Chapter 3

Claire's POV

Ethan's eyes land on my hand for less than a second before they go right back to Snow.

"It's just hungry. Let it go, and I promise I won't let it bite you again."

"It climbed out of the cage on its own and crawled up onto my bed, ready to bite into my wrist."

"That's because it's hungry."

"So it's hungry, and that means it gets to drink my blood?"

Ethan doesn't answer.

Lucas cuts in first. "A little bit won't kill you! Snow's not well, it needs Mom's blood!"

The room goes dead quiet.

Ethan whips around and claps a hand over Lucas's mouth.

"Quit making stuff up."

I look at him. "Who told him that?"

Lucas's eyes dart back and forth between us, then he shrinks into Ethan's arms.

Ethan forces out an explanation. "He saw it on some cartoon and he's just repeating it. Don't read into it."

"Is that so?"

I look at the glass of milk on the nightstand.

There's still a little white liquid left at the bottom.

I pick up the glass and catch a faint medicinal smell.

Ethan says right away, "You're already worn out. Don't go digging into this."

"I just want to know why one sip of it knocked me out like that."

His face goes stiff.

I don't push any harder. I set the glass aside and slowly loosen the strap.

The second Snow's free, it burrows straight into Ethan's arms.

It goes limp against him, like it's really been hurt.

Ethan holds it, his fingers trembling a little.

"It's okay now," he murmurs. "I'll keep you safe."

I watch the side of his face, open my phone, and save the conversation I just recorded into a hidden folder.

Then I take the milk off the nightstand and put it in the bathroom cabinet.

This glass can't be thrown out.

The drug in it is evidence he handed me with his own hands.

The next morning, Ethan makes breakfast without being asked.

There are fried eggs and toast on the table, and a glass of warm milk.

I take one look and turn away.

"I don't want the milk."

"You slept badly last night. A little will help you rest." Ethan slides the glass in front of me.

I pick it up and pretend to take a sip.

Lucas sits beside me hugging Snow's cage, going over the rules like it's serious business.

"Mom, you have to change its water three times today, and give it fresh food."

"Anything else?"

Lucas thinks about it.

"If it wants to bite you, you can't dodge. Dad says when it bites you it's getting better."

Ethan's face darkens.

"Lucas, that's enough."

"But that's what you said."

I let out a small laugh. "Okay. Mom's got it."

That afternoon Ethan suddenly says he has to travel for work.

"Something came up at the office, I'll be gone a few days," he says. "I'll drop Lucas at my mom's. You're not feeling well, so a quiet house is good for you. Rest up."

I look up at him. "You're not worried about Snow with nobody to care for it?"

"You'll be home, won't you?"

He says it fast, but his eyes hold on the cage for a beat.

I lower my eyes. "Sure."

Before he leaves, Ethan stands by the cage and strokes Snow through the plastic.

I reach out too.

Snow suddenly lunges and bites down on my wrist.

Blood runs down my skin.

Lucas shoves me away.

"Mom's so dumb! Snow doesn't want you touching it!"

Ethan doesn't scold him. He just bends down to check whether Snow got startled.

"It's just excited," he says.

I wipe the blood off with a tissue and nod with a smile.

"I know."

A few minutes later, the two of them finally head out.

The car pulls out of the driveway, and the sound fades away.

I stand by the window until I'm sure they're long gone, then go back to the living room.

Snow lies in the cage, its red eyes locked on me, not moving.

I open the cage door and grab it.

It thrashes right away, a shrill sound coming up its throat.

But this time, what I hear isn't a hamster.

It's a woman crying out.

"Let me go!"

I hold it up to my face.

"Easy there."

Its body shakes hard.

I take out the cage and thick cloth I got ready ahead of time, put it inside, and lock the door.

The woman's voice comes through the cage wall.

"What do you want?"

I lift the cage and walk to the entryway.

"Taking you somewhere."

"Claire, you wouldn't dare!"

I stop and look down at the white shape inside the cage.

"If Ethan finds out one of his own students is the one who put you down, I wonder what his face will look like."