The sunrise illuminates the curtain on Clove's French door like a stage light.

The house stayed quiet all night. I know, because I didn't sleep. If Miss K is warning me against Della, I'm not taking any chances. Who's to say the blue-eyed monster doesn't know an unlocking spell. It probably isn't very tricky. But I wouldn't know because my parents never taught me one.

Forget about unlocking spells. What the hell is a crushing spell? Miss K said it's dark magic. Della must have learned it before she met Bastian. Didn't they interrogate her when she got here? Didn't they ask her what clan she's from? Maybe that's why Miss K is trying to help Della deal with her anger issues. I'd say she's failing. And Bastian just piles on the magic every time they...

Don't go there, Ivy.

Clove sits up and rubs her eyes. "You still awake?"

"Yes."

"I told you last night, Della doesn't have access to the bedroom keys. You're going to be dragging your ass all day." She climbs out of bed and walks to the door to open it. Then she stands in front of her mirror, fluffing her strawberry blonde curls. "Jessie and I have kitchen duty this morning. You want to join us? Maybe it'll take your mind off things."

"Sure, but my back might have other ideas." I push up with my elbows and my muscles twinge, igniting a burn that feels like I've been scalded with boiling water. "Yep. If I had slept on a rock I would feel better than this."

Clove shakes her head and walks to the edge of the bed, throwing the covers back and helping me ease my legs over the side. "That's what you get for trying to fight a bitch. They always get in a few good hits before you're mad enough to take them down." She grabs my arm, the one that dove into the floorboards, and yanks me painfully to my feet.

Note to self: Don't get into a fight with Clove. I rub my shoulder, feeling for signs of dislocation.

"Explain to me why you're the only girl around here who thinks Della is a bitch," I ask. "Adeline agrees with me one hundred percent, but you won't hear the other girls talking smack about Della. They aren't as mouthy as me and Addie. Just wait until Della insults her cooking. That's always fun to watch."

She grins and pads off to her dresser just as Jessie appears in the doorway. She's wearing the same lavender dress she wore the day I met her. It must be her favorite.

"Aren't you girls ready yet?" she says. "I was heading downstairs to kick Addie out of bed."

"Keep your panties on. Ivy's moving a bit slow this morning." Clove gestures at me as I attempt to work my nightshirt over my head with one arm.

Jessie grins. "I don't know how you pulled it off, Ivy. I hate to say this, but I would have put my money on Della. If I had any money, that is."

"Me too," Clove adds. "But I can't remember the last time we had that much excitement around here. Probably when those acrobats showed up from Cirque du Soleil."

"I noticed it wasn't enough to get Adeline out of her room." I'm trying to keep most of my chest covered as I pull my arms inside the sleeves. I'm still getting used to changing in front of people. I need to get over that, I guess.

"She probably wore herself out throwing that tantrum yesterday." Clove shucks out of her nightgown and stands half naked in front of the mirror, making me feel like a prude.

"I couldn't get a peep out of her no matter how hard I knocked," Jessie says. "But I learned a long time ago to let sleeping dogs lie after they've bitten you."

Clove snorts. "You got that right."

After ten painful minutes of contorting my limbs into a dress, the three of us walk downstairs. Despite the ragged shape my body is in, I feel better about the situation with Clove. She seems content now that I shared the details of my sex life, however nonexistent it might be.

Jessie stops in front of Adeline's closed door and jerks her thumb at it. "Looks like someone is still not over herself." She puts her mouth to the door frame. "Rise and shine, princess. You don't want to miss out on the cinnamon rolls you worked so hard for."

Adeline says nothing.

"She's usually a sucker for sweets," Jessie says, as she knocks on the door. "Adeline, you awake?"

"Maybe she's scared Della's going to strangle her, too." Clove nudges my sore arm but I ignore the pain and smile.

Jessie knocks again. "You giving me the silent treatment now, Addie? At least grunt and I'll leave you alone."

The room stays silent.

"Call me paranoid, but I don't like how quiet it is in there." Jessie jiggles the door knob. "It's locked. Why would she lock the door?"

