EMILY’S POV When I saw the food being brought in, I squealed, “Oh, thank The Goddess!!” drawing out the word Goddess, “I am STARVING! I swear my stomach is touching my backbone,” I finished as I reached for two sandwiches, a bag of hot cheese puffs, and a Cream Soda. My brother just looked at me and laughed at my antics as I plopped down, unceremoniously in my chair, taking a massive bite from my turkey and swiss sandwich after squishing some of my cheese puffs between the ciabatta buns. As everyone took their choice of sandwiches, chips, and drinks and returned to their seats, I noticed that Ana looked up at the clock with disbelief. I looked over and realized that the time as well. It was already moving towards 9:30 p.m. “If I may,” Ryan began suggesting, “After we all get some food in our systems, why don’t we break for the night? I can only assume that though we have not had the opportunity to get through a lot of our questions either individually or collectively, we are all rea

EMILY’S POV My alarm went off at 4:30 a.m., just like it did every morning. It was time to get up and start the day with the mandatory training. I reached over and gently pushed on Ana’s shoulder, “Hey sleepyhead, time to rise and shine,” I said cheerfully. Ana rolled over, glared at me, and in a not-so-nice fashion flipped me off before telling me I was crazy and to go to hell before rolling back over, pulling the duvet over her head.

RYAN’S POV It was 6:45 a.m., and I was on the front porch of the packhouse waiting for Chris. I was formulating in my mind how I was going to address this whole situation with Janice. One thing I knew for sure was that Janice was no longer in charge of the sweet, innocent souls that depe

RYAN’S POV I could not fathom how utterly and ridiculously incompetent Janice was. First, she ratted herself out about not even considering the implications or consequences if something like loss or theft happened to the flash drive, which had hundreds, possibly thousands of children’s private and personal information. I had concluded that Janice was a completely brainless idiot. I will never know how she was ever able to secure the position of “On-Site Housemother.” We were all standing in Janice’s office when I linked Chris and Ophelia. In no uncertain terms, I said that first and foremost, we were searching for Ana’s file. Janice did not know that was the plan. Chris and I would be working through the six boxes of hard copies. Ophelia was directed to search through the flash drive and make sure to take it with her when we left. This information also was not to be shared. I ended the link and was about to verbally state the instruction that I wanted Janice to hear when I caught her

JANICE’S POVI left Alpha Ryan at the foot of the stairs that lead up to the “living quarters” of the children as well as for Freda’s and my bedrooms. I had requested that the alpha allow me to continue the tour either later today or maybe tomorrow. I used my age as my excuse, telling him I was really feeling it in my bones. I fully expected him to force me to accompany him for the rest of the “tour” of the house. I never dreamed that he would be so cooperative and allow me to beg off. But honestly, with the exception of the “enchanted door” that led to Ana’s old room, there was nothing to see up there but b