Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 385

Claire was led into the interrogation room.

The cramped space pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

"Take a seat," the detective said, his voice cutting through the silence. He pulled out a notepad and pen, ready to record her statement.

Claire sat slowly, her hands gripping the edges of the chair until her knuckles turned white.

"Let's get specific," the detective continued, his questions rapid-fire. "Who did you kill? Where did it happen? How did you do it? And why?"

Claire drew in a shaky breath and began.

"I killed Hank Brown. Scarlet. Vincent. And..." Her voice was low and hoarse. With every name she spoke, bloody memories flickered in her mind: Mandy's wild eyes, the twisted faces of her victims.

With each confession, the detective's eyes grew wider. He never would have guessed that this frail-looking woman sitting in front of him had killed four people let alone in such a brutal way.

himself to remain calm, but

pressed, trying to

and firm. "Yes. I

notes. "Then tell me

as if bracing herself

told him everything she'd suffered: Hank Brown's violent assault, Scarlet's calculated betrayal, Vincent's lies and cruelty. She spoke, too, of the beatings she endured

didn't lie-she didn't have to. Every word was

his horror mounting. His hand moved faster and faster across the page. He'd

Claire over and over, determined to confirm every detail. He repeated the same questions

he closed his notebook and

then,

from her pocket, unscrewed the cap, and, before the detective could react, downed its contents in one swift

clattered to the floor as

eyes wide in horror. "What

over, the bottle was empty and Claire's body