Clove smirks. "Like I said. Della's got everyone flipping out. But just to put your mind at ease, I'll have Ben get the key."

Clove heads for the kitchen and Jessie continues her plea. "Ben's on his way, Addie. If you've got something to hide, you better do it quick."

Heather and Faye walk out of their rooms to join in.

"If you need a day off, Adeline, I don't mind taking your turn," Heather says, as she rubs lip gloss on her mouth with her finger.

"And I can grill up some spam to go with the cinnamon rolls," Faye adds. "I know how much you like to mix sweet and salty."

Silence.

Ben arrives a few minutes later, shaking his head as we crowd the door. "You girls are getting yourself worked up over nothing. She probably just wants to be left alone for a change. I don't blame her. I feel like I'm never alone." He sticks the key in the lock and turns it. "Adeline, it's Ben. Ready or not, I'm coming in." He opens the door and peeks inside. When Jessie tries to push it open, he holds it firm. "Don't come in, any of you." He twists the lock and shuts the door as the color drains from his face.

"What is it, Ben? What's she doing in there?" Jessie asks.

"I need to get Miss K." Ben ignores Jessie's question and walks across the sitting room. Correction, he staggers across it, bumping into the couch and using it to push off toward the shutters. When he reaches them, he hangs on one, straining the hinges. His face has gone completely white.

"What's the problem, Ben?" Miss K calls in her sleepy voice. "You look awful, boy. Come in here and sit down."

Ben shuffles into her room and shuts the door.

"As usual, we get left in the dark until Miss K decides what to tell us." Jessie crosses her arms and stares at Adeline's doorknob like she's trying to perform an unlocking spell.

"If Adeline has a secret she doesn't want to share, who are we to judge her." Clove takes Jessie's arm and pulls her in the direction of the kitchen. "C'mon. We might as well get started on breakfast. Adeline will come out when she's good and ready. Ivy, can you set the table for us?"

As I follow them through the dining room, I can't help wondering why Clove is okay with Adeline keeping a secret, but I'm required to spill my guts.

Look who's playing favorites now.

I distract myself with counting forks, trying not to picture Ben's ghostly face after he looked into Adeline's room. What the hell did he see in there? Did she sneak a guy in and needed time to get him out? Had she stolen a bottle of Miss K's port and was passed out drunk? Did he catch her escaping over the balcony to take her chances in the harsh world?

As I set the last plate on the table, I realize the house has gone deathly quiet, like a shop full of mannequins. That is, until Kitty walks through the dining room and opens the kitchen door, shouting loud enough for the city of Junction to hear her.

"Miss K wants everyone in the sitting room now!"

The others are already gathered by the time Clove, Jessie and I take our seats. Even Della is gracing us with her evil presence. Everyone knows that Adeline is the subject of the powwow, and I can tell by the look on Miss K's face that the news is not good. Ben's eyes are red from crying, which makes my chest hurt. What on earth has Adeline done?

"I'm sorry to delay our lovely breakfast, but there are matters to attend to before we fill our stomachs." Miss K glances at Kitty, who's sitting on Ben's lap, her eyes wide with anticipation. Apparently, she hasn't been clued-in either. "I suppose there's no easy way to put this. Adeline has relieved herself of the burdens of life."

Jessie grabs my hand and squeezes until I flinch. "Are you saying...she's dead?"

Miss K nods and all eyes turn to Jessie. Her hand goes slack and she shudders against my shoulder, releasing a low, mournful wail. Clove huddles next to Jessie and lowers her head into her hands.

"But how? How did it happen?" Heather asks, as tears form on her eyelashes.

Miss K glances at Kitty, whose face is buried in Ben's chest, and the madam makes a slashing gesture across her wrists. "Ben has agreed to take her to the Junction morgue, but I need some volunteers to help with clean up."

After a series of stifled sobs, Clove manages to choke out, "I'll help, Miss K."

"I'll help too," I say, although I'm sure I'll be adding another nightmare to my growing collection.

