
I make to leave and am shocked when my father forces me back and pins me to the bed with an aggressive sneer.
“On her way to Heaven.”
“What are you talking about?” I scream and wonder where the fuck the medical staff is and then Reverend Peters yells. “ENOUGH!”
He turns to me and says icily, “Repent sinner, you are damned along with your bastard child. The only way to salvation is to repent of your sins and face your punishment.”
“My punishment?” I stare at my mom through terrified eyes, but my only concern is where Hope is.
“Faith.” Her voice rains down on me like acid as she stares at me with sad disappointment.
“Don’t be a fool. You are in no position to care for a child. Come home with us and we will help you.”
“Help me?” I stare at her in shock, and she nods. “The reverend has agreed that you may return and care for your child under our watchful eye. You have no choice.”
“Where is she?” I say it calmly, as if I’m talking to people with no rational thought and I really don’t believe they have any.
My father says tightly, “She is with Goody. Come home, Faith, and don’t make a scene. You’ve caused enough trouble already.”
