Chapter 6 - The Poisoned Atmosphere
When we returned home, the atmosphere in the house felt heavy and suffocating.
Clara was awake, sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of red wine.
She stared at us as we walked through the door, her eyes narrowed and calculating.
"You two were gone a long time," she noted coldly, taking a slow sip of her wine.
"Just enjoying the fresh air," I replied, forcing a casual smile.
I nudged Harper gently, and she quickly scurried upstairs to her room without a word.
Clara stood up and slowly walked toward me, the pleasant mask completely gone from her face.
"What did you two talk about at the park?" she demanded, her voice dangerously low.
"Nothing special," I lied, walking past her to the refrigerator.
"Just school, her favorite colors, normal kid stuff."
Clara grabbed my arm, her fingernails digging painfully into my skin.
"Don't lie to me, Ethan," she hissed, her breath smelling of alcohol and malice.
"She's a manipulative little brat, and she makes up terrible stories for attention."
I looked down at her hand, barely containing the urge to push her away violently.
"She didn't say anything, Clara," I said coldly, pulling my arm out of her grip.
"You need to calm down."
Clara glared at me for a long moment, her chest heaving with silent fury.
She turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs, slamming our bedroom door shut.
That night, I didn't sleep a single wink.
I lay awake in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, listening to every creak of the floorboards.
I realized Clara was starting to suspect that I knew the truth.
She was cornered, and a cornered predator is the most dangerous kind.
I checked the camera app on my phone constantly throughout the night.
At 3:00 AM, the kitchen camera caught her pacing back and forth in the dark.
She was muttering to herself, holding a large kitchen knife.
A cold sweat broke out across my forehead.
May you like
I couldn't wait another day.
I had to get Harper out of this house tomorrow morning, or neither of us would survive the weekend.
