Chapter 6
Sabrina stopped protecting Diane.
Not because she became good.
Because betrayal finally became personal.
“You told me Natalie would break.”
Diane adjusted her sleeve.
“She should have.”
“You said I would lead.”
“You weren’t capable.”
Sabrina flinched.
Diane continued:
“You can barely control your own children.”
Connor looked down.
I noticed.
“What does that mean?”
Nobody answered.
I looked at Connor.
“Has Sabrina punished you with food too?”
His eyes filled.
Sabrina whispered:
“Sometimes.”
“How often?”
“When he disobeyed.”
Diane laughed.
“Oh, please. Missing dinner is not torture.”
Connor recoiled.
My mother saw it.
“Look at him. Ten years old and still crying like a baby.”
Sabrina turned sharply.
“Don’t.”
Diane raised an eyebrow.
“Now you defend him?”
That one hurt.
Sabrina looked at Connor.
Then at me.
“She taught me.”
“No,” I said.
She stopped.
“That explains you.”
Pause.
“It doesn’t excuse you.”
Sabrina lowered her eyes.
Connor opened another recording.
His mother speaking with Elias.
“Grace still won’t tell me which door Natalie uses after midnight.”
Elias answered:
“Scare her harder.”
Sabrina laughed.
“She cries if I threaten her dolls.”
Then Diane:
“Use food.”
My stomach turned.
Elias asked:
“And if that fails?”
Diane answered:
“Use Daniel.”
Connor paused.
I looked at my sister.
“You terrorized my daughter with her dead father.”
Sabrina whispered:
“Mother said—”
“No.”
She stopped.
“You don’t get to hide inside that sentence.”
Connor resumed.
Elias:
“Thursday still good?”
Diane:
“Natalie leaves at ten.”
“Grace with her?”
“No.”
“Vale wants confirmation before moving.”
Present tense.
This week.
I looked at Diane.
“What happens Thursday?”
She said nothing.
Connor skipped forward.
Elias asked:
“Same method?”
Diane answered:
“No fire this time.”
Nobody breathed.
Then my mother’s recorded voice finished:
“This time Natalie comes back alive.”
I stared at her.
May you like
Daniel had not been the end of Diane’s plan.
I was the next target.
