Annie danced around the living room, showing off for Mommy and Daddy, an angel of a child. Annie went out on her first date, like a princess in her new dress. Annie disappeared from her room in the night. Annie flailed beneath the hands of her attacker and died.

            Annie’s daddy woke from his dreams, sobbing, cursing. Not cursing the murderer. Cursing the little boy whose fear had condemned his princess. The vestiges of Raines’ heart died with his little girl, and he walked the Centre as the living dead, and always he cursed the child responsible. Jarod would pay.