#Chapter 65 - Stepping Out

“Karin.”

I spin around to see Ansel, still pale and sickly-looking, treading slowly after me. It’s late morning and he was well enough to come down to breakfast - and ignore me through it - but I’m shocked to see him walking around outside in his condition.

“Suddenly, you can speak?” I cross my arms as he approaches me.

He narrows his eyes at me. “I don’t know why I’m bothering, frankly.”

“I don’t know why you are, either.” I shrug my shoulders and start to turn back around.

“Wait,” he says. “Fine.”

I purse my lips and stare at him in my best, ‘I’m waiting,’ expression.

“I’ve been informed that you’re - “ He stops to cough. “That you’re going into town today.”

“Is that okay, or am I a prisoner again?”

“You’re not a prisoner,” he says. “But I want Maggie to go with you.”

“I know all about your little arrangement with Maggie,” I say. “And Maggie’s a wonderful friend, but I already told her I want to go by myself.”

“Why?” He peers at me with a laser focus.

‘To spite you,’ I want to say.