Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

A heavy, dark sky pressed down over the house, the salty sea wind lashing

against Sylvia with unrelenting force.

This weather, this scene-it was all too familiar. In her past life, Naomi had died right here.

A fatal car crash.

But who could've guessed that the real filth was hiding in a house not far from the wreck?

No one except Rupert, in another life.

Now, with storm clouds rolling in, the endless stretch of ocean looked like a gaping abyss, ready to swallow Sylvia whole.

Suddenly, the wind picked up, rain whipping sideways, wild and relentless-just like the storm inside her.

Her eyes burned with a sharp, stinging light, and by now, she couldn't tell if the wetness on her face was rain or tears.

She tried to steady herself, but her legs felt like they were made of lead.

The next second, Yves had his hand wrapped tight around her throat, slamming her to the ground.

"I'll kill you right now and toss you straight into the sea."

Sylvia's face flushed, her throat unable to make a sound.

the ground, seizing a jagged stone. With all her strength, she smashed it

yelled, clutching his head. Rain mixed with blood,

chance, scrambling up and staggering away as fast

as he chased her down. He grabbed her arm with such force she swore she heard something crack. Almost at the same moment, the roar of an engine cut through the

tore through the curtain of rain, speeding toward

car and jumped into the driver's seat,

coastal highway,

but her hand was numb with

against the shaking car,

the world was chaos-wind and rain thrashing

sky, illuminating the driver of the other

froze, her breath catching in

over, his stare

l.ne

a hint of

seemed even more chilling under the

motioning for

followed his

was suddenly narrowed to one lane by a construction barrier- and

the wheel to force Rupert's car into the

didn't slow

fear, and panic all

was blasting, but sweat trickled down her