Chapter 51

That was not a voice Beth recognized. Her eyes widened, and she burst forward with a powerful sprint that nearly knocked the door off its hinges.

Daniel was on her heels as she charged into the room, and before them both, an unfamiliar man sat next to Matthew's bed. Their heads whipped around.

"Oh? So these are the ones who found and took you in, Matthew," the man said. "I'm lucky that I caught you two before I had to leave again.

I could only stop by briefly to see how Matthew was doing and heard you weren't in, Elizabeth, Daniel. I was told you wouldn't be back anytime soon, either."

He stood up with a tired sigh and limped across the room toward them. If he was injured, it wasn't a serious one, or maybe he simply had a bad hip. Beth narrowed her eyes but accepted his trembling handshake. Daniel did not.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "Who allowed you inside? I mean no offense, but we weren't expecting visitors, so Daniel and I gave no permission to any of the guards to grant anyone