Chapter 1: The Drain
Chapter 1: The Drain
The cold, heavy steel of the chain dug into Elena’s bruised ankle, but the physical pain was entirely dwarfed by the psychological terror gripping her chest. She stood in the shallow end of the Vangarde estate’s massive Olympic-sized indoor pool, the water lapping against her trembling knees. Above her, standing on the pristine, non-slip Italian tile, was Victor. Her brother-in-law’s face was devoid of the charismatic warmth he usually displayed at family galas. Now, his features were carved from absolute ice.
He held a small, silver key between his thumb and forefinger. It glinted under the harsh, recessed halogen lighting of the pool house.
"Lily!" Elena screamed, her voice tearing at her throat. "Where is my daughter, Victor? Where is she?!"
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Victor merely tilted his head. He didn't raise his voice, but the acoustic design of the room carried his deadly whisper directly to her ears. "Lily is exactly where she is supposed to be. And you, Elena, are exactly where you were destined to end up."
He flicked his wrist. The silver key arced through the humid air and clattered onto the tile, sliding with agonizing precision directly through the grate of the pool deck’s drainage system. It was gone forever.
