in

im was gone, swallowed up by my desperation. My mother had been thrown out of the hospital, and now I was le

back to where they

tion did I have?

ingers. The money Peter had given was nearly all gone, swallo

d spiraled with thoughts of getting caught - of being dragged away by the police fo

. The air felt heavy. And there they were - the hunger-faced policemen, standing like vultures waiting for the n

y. Lying on the floor, cold and

f panic. Sweat beaded on my forehead, my breath s

dripping with excitement. If anyone would be thrilled by Mr. Do

ou calling my name? I'm here for my share

es narrowing. "Why are you sweating?" he ask

ied, trying to sound nonchalant ev

s to the station to give a statement." His words hit li

the rising panic. "Really? Is this how thi

avering. "You were the last one to argue

vidence, not... assumptions," I said, t

contact you when we need you." He waved to his men

heart racing. How had I missed the van parked o

e office where everything had gone so wrong. The memories of that day

irm despite the chaos inside me. "My mother

unger brother and former assistant, it's my duty to take over his position. And if you don't un

rol everything. I wanted to lash out, to do to him what I had done to

e?" I asked, my voic

answere

phone rang just as I stepped out of the buil

ping it was someone -

trying to keep my voice steady,

ice on the other end said, a deep, men

Who are you?" My voice was shaky now, t

s blood, or watch your stepmother die in your

ords like a death sentenc

you?" I demanded, my voice rising desp

end dies," the voice laughed, a low,

lly, clutching my handbag so ti

nces, whether good or bad. And now, it felt like my past

ment? For all the

was the same private number. I an

value their lives? Or are you still the cold-hearted Brinda I us

ense of being watched. The black cars. The men in

ss. How can I handle all of this?" I begged, m

u across the street. Get

e cab, parked across from me. With no oth

where to go," the

over me, not yet. But the cab started moving anyw

ernity. My hands gripped the seat, and my mind rac

and my breath caught in my throat. There, at the edge of a

ne ran

your stepmother," the voice said. "Look

closer to Peter, who was pale, his body limp and bound.

seconds. Make the decisio

each second stretch

ur... Three

kicked him. He tumbled backward, his scream echoi

the spot where he had fallen, his

a red glow across the horizon whe

his. The masked man. He stepped out of the first car, his dreadloc

e was close enough, he placed his h

w dro

ed, the shock and horror fil