Chapter 22

"No… No, that's impossible… It can't be…" Grace's lips trembled as she desperately clawed at the debris trapping the children. Her vision blurred as hot, stinging tears spilled uncontrollably. Scenes of the moments she had shared with her children played on an endless loop in her mind. The more she recalled, the sharper the agony. It felt like a blade was mercilessly carving through flesh and bone, tearing her apart from the inside. The jagged rubble tore into her hands, slicing through skin and grinding against raw flesh. Blood smeared across her fingers, but she didn't seem to notice the pain. She kept digging, desperately lifting the debris that pinned the children beneath it. "I'm sorry… I didn't take care of you… I didn't protect you… I'm so, so sorry…" She had wanted to make things right. But in the end, she had only harmed them instead. "Mommy?" Clara's soft, sweet, childlike voice suddenly rang out behind her, making Grace think she was imagining things. It wasn't unt