Chapter 2 - The Sliding Pendulum
The little girl lay sprawled on the cold floor, her small frame convulsing with silent, agonizing sobs. Her knees were bruised, her fingernails caked with dark earth. She did not raise her head; she was paralyzed by the wall of staring strangers, the blinding glare of the chandelier, and the terrifying presence of the woman standing over her. Behind Evelyn, dozens of guests raised their wine glasses like static props, their faces frozen in expressions of disgust and morbid fascination.
"Answer me," Evelyn commanded, taking a measured step forward. The sharp click of her purple velvet heel resonated against the marble like the cocking of a hammer.
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As the child flinched, pulling her arms inward to protect herself, a small object slipped from the frayed lining of her coat. It was a silver locket, hanging from a thin, tarnished chain. The sudden motion sent the locket skittering across the slick floor, cutting a line through the puddle of dirty rainwater. Time seemed to stretch into agonizing slowness. The metal clicked softly against the stone, sliding past the gaze of high-society onlookers until it struck the pointed toe of Evelyn’s purple shoe and came to a halt.
Evelyn stared down at the tarnished ornament. The room faded into a dull, grey hum. Her breath caught in her chest, a jagged gasp escaping her lips before her iron composure could catch it. The locket was an intricate antique, engraved with a creeping floral design she knew better than her own heartbeat. It was a piece of jewelry that had not existed in her world for over two decades. It was an artifact from a grave.
