Cherry froze beneath the hand covering her mouth.
She knew that voice.
In the dim room, she could barely make out the man's face. Then she looked closer, and the familiar scent of him reached her.
Gilbert Ace Carter.
For a moment, the footsteps outside seemed far away. She blinked, afraid that fear had made her imagine him. But he was still there, watching her with the same steady eyes she remembered.
His hand moved away from her mouth.
"G-Gilbert?"
His name came out in a whisper.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. She had been running from men who wanted to drag her back, trying doors that would not open. Now the man she had once loved stood between her and the hallway.
She wanted to feel relieved. Instead, relief tangled with fear.
His face was familiar, but the coldness in his eyes made him seem like someone she no longer knew.
Gilbert stepped closer. His hand brushed her shoulder, and Cherry flinched before she could stop herself.
"What are you doing?"
