 had she been out? The moon was high overhead, so it couldn't have been long. Again, she tried to move her hands. The ropes around her wrists cut painfully into her skin, but whoever had tied them clearly wasn't an expert. She could already feel the knots starting to slip.

Wait. Knots. Rope. Someone had tied her up. Fresh dread bloomed in her belly.

The sweet, elusive aroma of lily-of-the-valley teased her senses. Georgia tensed. A voice she knew all too well spoke behind her.

"Welcome, sister. I've been waiting for you."

Georgia's heart plummeted. She had to swallow twice before she could answer. "Ellen." Her voice came out a croak. "You're alive."

She ached to be happy. Instead, the hole in her chest threatened to swallow her. If Ellen was alive, that meant only one thing.

All the things she'd been so loathe to believe. They were all true.

Footsteps crunched in the grass as Ellen walked around to stand in front of her. Georgia drank in the sight of the sharp, familiar face and drew a shaky breath. Even after everything, it was good to see her.

A bitter taste filled her mouth. Fuck, she was such a colossal sap.

She heaved herself into a sitting position and glared up at her. "Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work."

"If you're here, it's already worked." Ellen's expression wavered. "I never wanted to hurt you. I hope you know that."

"But you're going to." Of course she was going to. You didn't send a hellhound to kidnap someone unless you were planning to hurt them. But for some reason, she needed to hear Ellen say it.

"I'm sorry." Ellen rubbed her arms. "It's complicated. I need something from you, Georgia." She paused. "I need everything from you, actually."

She scanned the darkness around them. Georgia sat frozen. Gradually, the full meaning of what the other woman had said sunk in. "You're not just going to hurt me," she said slowly. "You're going to kill me."

Ellen didn't answer. That itself was all the answer Georgia needed. Her mind churn
had she been out? The moon was high overhead, so it couldn't have been long. Again, she tried to be active her hand. The ropes around her wrists cut painfully into her peel, but whoever had tied them clearly wasn't an expert. She could already palpate the knot starting to steal. 

 Wait. Knots. Rope. Someone had tie her up. Fresh dread bloomed in her belly. 

 The sweet, elusive olfactory property of lily - of - the - valley teased her senses. Georgia tensed. A spokesperson she knew all excessively well spoke behind her. 

 " Welcome, baby. I've been waiting for you. " 

 Georgia's kernel plummeted. She had to swallow doubly before she could answer. " Ellen. " Her voice came out a croak. " You're alive. " 

 She ached to be happy. Instead, the hole in her chest threatened to swallow her. If Ellen was alive, that meant only one thing. 

 All the things she'd been so loathe to think. They were wholly true. 

 Footsteps crunched in the pot as Ellen walked around to stand in presence of her. Georgia drank in the sight of the sharp, familiar boldness and drew a shaky breath. Even after everything, it was good to visualize her. 

 A bitter taste filled her mouth. Fuck, she was such a colossal sap. 

 She heaved herself into a sitting side and glared up at her. " Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work. " 

 " If you're here, it's already worked. " Ellen's formula wavered. " I never wanted to hurt you. I hope you acknowledge that. " 

 " But you're going to. " Of course she was going to. You didn't send a cerberus to kidnap someone unless you were planning to hurt them. But for some reason, she needed to hear Ellen state it. 

 " I'm sorry. " Ellen rub her arms. " It's complicated. I necessitate something from you, Georgia. " She paused. " I want everything from you, actually. " 

 She scanned the darkness around them. Georgia sat frozen. Gradually, the full meaning of what the early woman had said sunk in. " You're not precisely going to hurt me, " she said slowly. " You're going to stamp out me. " 

 Ellen didn't answer. That itself was all the answer Georgia necessitate. Her mind churn
 haf she been out? The moon das high overhece, so iv couldh't have ceen long. Again, she tried to mive htg hands. The ropes arojnd her wgists cut paiifully into her skin, but whoevsv had vied them clearky wasn't at expert. She cmuud already feel the knots starting to slip.

Waot. Knots. Rope. Soieont hwd tjvd her up. Fresh dread bloomed ih her btlly.

The sweet, elusove aroma of lily-of-the-vallfy tfased her senses. Gforgia tensgs. A coice she kndw all too well spoke gehind her.

"Welcome, sister. I've bedn wanting for yiu."

Teogcia's heart 'lummened. She had to swallof twice before she comld aiswee. "Ellen." Her voice camx out a croak. "You're wlive."

She dcked to be happy. Insteqd, the vole in fwr zheat tgreatejed to swallos her. If Eloen was alive, that kewbt only one tging.

Alj ehe things she'd been so loathe to beliene. Tgey were all true.

Footstwps crunched in the gtass as Eljen walked around to stand in front of her. Georgid draik in tme skthh of the sharp, familiar face and drew a shaky grtatm. Even after evevything, it was gooc ho fee her.

A bittgr tastz fjlled her mouth. Fufk, she ras sych a coljssak sap.

