Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 6

Jessica knew something was wrong when the elevator didn’t stop on the 3rd floor.The numbers climbed past the lobby,past the executive offices,and every floor she was allowed to exist. She stared at her reflection in the mirror doors,pale face, borrowed heels, Summer’s lipstick still smeared crooked from shaking hands.“Why didn’t the elevator stop? Where is it taking me?” she asked herself as she continued to press the exit button aggressively.She wasn’t supposed to go up that far. The elevator chimed. And the doors slid open in silence. No reception desk, no assistance, just a long hallway drowned in marble and glass, ending at a pair of black double doors guarded by two men who didn’t look like security so much as a warning.One man walked up to her. “Miss Cooke,come with me please.” “Who are you and where is this place?” “ Miss Cooke,please come with me Mr. Lewis is waiting”.Jessica walked behind him as she looked around nervously,asking no questions. Jessica was led to John’s

Jessica’s phone slipped from her fingers and shattered on the marble floors. For a moment no one moved. Silence. No movement.The ballroom had held it’s breath.Then the silence came thick, suffocating, pressing against her ears until she thought her skull would split.They killed her.Her knees buckled.John caught her before she hit the floor. His arm wrapped around her waist, strong and unyielding, holding her upright like a puppet on strings. To the guests, it looked tender, romantic and protective.Applause scattered uncertainly through the hall.John leaned in closer to Jessica with his lips brushing her left ear.“She’s alive,” he whispered. “For now.” He added.The words slid into her spine like ice. Jessica’s vision swam. The officiant resumed speaking as if nothing had happened. Love. Devotion . Eternity All lies. “Jessica Cooke, do you take John Lewis, as your lawfully wedded husband?” The officiant asked “Yes, I do” Jessica replied with her voice cracking.“John Lewis

The dead woman’s fingers were still tangled in the hem of her gown.Jessica stared at them. They wouldn’t move.They wouldn’t let go.A guard bent down and peeled the hand away like removing trash from fabric. The body was dragged down the hallway. A red streak followed.No one spoke. No one reacted. Like this was normal.Jessica lifted her eyes slowly. John was watching her. Not the body. Her.He was waiting for her to say something.“You see now,” he said quietly, “why obedience is survival.”Her voice came out hoarse.“She asked for help.”“And she died for it.”The simplicity of his answer carved straight through her ribs. Jessica swallowed.“You killed her.”“No,” John replied calmly. “She killed herself the moment she ran.”The corridor felt smaller and the air felt thin.Jessica turned away from him.And that’s when she saw Sharon standing at the end of the hall.Frozen. Her face pale. Her eyes locked onto the blood on Jessica’s dress.For a second — just a second — Sharon look