Page 82 of Isabella and the Slipper

Elenore gripped the door handle, her knuckles white. “You’re going to run away. I’ll call the police and they will search for you, but no one will find you.”

Isabella took another look around. New walls. Thicker. A new door. Soundproof. A sink and toilet. A prison. She fought the urge to throw up.

“I’ll come check on you. Maybe bring some food if you’re quiet. If not ...” She clicked her tongue and pulled something else from her pocket. A small photograph.

Isabella cried out and fell to her knees.

How had Elenore gotten it? She must have left it in her jacket pocket with Chase’s note.

“No, please, give it back. It’s all I have left of my mother.”

Elenore looked down at the photo, disdain turning her lips down. “I know.”

Tears slid down Isabella’s cheeks. “I’ll do whatever you want.” She needed the photo. How many times had she strained to remember what her mother looked like, fearing she’d forever be lost, before pulling out her photo to soak in her features once more?

A cold fear froze her as Elenore took the photo in both hands and ripped it down the middle.

“No!” Isabella screamed, her heart tearing into tiny pieces as Elenore continued to rip the photo.

“This is what happens when we do not obey.”

Pain ripped through Isabella as Elenore slipped out of the room. Isabella pounced toward the door, but it was too late. The door clicked as the deadbolt slipped into place. She twisted the door handle anyway, pulling in a useless effort. It didn’t even rattle. Tears blurred her vision as she pummeled the door. “No!”

The silence was her only answer. She collapsed to the floor, tears choking her. Her photograph. Gone. It was her last connection to her mother. And now she was locked up in the attic for probably forever. She could scream as loud as she wanted, but no one would find her.

When had Elenore created this perfect prison? Maybe when Isabella was at the gallery. She worked there a lot. It could have happened any time over the last few years.

Elenore would tell everyone she ran away. Would Chase believe it? Surely not. Savannah would. She’d been telling Isabella to run away for years. She’d rejoice, thinking Isabella finally got away, and wouldn’t think twice about it. But Chase wouldn’t believe it.

He’d come after her ... wouldn’t he?

She curled up on the blanket and cried herself to sleep.

Chapter 26

Chase didn’t see Isabella by her locker or in the hallway where he usually ran into her. It didn’t start to concern him, however, until he entered the lunchroom and saw Savannah sitting by herself. He walked up to her. “Where’s Isabella?”

She shrugged. “Sick, I guess. She’s not at school.”

A cold feeling started in his chest and spread through him. “She wasn’t sick last night.”

Savannah wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “Last night, huh?”

Chase shot her a look that said “so what” and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Well, if you hear from her, let me know, okay?”

“She can’t call.”

“I know.”

“She’ll be here tomorrow. Or you can check the gallery after school. Elenore might make her work, even if she’s sick.”

That was possible. “Good idea.”

Savannah grinned at him. “I’m full of them.”

He laughed and left her to eat so he could get his food. He sat at his usual table, looking at the empty spot where Isabella usually sat. He was already looking forward to sneaking over to the gallery after school.

Physics was lifeless without Isabella behind him. When the bell finally rang, he darted out of the building and hopped into his car. He drove straight to the gallery, but when he got there he saw Elenore through the front window, so he drove past without stopping.

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