Abner had already made the call; his ride would be swinging by to pick him up shortly.

He had just finished a cigarette, a furrow creasing his brow. He didn't mind the cheap nicotine kick, but it always left a bitter

aftertaste in his mouth.

The sound of panicked voices drifted over to him, followed by the thudding footsteps of someone running in a frenzy.

"Queena, you gotta check this out, Phoebe just keeled over. She's in a bad way."

Pretending she was just hearing the news, Queena immediately dropped the axe she was holding.

Without giving Abner another glance, she bolted towards the commotion.

Abner kept his spot, puffing away. In his other hand, he fumbled with a match he'd nicked from the stove.

He sauntered toward the scene of the incident, only to find the cook who had given him the cigarette sobbing over a woman's

lifeless body.

The faces of the onlookers were grim; Queena had delivered the bleak news with a blunt, "She's a goner."

In just a short span, another life had slipped away—the gossipy Phoebe, of all people.

Murder wasn't a thought that crossed their minds; they simply couldn't fathom it. They chalked it up to a sudden, inexplicable

death.

out a heavy sigh, urging the crowd to "grieve

pallor of the deceased woman. Her robust frame, borne of years

type to just drop

cast a suspicious glance towards Queena, who continued to

after

already mourning Fabian, and now this family was

His people would be here soon and in three days' time,

betrayed him. None of this was

swept the area, noticing the absence

the age to crave excitement, yet he was nowhere

decided to head over to

spotted

kid was ghost-white, obviously scared

"Tobias?"

drop to the ground

a moment for Tobias to scramble back to

are we heading

the boy's lips were bitten raw, a clear sign

dead body

"No, no, I just..."

moment of mischief, he'd hidden away and accidentally

followed by Phoebe

so cold and detached, nothing like her

hidden, not making a

to grasp the concept of murder and thought Phoebe might have died

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255