Chapter 7 - The Safe House in the Woods
Because Marcus was on the run and extremely dangerous, the police placed us in a temporary safe house.
It was a small, unmarked cabin on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by dense woods.
An officer was stationed at the end of the dirt road, giving me a fragile sense of security.
For the first three days, Lily didn't speak a single word.
She clung to my side, her eyes constantly darting toward the windows and doors.
I spent every waking moment holding her, reading to her, and apologizing for failing to protect her.
“It's not your fault, Mommy,” she finally whispered on the fourth night, her voice breaking my heart.
“He told me he would put you in the ground if I ever told the secret.”
I hugged her tightly, tears streaming down my face as I kissed her forehead.
“He will never hurt us again, I promise you,” I vowed fiercely.
But my promise felt hollow when a violent thunderstorm rolled in that evening.
The wind howled through the trees, snapping branches and shaking the cabin walls.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and died, plunging us into absolute darkness.
I grabbed my phone to use the flashlight, my heart pounding in my chest.
May you like
Then, my phone rang.
It was an unknown number, but a dreadful instinct told me exactly who it was.