"Thank you, ladies. Heather and Faye, would you two mind taking over in the kitchen? We'll all gather for breakfast when this unpleasantness has been dealt with." Miss K wheels herself around and disappears into her room, but not before I see her wipe her eyes with the edge of her afghan.

Clove and I help Jessie upstairs to her room and she collapses onto her bed in a heap. We leave her to cry it out. Only time can make that kind of pain go away, although Clove looks like she'd rather stay and cry than deal with the mess downstairs. Ben meets us in front of Adeline's room with a bucket of bleach water and rags. His eyes are puffy and his body is shuddering like a dog in the rain.

"It's not a pretty sight in there," he says. "I want you two to wait here until I've brought her out."

He takes a deep breath and unlocks the door, pushing it open just enough to let himself through. Clove and I stare at the wall. I'm not interested in seeing Adeline in whatever gruesome state she died in, and, apparently, Clove isn't either. I hear Ben talking to Adeline, apologizing for her unhappiness and wishing her well with her family. Did Adeline have siblings? If she did, she never mentioned them. I blink a tear onto my cheek, letting it slide down my face as it leaves a cold, wet trail. When I look at Clove, she's doing the same.

Ben opens the door with his foot and brings Adeline out. She's wrapped in a sheet stained with blood. All I can see, as he carries her away, are her petunia pink toenails. Clove sighs and it catches in her throat.

"Clove, I can do this by myself if you'd rather not," I say, hoping she chooses to stay. I'm not made of stone.

She shakes her head and picks up the bucket. "I'll be fine."

I grab the rags, swing the door open, and step into the room, reminding my nervous stomach that I've seen plenty of blood in my lifetime. Still, I have to stop inside the door to let the macabre scene sink in. When Clove joins me, she gasps and plunks the bucket on the floor, clapping her hand over her mouth.

"Oh, Addie."

Adeline's spring green bedspread is balled up in a corner and the top sheet is missing from her bed. Ben must have used the least bloody one to cover her body, since the bottom sheet has a red stain on it that spreads from one side to the other. There's a puddle of blood next to the bed where her arm probably hung over, but, other than that, the place looks eerily cheerful. I look at Clove, who's still got her hand on her mouth.

"You're not going to be sick are you? I can do this, really." I grab the bucket and leave Clove in her stupor.

The scent of blood and perfume is quickly masked by the smell of bleach, creating a nauseating odor, and I have to fight back a gag as I soak up the puddle on the floor. I don't want to add to the mess. Clove finally collects herself and yanks the sheet off the bed.

"I'm going to have the boys burn this," she says. "Nobody is sleeping on it again. Too much bad karma."

She opens the French door and throws the sheet over the balcony, sniffling as she walks back in to watch me tackle the floor. Is she debating whether or not to tackle it with me? It doesn't matter. The stain isn't budging. I knew it wouldn't. I stop scrubbing and sit on my heels, breathing toward the open door before I pass out from the fumes.

"I think it's futile," I say. "These floorboards will mark Adeline's death forever. And it's probably going to put off any visitors who come in here."

"That can be covered with a rug. Look at the bed." She points to a spot of dark, almost black, blood in the middle of the mattress. A shiver sneaks up on me and I hug my arms, pretending the chilly outpost air has done it.

"We'll just turn it over. I'll douse it with bleach first to get rid of the smell." I stand and my back muscles cringe at the movement, reminding me of the other unpleasant event last night. Was Adeline already dead before Della tried to relieve me of the burdens of life?

Clove and I wipe the mattress down and flip it over. As we lay the bedspread across it, I notice there's not a speck of blood on it. Had Adeline thrown it in the corner to keep it from getting ruined? Before we leave the room, Clove stops in front of Adeline's dresser. She runs her finger over a bottle of perfume sitting among a mix-matched collection of trinkets.

"I never liked the perfume Adeline wore, or maybe I just didn't like how much she wore." She brings the bottle to her nose and a piece of notebook paper clings to the bottom. "What's this?" She unfolds it and scans the page. "Oh, God. It's Adeline's suicide note."

CAST PHOTO: Lindsay Lohan as Adeline

PLAYLIST SONG: Mississippi by Train