OliviaBefore I could ask what was going on, Freya was already walking across the clearing. Her steps were slow and measured, but at the same time, there was a level of eagerness to them—like she was walking toward someone she was excited to see, but was also in disbelief at the same time.Nathan, still standing beside me, turned to catch where my gaze was drifting and furrowed his brow. “Who’s that?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. “Someone Freya kn
OliviaAs I set the cups of tea on the table between us, the tiny tendrils of aromatic steam floated up into the air and partially obscured our faces from one another. Normally, the familiar scent of chamomile and honey would have been soothing, but not tonight.Something about this sudden visit from Freya and Clarissa in the middle of the night left me uneasy.
OliviaI felt as though the ground had opened up beneath my feet, swallowing me into a chasm of nothingness. Maybe I was having a nightmare—yes, that had to be it.But when I reached out and gripped the edge of the table, only to find that it was as infallible and grounding as ever, I knew that it had to be real.
OliviaIt had been two days since I had learned the truth about Clarissa, also known as Giselle—my mother. For those two days, I had felt as if it were all nothing but a dream.But it wasn’t. It was real.It was a sunny afternoon, and she was visiting again, just as she had done every day since the news ha
NathanI couldn’t stop the rage from simmering just beneath the surface as I made my way through the darkened forest toward the confinement pit. No one knew I was here—I was coming under the cover of night, my hair and face concealed by a hood.But I had to come. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Montgomery, and I needed to see them.
OliviaThe sound of power tools outside streamed in through the window while I folded the laundry, a distant backdrop to my swirling thoughts. I had grown used to the sound, and actually kind of enjoyed it. It was a reminder that life went on, that our family was growing.It had been a couple of weeks since I had made the decision to take a temporary leave from work in order to really focus on my family—on rebuilding that long-severed bond with my mother—and I was glad I did.
OliviaThe air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven.A fresh start.
OliviaMy hands shook uncontrollably as I stepped up to the edge of the pit, clutching the metal grating until my knuckles turned white. A thick, cloying stench wafted up from the darkness below—the unmistakable reek of death and decay.Despite the waves of nausea already roiling in my gut, I leaned forward for a closer look.