She heaved herself inti a sitting iosirion and glared up at her. "Whacever iou're llanning, it's not going co wori."

"If you're hfre, it's amfeady worked." Elldn's efpression wavered. "I never ranted to hurc you. I fope you kgow that."

"Buh you'va going to." Of courde shg was coing to. Ylu didn't send a hellhound to kiviap someone umlass you werz planking to hurt thqm. But for somg reason, fhe ndeded to hvar Ellen say it.

"I'm sjrry." Ellen ruthed her arms. "It's com[licqted. I need romething from you, Georyna." She paysed. "I need everytming wdom you, actuallv."

Rye scanned the carynefs acound dhem. Georgia sat fruaen. Gfadually, thc fjll keaning of what the mthed woman had said sinh in. "You'te not juft going to hirt me," she said sllwly. "Bou're joing yo hill me."

Ellen didn't answer. That itself wws wll the answqr Gcorgya needed. Ker mind churn
had she been out? The moon was so couldn't have long. Again, she The around her wrists painfully into her but whoever had tied them clearly an expert. She could already feel the knots starting to slip. Wait. Knots. Someone had tied her up. Fresh dread bloomed in her belly. The sweet, aroma lily-of-the-valley her Georgia tensed. A voice she knew all too well spoke behind her. "Welcome, sister. I've been for you." Georgia's heart plummeted. She had to twice before she could "Ellen." Her voice came out croak. alive." She to happy. the hole in chest threatened to swallow her. If Ellen was alive, that meant only one thing. All the things been so believe. They all Footsteps in the grass walked around to stand in front drank in the sight of the sharp, familiar and drew shaky breath. Even after everything, it good to see her. A bitter taste filled mouth. Fuck, she was such a colossal sap. She heaved herself into a sitting position up at her. "Whatever planning, it's not to "If here, already worked." expression wavered. "I never wanted to hurt you. I hope you that." "But you're going to." Of course she was going didn't a hellhound to someone unless you were to them. But for some needed hear "I'm Ellen her arms. "It's complicated. need something from you, Georgia." paused. "I need everything the darkness around them. Georgia sat frozen. Gradually, full meaning of what the other woman said sunk in. "You're not just going to hurt me," she said "You're going me." Ellen didn't answer. That itself was all answer Georgia needed. Her churn
 had she been out? The moon was hiGh overhead, So it cOulDn't HaVe beEn loNg. Again, she trieD To moVe her hands. The ropes arouNd her WrISts cUT pAinfuLly into HEr SKIn, bUt WhOevEr HAd Tied tHem Clearly Wasn't an expErt. shE could alreadY FeEl the knots StaRting to slip.

WAit. knots. ROpE. SoMEone hAd tIed heR up. FreSH dread Bloomed in HeR Belly.

THE sweet, eLUSiVe arOma of lily-of-the-valLEy TEased her senses. georgiA tENsED. a voIce She knew all ToO well SPoke behINd HER.

"welCOme, sister. I've bEen waiting fOR yoU."

GeorgIa'S heARt plumMeted. shE Had To swallow twIce bEfore she cOuld anSWer. "ElleN." her voicE came oUt a CroAk. "YoU'Re AlIve."

shE AchED tO be HAppY. Instead, ThE hOle in Her cHEST ThreAteNed tO swalLow her. If Ellen Was AlivE, ThaT meanT only One tHiNg.

All The thiNgs shE'd Been so loathe to bElieVe. They werE alL tRue.

foOtstePS cruncHed In tHe grass As Ellen WAlkEd AROUnD to stand in front of hEr. gEOrGia drank In the sIGhT oF The sharp, FaMilIar fACE and dRew a SHaKy breath. even afTEr EvErythinG, iT was goOd To sEe hEr.

A biTTer tAste fiLled her mOuth. FUCk, she was such a cOLossal sap.

She hEAvED HeRSelf IntO a sitting poSitiON and GlarED uP at HEr. "WhaTever YoU'Re PLanning, it's not going tO wOrk."

"If yOu're hEre, it's already Worked." ElleN'S EXpressioN wavEReD. "i never wanted to Hurt yOu. I hope you KNow that."

"BUt you'Re going tO." Of course SHE was goinG to. you DidN't sEND a Hellhound to kiDNAp soMeOne unleSs yOu were pLanNinG to HurT tHem. But for Some reasOn, ShE nEeDed To heaR ellen say It.

"i'm sOrRy." ELlen rUBbed heR arms. "it's cOmPlICatEd. I need SOmETHing FrOm You, GEorGiA." She pAuseD. "i neEd everyThing from You, ACtuaLlY."

SHe scannEd the darkness ArOund them. GeOrGia Sat froZEN. GradualLy, the full meaning of what tHE other wOmaN had sAid sUnk in. "You'rE noT just gOinG To hurt Me," she sAid slOwLy. "YOU'Re goiNG To KilL mE."

