Chapter 8 - The Woman OutsideThe woman disappeared before my husband reached the window.
But her reflection remained in the broken glass.
Same eyes.
Same face.
Same scar beneath the chin.
I touched my own chin.
I had always thought that scar came from falling off a bicycle.
Apparently, I was wrong.
My husband stared at me.
“Lena?”
The woman outside knocked once on the glass.
Then she pointed toward the woods.
She mouthed:
Come alone.
My father-in-law appeared behind us.
“Step away from the window.”
The woman turned.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Lena smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the smile of someone who had finally found the person she had been searching for.
She raised one hand.
There was a bloody symbol carved into her palm.
My father-in-law went pale.
“She remembers.”
Lena turned and vanished into the trees.
I looked at my husband.
“I need to speak to her.”
“No.”
“She's my sister.”
“You don't know what she is.”
I slapped him.
“You knew she was alive.”
He didn't defend himself.
Instead, he whispered:
“She tried to kill my father.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because she believed he murdered her.”
“And did he?”
My husband said nothing.
That silence was an answer.
I turned toward my father-in-law.
“Did you kill my sister?”
He slowly shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
His eyes moved toward the basement.
“Your mother.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“My mother died thinking you were safe.”
“Your mother did not die.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
He looked toward the stairs.
“She disappeared.”
Then we heard a woman's voice from the basement.
“Please…”
My entire body froze.
May you like
It was my mother's voice.
And she was calling my name.
