29 Vestiges

- DOMINIK -

"I'll give you a tour of the house tomorrow and introduce you to Maria and Chase." 

Vanessa and I are walking up the back stairway, and I glance to the side to see how she's doing. She's looking a little unsteady, but I'm not sure if it's from the knowledge of what she's facing or the exhaustion that's finally taking its toll. It doesn't help that it's quite a walk from one end of the house to the other.

"Chase is the one who keeps up the house and the grounds. He's usually around tinkering with something or talking Maria's ear off in the kitchen. He's nice like Maria," I add, hoping that the detail will contribute to making this all even a fraction less bleak.

"Is there something else I can wear?" She stops climbing and stares at me with that haunted look again. It makes me wonder if she's recalling the voices that were tormenting her.