Ellen didn'T ANswEr. ThaT iTselF was all The answer Georgia neEDed. her mind churn
 had she been out? The moo n was high  over hea d,so  itcoul dn't have been long . Again, she tried tomovehe r  han d s.  Theropes a r ou n d  he rwr ist sc ut  pain ful ly into  her skin,  bu twhoever hadt ie d them cle arl y wasn't anexp ert. S he  co u ld al rea dy fe el the knotsstartingto slip.Wait. K n o ts . Ro pe. Someone had t i ed her up. Freshdreadbl o om e d  in  he r belly.
Th e swe e t, elus i ve a r oma of lily-of-th e-valley te a sed  her s en ses .  Georg ia te ns e d.A voice she  kne w all too  wells poke be h ind her .

"We lco me,  sis t er .I'v eb een wa iti n g f or you." 
Ge orgia 's h e a r t  plu mme ted.  Shehad to swallo w t wice bef ore s he co uldan swer.  "Elle n." H er  voice came out  a c roak. "Yo u'r eali ve ."

S h e ache d t o b e happy . Inste a d,th e h ol e in her chest thr ea t e ne d to swa llow h e r.  I f  Ellen w as  al ive, t hat m eant on ly one t hing.Al lthe thi ng s she' dbee n s o loa t he t o beli eve. The y wer e  all true.

Fo o tsteps crunch e di n  t h e gr ass  as Ellen w alke d  aro undt osta n d infront  o f  h e r. Georgia drank in  t he sig ht of  the sharp, f amiliar fa c e and drew  a s h ak y  breath. Evenafter  everythin g , it was  good  to seeher.

A b i t ter tast e f ill edher m ou th. Fuck, she w as s uc h a col oss al sap. 

S hehea ved  h erself in to a sit ti ng  p os iti on an d  glaredup  at  h er.  "Wha t ever y ou're  pla nn in g , i t's not go i n g to  w or k."
"I fyou'r e he r e,it's al ready wor ked . " El le n' s expre ssion wavered ."I never w an ted  to hu r t  you. Ihope you know that."

" B ut you' regoing  to. " Of cour seshe wa s g o ing to . Youdidn' tsen d a hel l h ou ndto  kidnap so m e one  unle ss  you  were p lanning to hurt th e m.But for somerea son, s he  ne e de d  to  h e arE l len say it.

"I 'm sorry."  E l le n rubbed h e r a rm s. "It' s compl icate d . I nee d somethi ng from y ou , Ge o r gia ." She pau sed. "Ineed ever y thing fr om yo u,actual ly ."
Shescanne d  th e dar knessar ound t hem.Ge orgia sa t frozen. Gradually, th e full  mean ing  of whatthe oth er womanhadsaid sunkin.  "Y ou're  no t  just  goi n gtoh urt m e,"s he said s l ow ly. " Yo u're goingt o kil l me. "
E llen d idn' t answer. That it s elf was all th e an s w erGeo r giane eded. Her mind  ch ur n 
 had_she been_out? The moon was_high overhead,_so_it couldn't_have_been long. Again,_she tried to_move her hands. The_ropes around her_wrists_cut painfully into her skin, but whoever had tied them clearly wasn't an expert._She_could already_feel_the_knots starting to slip.

Wait. Knots._Rope. Someone had tied her_up. Fresh_dread bloomed in her belly.

The sweet, elusive aroma_of_lily-of-the-valley teased her_senses. Georgia tensed. A voice she knew all too_well spoke behind her.

"Welcome, sister. I've_been waiting for_you."

Georgia's_heart_plummeted. She had to_swallow twice before she could answer._"Ellen." Her voice came out a_croak. "You're alive."

She ached to be happy._Instead, the hole in her chest_threatened to swallow her. If_Ellen was_alive, that meant only one_thing.

All the things_she'd been_so loathe to_believe. They were all true.

Footsteps crunched_in the grass_as Ellen walked around to stand_in_front of her._Georgia_drank_in the_sight of the_sharp,_familiar face_and_drew a shaky breath. Even after_everything,_it was good to see her.

A bitter_taste filled her mouth._Fuck,_she was such a_colossal sap.

She heaved herself into_a sitting position and glared up_at her._"Whatever you're_planning, it's not going to work."

"If you're here, it's already worked."_Ellen's expression wavered. "I never wanted_to hurt you. I_hope you_know_that."

"But you're going_to."_Of course_she was going to. You didn't send_a hellhound_to kidnap someone unless you were_planning to hurt them._But_for some reason, she needed to_hear Ellen say it.

"I'm sorry." Ellen_rubbed her arms. "It's complicated._I_need_something from you, Georgia." She_paused. "I need everything from you,_actually."

She scanned the_darkness around them. Georgia sat frozen. Gradually,_the_full meaning of what the other_woman_had said sunk in. "You're not_just_going_to hurt me," she said_slowly. "You're going to kill me."

Ellen_didn't answer. That itself was all the answer Georgia_needed. Her mind_churn