Emberline could barely see the outlines of the furniture as evening dawned upon her, but her focus wasn't on the room. It was on the muffled sound that had just reached her ears.
"Ember?" The voice was faint, trembling, barely more than a breath.
"Anna?" Emberline rushed to the door, pressing her hands flat against its solid oak surface. "Anna, is that you? Are you out there?"
"Yes."
"Anna you've got to help me"
"Ember, I've to tell you something," her weak voice came like an echo.
"Is there a key in the lock?" Emberline asked, urgency sharpening her voice.
There was a pause. "Yes."
Relief poured through Emberline, loosening the tightness in her chest. "Good. Then unlock it, Anna. Please. Open the door."
But Anna didn't reply.
"Anna," Emberline said again, softer this time. "Unlock it for me. Please, darling."
