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PROLOGUE

‘YOU must leave before they come for you—’

HerLisa cry; silent tears that trickled down her cheeks unchecked, while her gaze remained locked on her mother’s face

‘You o to your father in the city’

‘My father?’ Lisa’s face turned suddenly fearful

This was all thefor her o learned to govern her feelings

Lisa regained control quickly She hated letting the mask slip She only felt safe when no one knehat she was thinking The erous society in which she lived—a place where a careless glance or reckless laughter could lead to hu punishment in front of the whole community

But if she was frightened of her ruthless ‘fa her mother to their mercy She was terrified of her father too, because he was a stranger her mother had fled from seven years before Was her father wicked? Was that why her mother had run away? Was he even more wicked than the people who lived here?

Lisa stared fearfully at the open door No one was allowed to close doors in the commune, let alone lock them

‘Please, Willow, please, you o now, or they will be here’

Hersound Lisa associated with horrible things, and her once beautiful eyes were bloodshot and watery Her lips, tinged blue frorimace of desperation

‘Please, Willow—’

‘Don’t call me Willow My name is Lisa…Lisa Bond’