"Hello, Miss Lorena. I am Miss Davies, the head of household. And before you come in, we will need to inspect your belongings."
That was the first thing Mira heard as soon as she stepped through the reinforced steel entrance of Lucas Atkins' home.
Her fingers tightened on the strap of her purse and the one box she had intentionally packed, despite her mother telling her over and over to take more boxes.
It was like she was telling herself she wouldn't be there for long anyway. She needed to believe that by all means.
The woman who had spoken stood before her with two others on both sides of her. The one in front was older, with sharp eyes and gray hair pulled back in a very tight bun. She looked like she had never smiled a day in her life.
She wore a simple black dress while her hands were clasped in front of her.
"No," Mira finally said. "These are my things and you can't just go through them."
