Chapter 45

• As I steadily made my way downstairs, every creak of the floorboards beneath my feet seemed to echo like thunder in the silent house. My heart pounded in my chest as I caught sight of them, Alex and his men, preparing for their sinister mission. With a surge of adrenaline, I hurried to my mother's side, relief flooding through me as I saw her bound but alive. Without hesitation, I set to work, fingers fumbling urgently as I untied the ropes that held her captive.
• "We need to get out of here," I whispered urgently, my voice barely above a breathless murmur. "You need to call the police and report the situation. I need to warn Mr. Anderson, to protect him from what's coming."
• My mother's eyes widened with understanding as she nodded in silent agreement, her fear and determination mirrored in the depths of her gaze. With a shared sense of urgency, we made our escape, slipping out of the house like ghosts fleeing the shadows of a nightmare.