This morning the news said a girl had escaped from prison, but I barely registered it — I was lost in my game. That afternoon I went to the kitchen and froze. A girl crouched behind the pantry. She saw me, moved like a shadow, slammed me against the wall, and forced a hand over my mouth so I couldn't breathe.

“Shh. Don’t make a sound, or I’ll end your life right now. Understand?” she hissed, her eyes cold and frantic. She pressed her rough palm over his mouth, her body pinning him tight against the wall, and she could feel his heart hammering as the muffled noise of the TV news buzzed in the background.