Dear Chelsea,
Your brother, whom you rightly love, is hiding something from you. As I'm writing, there are people outside my door with motive to kill our family. Do not trust him. Gather up what you need and leave as soon as you can. I cannot promise you will be able to contact me when you get to read this. Please take care of yourself sister. Don't risk contacting our families. He is capable of so much more than you know. I'm sorry that this is so late.
With all my prayers,
Charlotte Winery
I swallow. Can this really be true? Is Charlotte? My heart drops into a horrible dribbling rhythm. I get up and almost leave the letter. With shaky hands, I fold it small and thin and hide it in my bosom.
I take the envelope and trow it into the furnace. I run out the room and to the landline and dial her house.
"Hello, this the Charlotte Winery's. How-"
"C-can you call her for me." I say rather sternly. "Please?"
"Yes, wait just a moment."
