The door burst open. Violent. Loud. Wrong.

Emma looked up. Heart already knowing. Body already collapsing. Mind already breaking.

A guard. Marcus. Face bloody. Shirt torn. Limping. Barely standing.

Alive. But broken. But defeated.

"Where are they?" Emma stood. Voice shrill. Knowing. Dreading. "WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?"

Marcus stumbled. Fell to his knees. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. They were taken."

The ...