“Evelyn,” she whispered, her eyes opening slowly.

“Are we almost there?”

“Yes, sweetie,” I said, my hand closing tight around the gold key.

“We’re almost home.”

But as the car turned onto the avenue leading to the hospital, the phone in my hand began to glow once more.

A single call, the screen flashing with a name that made my blood run cold.

“Richard Vance.”

I didn’t press the button. I just watched the screen glow in the dark, the blue light reflecting on the windshield.

And the steps on the concrete behind us seemed to grow louder, even in the warmth of the car.

We were not safe.

The castle was still standing.

And the secrets were still inside, waiting for the door to open.

I looked at the key in my hand, the gold shining in the dim light.

And then, the car came to a stop in front of the hospital entrance, the sliding glass doors glowing with yellow light.

“We’re here,” Ethan said, turning to look at us.

“Let’s go see her.”

He opened his door and stepped out into the snow.