I sat up and took a cautious bite of mashed potatoes, my eyes scarcely leaving Erica for a moment. Obviously, she hadn't died with the others - like Amanda said, she wasn't really family. With Vivian gone... no. I couldn't bear to think of her, how battered she had been, all the surgery she would have to go through. Just remembering made me feel sick; I took a long pause before taking the next bite, worried that if I ate too soon I would vomit.

Desperate to distract myself from the thought, I met Erica's eyes, holding her gaze for only a moment before looking away. "Sorry about earlier," I said, "I... things have been really rough around here lately. You're welcome to stay, but... but it might not be safe." I had no intention of telling her about the necklace, of course. The last thing I need was for one more person to think I was crazy. Besides, the house's track record was bad enough to warrant fear in its own right. I was surprised I hadn't been arrested yet. If I was truly the only surviving member of my family, I had to look incredibly suspicious.

Not feeling particularly eloquent, I muttered, "Lots of people have died here recently, so I wouldn't blame you if you left."