Chapter 3

WILLOW

I awoke this morning with a sense of unease permeating my being. A vague intuition hinted at an unsettling reality, yet its nature eluded my grasp. Dismissing these fleeting thoughts, I rose from my slumber, ready to do my day ahead.

Following a brisk shower, a message from my mother-in-law, Harper Davis, appeared on my phone screen. She offered an unexpected invitation, specifying a designated meeting point for the evening. Although surprised by this sudden request, I understood the significance of gaining Harper's favor. My husband, Lucas, always emphasized the importance of securing his mother's approval, particularly within the framework of his family's business affairs. So whether I like it or not, I should go where my mother-in-law wants me to.

Anticipating Lucas's return home to bid him farewell, I found him, as usual, engrossed in his work at the office. Unwilling to delay any longer, I resolved to proceed without his presence. Hailing a cab, I relayed the specified location to the driver. Funny that my husband is a billionaire, but here I am riding a cab. My husband never cared for me. As we traveled the city, guided by the driver's navigation system, an unsettling sensation engulfed me. The surroundings grew desolate, bereft of any discernible establishments. Attempting to contact Harper for clarification proved fruitless, as she failed to respond. An air of apprehension began to settle upon me once more.

“We’re already here, ma’am. Are you sure this is the location of your drop-off?” The driver looks suspicious as well.

“E-Errr… yes. Thanks, and drive safely,”

Stepping out of the cab, I surveyed my surroundings with caution. The absence of light rendered the area eerie and ominous. In a feeble attempt to find  my mother-in-law, I called out, my voice echoing through the desolation. Yet, no response met my plea, nor did any fellow pedestrians traverse the desolate streets.

"Mom? Where are you?"

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps shattered the silence. Turning toward the source, I beheld the figures of Harper and an unfamiliar woman, radiating an inexplicable allure. Their gazes fixated upon me, a disconcerting glint residing in their eyes.

"M-Mother?" I stammered, my anxiety surfacing.

Puzzlement consumed me as I grappled to understand the peculiar intensity in their expressions. It was then that my eyes fell upon their hands, revealing lethal instruments poised for action. Before I could articulate the questions in my head, they charged toward me, swifter than my attempts to flee.

My pulse reverberated within my chest, an incessant drumbeat of terror, as Harper and the unfamiliar woman relentlessly pursued me through the labyrinthine, dimly lit corridors. Tremors coursed through my trembling frame, and tears cascaded down my cheeks in disbelief. The realization that Lucas's own mother harbored nefarious intentions sent shockwaves through my system.

"Willow! Stop this useless hide and seek! Come back here!” Harper's voice reverberated with a malevolence that chilled me to the core. "You cannot escape from us!"

Knowing that escape was imperative, I grappled with the desperate uncertainty of how to outmaneuver them. A numbing sensation seemed to pervade my limbs, leaving me bereft of clear thought. My only recourse was to run, driven by a surge of adrenaline, even as tears blurred my vision.

With a desperate swerve around a corner, my gaze fixated upon a diminutive window at the far end of the hallway. Recognizing the golden opportunity for freedom it presented, I propelled myself toward it, Harper and her accomplice mere steps behind me.

"Don't you dare attempt to flee, Willow!" Harper's voice resounded, laced with a haunting determination. "You can’t fight back to your destiny!”

Their breath grazed the nape of my neck, their presence palpable as I climbed with fervor toward the coveted window. Almost within reach, a searing pain lanced through my back, causing me to falter momentarily. Yet, through sheer will, I maintained my balance.

"Mom, please, stop! I’m begging you! Release me from your clutches!" I beseeched, my pleas a desperate plea for respite from their relentless pursuit.

Their relentless assault persisted, their hands clawing at my hair and garments, rending my skin with each fervent grip. Summoning every ounce of strength, I retaliated, delivering a forceful kick to Harper's knees. Momentarily disoriented, she staggered backward, affording me a fleeting opportunity to clamber out of the window. Glancing back, I witnessed her countenance contorted by a maelstrom of anger and malice.

"Willow, you can’t escape from us! This is your destiny! Your fate! You must face it!" she bellowed, her voice a venomous eruption.

Leaping from the window's precipice, I braced myself for the impact as my body met the unforgiving ground. Pain rippled through my being, yet I dared not cease my flight. I sprinted with an urgency that defied the limits of my physical endurance, refraining from glancing back until I could be certain that their pursuit had waned.

Amidst my breathless respite, an unsettling realization enveloped me—I had become disoriented, ensnared within unfamiliar terrain devoid of familiar landmarks. Desolation consumed me as I grappled with the recent horrors that had transpired. Unfathomable was the notion that Harper, Lucas's own flesh and blood, harbored intentions so malevolent, directed squarely at me.

Sinking to the ground, I succumbed to feelings of helplessness and trepidation. Tears streamed down my cheeks, their flow a testament to the shattering transformation my life had undergone since being married to Lucas Davis. Never could I have envisioned being pursued for my very existence by his own mother.

Yet, amidst my anguish, a flicker of determination ignited within me. Lingering in one place was perilous; I needed to move forward, seeking an escape from this treacherous domain and a reunion with Lucas. Rising from my desolate perch, I drew in a steadying breath and embarked on a resolute stride, praying that salvation would manifest before the grip of doom tightened its hold.

Yet, in that moment, their presence manifested once more, their spectral essence trailing behind me. My body, wracked with anguish, betrayed my desire to flee. A glance toward my abdomen sent a surge of horror coursing through my veins, my vision locking onto the crimson rivulets that stained my form.

Harper's hand brandished a weapon, it's cold steel plunging into my vulnerable body. Pain seared through me, my voice trembling in disbelief. "M-Mother... How... c-could you betray me like this?"

"Shut up!" she hissed, her voice venomous. In an instant, the stranger joined her assault, thrusting a weapon of her own into my wounded flesh. I could not fathom their motives. Who was this woman? I had never encountered her before. Why did they unleash such brutality upon me?

Lying upon the unforgiving ground, I endeavored to stem the torrent of crimson flowing from my ravaged body. The life force ebbed from me with each passing moment, my strength waning.

Was this to be the end of my existence? The demise of all I held dear?

Summoning the remnants of my failing strength, I managed to utter a feeble plea, questioning Harper's cruel actions amidst the gory tableau. Blood mingled with my words as they escaped my lips.

Harper leaned in, whispering words that sent a chill coursing through my fading consciousness. "Had you not wed my son, Willow, this fate need not have befallen you. I shall never recognize you as my son’s wife, remember that."

With those chilling words, the tendrils of darkness enveloped me, and consciousness slipped away, leaving behind a realm devoid of light.