The silence in the house was heavier than usual.
Adrian had left early for a board meeting, but not before kissing me twice, not before telling me again that we were safe.
But I wasn’t sure anymore.
Not after the message scrawled on the nursery wall two nights ago in red lipstick.
Not after the photo of Eliora, smirking just outside the property line, holding a sign that read
Still watching.
I walked to the kitchen to pour myself some tea.
The kettle hadn’t even whistled before Vanessa’s name lit up my phone.
I answered.
She didn’t say hello.
“She made contact with someone,” she said, breathless, “and I think you should know who”
I sat down and then she continued.
“She called Granny Elizabeth”.
I froze.
Not because I didn’t expect it but because I had hoped she never would.
That door was sealed long ago and for good reason.
“She asked Granny for help,” Vanessa said. “She begged. Cried. But it didn’t work”.
“She told her?” I asked.
Vanessa hesitated.
“She had no choice,” she whispered.
