Page 250 of Bound By Crimson

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Lyric burst into the attic and slammed the door shut behind her.

Then froze.

There was no lock.

Her mind raced.

Editha was terrified of the attic—but Charles wasn’t.

What if she sent him to drag her out?

Lyric spun around. Eyes scanning the dim space.

Without thinking, she tossed the food and water toward the attic window.

There—

She lunged for the heavy wooden dresser near the wall. Braced her shoulder against its side and planted her feet. Then pushed.

The wood groaned, but it barely moved. She adjusted—bent lower, shoved harder, using her legs this time. Digging her heels into the floorboards, jaw clenched, thighs burning.

Inch by inch, the dresser scraped forward. Her shoulder ached. Her breath came in gasps.

Then—

Footsteps.

On the stairs.

Coming up fast.

A jolt of terror shot through her. She threw her whole weight into it—legs straining, shoulder screaming. The dresser screeched across the floor.

The footsteps reached the door. Lyric shoved the dresser in front of the door just in time. The doorknob turned.

But it was too late.

The dresser was already there.

Lyric dropped to the floor, bracing her back against it, planting her feet into the floorboards.

Every muscle locked.

Ready.

The handle jiggled again.

Then a third time.

Push.

The pressure hit the door—subtle, testing.

Another push.

Stronger this time.

The dresser shifted a fraction of an inch—but Lyric pushed back with all her weight, gritting her teeth, heart hammering.

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