Chapter 5
The silver sedan sped down the winding private access road of St. Jude Manor, tires hissing against the damp asphalt. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Elena gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were translucent, her white wedding gown bunched up around her waist to give her legs freedom of movement. In the passenger seat, Lily had curled up with a fleece blanket Elena had found in the glove compartment, her thumb tucked into her mouth as she stared blankly out the window. They had bypassed the main gates, using the old service exit that led directly onto the state highway. Elena’s heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird. Every time she checked the rearview mirror, she expected to see the sleek silhouette of Julian’s black sports car roaring up behind them. She had left her phone on the kitchen counter in the main house; she didn't dare bring it, knowing Julian could track its GPS signal within seconds. They were entirely off the grid, driving toward a small coastal town two hours away where her estranged aunt lived—a woman who had never liked Julian and would ask no questions. But as Elena approached the automated tollbooth marking the boundary of the estate lands, the electronic barrier remained firmly down. A red digital sign flashed: SYSTEM MAINTENANCE. PLEASE WAIT. Elena slammed on the brakes, the sedan sliding slightly on the wet leaves before coming to a halt inches from the metal arm. "Mommy, why are we stopping?" Lily asked, her voice small and frightened. "Just a malfunction, sweetheart. Everything is fine," Elena lied, her eyes scanning the empty toll booth office. The small brick building was dark, the automated ticket machine humming monotonously. She reached out to push the emergency intercom button, but before her finger could touch the metal plate, the headlights of a vehicle swept across the rear window, illuminating the interior of the car in a harsh, blinding glare. Elena froze. In the rearview mirror, she saw the unmistakable grille of Julian’s black sedan idling twenty feet behind them, blocking their only way back. The engine sounded like a low, predatory purr in the quiet afternoon air. The driver’s side door of the trailing car clicked open, and the rhythmic sound of leather shoes hitting wet pavement echoed across the asphalt.
