Chapter 4 - Shadows Above
The sharp sound of breaking glass echoed through the sprawling corridors of Linden House, freezing all three occupants in the study. Clara gasped, her hand instinctively flying up to clutch her pearl necklace as she looked toward the high ceiling. Marcus’s expression hardened instantly, his eyes darting to the heavy mahogany door.
"Stay here," Marcus ordered sharply, though it sounded less like a request and more like a threat.
Without waiting for a response, Marcus strode out of the study, his long legs eating up the distance to the grand staircase. Clara glared venomously at Elena, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. She stepped closer, invading Elena's personal space with a menacing aura.
"If you are playing games with us, Elena, if you brought an accomplice into this house..." Clara whispered, her voice venomous. "I will ensure you never see the light of day."
Elena ignored the older woman's threats. Her mind raced. Could it be Sarah, the loyal housemaid who had looked at Elena with pity during dinner? Or perhaps someone Julian trusted before he passed away? Without thinking, Elena bolted toward the French doors leading to the dark, overgrown gardens at the back of the estate.
"Hey! Get back here!" Clara screamed, lunging after her.
Elena shoved open the glass doors, the cold night air slamming into her face like a physical blow. She sprinted across the dew-soaked lawn, her stained blue dress catching on the thorny rosebushes that lined the stone pathway. Her heavy breathing echoed in the quiet night as she rounded the corner of the west wing, seeking the cover of the ancient oak trees.
Behind her, the glaring beam of a heavy-duty flashlight cut through the darkness.
"There she is!" Marcus’s deep voice boomed from the patio.
Panic surged through Elena's veins. She pushed herself harder, ignoring the sharp cramps beginning to twist in her lower abdomen. She ducked behind a large stone fountain, pressing her back against the freezing, moss-covered marble. She clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound of her ragged breathing.
The heavy thud of leather shoes approached the fountain. Marcus’s tall silhouette loomed over the edge of the stone structure. He stopped just inches away, shining the flashlight beam across the wet grass.
"Come out, Elena," Marcus commanded, his voice eerily calm. "You cannot outrun us in the dark."
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Elena closed her eyes, praying he wouldn't look down. Suddenly, a bright flash of light erupted from the third-floor window above them, followed by a muffled shout and the unmistakable sound of a car engine roaring to life near the front gates.
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