By now, town meetings brimmed with anger. Parents kept children inside. Farmers demanded answers. Elise sat quietly in the back row, hands folded, pretending to share their fear. Inside, her heart pounded. She knew they were hunting her secret, and sooner or later, their torches would find her door.
That evening, a stray dog cornered her outside the cottage. Teeth flashed, growls reverberated. Elise stumbled back. Shadow exploded from the shadows, frightening the dog, and sending it flying. Elise clutched her chest, gasping. Shadow stood over her, eyes fierce, as though daring the world to challenge him again.