Elle’s POV
When we got inside, the silence of the house felt heavier than it usually did. It was the kind of silence that pressed against my ears, making every small sound sharper—the creak of the floorboards, the soft ticking of the clock, even my own uneven breathing.
My hands wouldn’t stay still. They kept fidgeting at my sides, brushing against my clothes as if searching for something to hold onto. My eyes wandered to the window again and again, even though I knew nothing was out there. Or maybe that was what scared me—because it felt like something was waiting, hiding in the dark.
I didn’t know what Fiona was planning this time. Every day lately has been full of little surprises that weren’t pleasant at all. I felt like every step I took was another step into a trap, and now that w
