Chapter 24

I stood in front of my burning house. I couldn't move, only watch as the flames climbed higher into the night sky. The red tulips planted next to the front door seemed to glow like the flames that broke through the windows. The smoke was suffocating and my eyes burned from the heat.

"Evelyn!" My mother's screams echoed in my ears.

I tried to yell, to tell her I was there. My voice wasn't working.

"Evelyn! Help me!"

Her screams got louder and more frantic. I started to panic. I couldn't move. I couldn't yell. I could only stand there, watching the house burn down in flames and listening to my mother's screams.

"Evelyn!" Her voice got louder, closer.

"Evelyn!"

I shot up from the bed to see Adam standing next to the bed, his hand on my shoulder.

"Are you ok?"

I was hyperventilating. "My mom," I whispered, shaking my head.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around me. "We'll find her."

I sighed and leaned my head against his solid chest.

"And you're sure she wasn't i