Chapter Eight

Nick POV:

I followed my father and Janet’s back into the kitchen, leaving Katerina’s comfort behind me. I didn’t want to go back in the kitchen, to see Janet’s bruised and bloodied body upon our dining table. The not-so-distant memory of hearing her scream, the sound terrified and terrifying, still resounded in my head. Do too did finding her, a red patch among the white, newly fallen snow.  My mother had finished cleaning Janet and had begun dressing her in clean clothes when I entered the kitchen. Unwillingly, I glanced down, and had a moment where I could swear Janet was only sleeping.

“Janet!” Her father cried, falling to his knees, and grasping her hand.

His sobs where the only sound in the room, heart wrenching and broken. My father moved to stand behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

“We will find the one responsible, Jack.” He promised. He nodded to my mother and with one final squeeze releases Janet’s father and beckon