The Day Our Promise Breaks

And today, Charles shoved Evelyn back into this nightmare with his own hands for putting Dahlia and Sandy in danger. He used Evelyn's deepest fear as a weapon against her. It felt like an invisible giant hand was wringing her heart tighter and tighter until she could Evelyn collapsed to her knees, clawing at her collar for air. Her lips parted in a desperate gasp, yet she was still struggling for breath. Her nerves were stretched to the breaking point, and the defiance she had when she was first locked up was now gone. She softened, laying her vulnerability bare before Charles. Her voice was trembling as she pleaded, "Charles, let me out."

barely

breathe.

"Charles... Charles... Charles... open the door..." she cried, pounding on the door repeatedly, her words trailing off into incoherent fear. He knew she was truly terrified, yet he remained silent.

The darkness magnified every sensation. Every little sound outside echoed inside. Evelyn pressed against the door and could hear footsteps. Charles was right there. She could almost picture his face, wearing that superior look, waiting for her to break down, sob, and apologize to Dahlia and her daughter.

Evelyn recalled the last time she crashed Sandy's party. Dahlia called the cops, and Evelyn ended up in detention before Brooks bailed her out. That night, she had a fever. Charles stood by her bed, looking down and saying, "Is it really that hard to ask for my help?" He was waiting for her to beg and admit a mistake she never made.

Her biggest mistake, if any, was that night five years ago when, out of love, she didn't push him away even though he was drugged. Evelyn's grip on the door tightened.

"Crack!" The sound of a nail snapping broke the silence. Pain shot from her fingertips, spreading through her body, but it was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. She bit her lip hard, trying to use the pain to fend off the fear.

heard the

mice. Was it

in the basement? It had to be

The mansion was

Unless someone like Sena had let them in on purpose. Evelyn tried to convince herself

scurried over her foot.

A sharp scream tore from her throat. Her scalp tingled, and terror made her hair stand on end as cold sweat soaked her clothes. She

screamed

wide with

wanted to

our

feeling

through a gap in the window above, landing right on