Jolting awake, both Alicia and Nerine sat upright on the bed, disoriented by the cries that had shattered the silence.
Alicia composed herself first. She rose quietly, moving toward the lamp but hesitated. If something was wrong, light would only draw attention. Instead, she turned to Nerine and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling her to stay silent.
Thanks to the subtle night vision passed down from Alicia's bloodline, the darkness posed no barrier. With the house layout etched deeply in her memory, she moved silently to the window and peered out.
Nothing.
The night outside was undisturbed, calm even—but that stillness felt wrong. Alicia's instincts screamed that danger lingered just beyond the edges of sight.
She returned to Nerine, picked up a worn coat, and wrapped it around her daughter's shoulders. Then, kneeling down, she cupped Nerine's cheeks gently.
"There's something I need you to do for me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Promise me you'll obey without hesitation. No questions, no mistakes."
"I promise, Mom," Nerine replied, though confusion clouded her eyes.
Alicia leaned in and kissed her forehead, her lips lingering just a second longer than usual. It was the kind of kiss one gives when goodbye is a possibility.
She rose, took her daughter's hand, and turned her toward the bed. With every ounce of strength in her fragile body, Alicia dragged it aside, revealing the wooden floor beneath. She knocked on one of the tiles—a hollow sound echoed. Reaching for an iron bar hidden near the wall, she pried up three of the wooden planks.
Beneath them lay a dark, narrow hole—crude, damp, and without an exit. A hiding place, not an escape.
Before Alicia could speak again—
BANG!
The door shook violently.
Panic surged. She turned to Nerine.
"Get in. Now. Stay silent, no matter what you hear. Don't come out until it's quiet. Understand?"
"Where are you going, Mom? Please stay here with me!" Nerine pleaded, tears threatening to fall.
Alicia gripped her daughter's hands tightly.
"I'm not going far. But I need you to be brave. Just for a little while."
She helped Nerine into the hole, then with trembling hands, pulled the wooden tiles back into place. The final click of wood closing over her daughter was the sound of a breaking heart.
She wiped her tears, turned on the lamp,shoved the bed back into position as fast as she could—but then came the voices.
Outside the House
Three masked men dressed in black stood in the rain-slick yard.
"Is this the correct address?" one of them Because this is the third house they had entered and had to kill the people so as not get interrupted or alarm everyone.
The tallest man, their apparent leader, smashed the door with a hammer. The wood splintered and the door flew open with a crash.
"We'll know soon enough," he growled.
They entered like shadows. One of them picked up a fruit knife lying on the table, twirling it in his hand before turning to the others.
"Bring me anyone who lives here. Be quick."
They scattered.
The door burst open—and one of the intruders stepped in, just in time to be cracked on the head with a wooden plank.
Staggering, he turned, dazed. His eyes settled on the woman before him—Alicia. He blinked, fury rising in his expression.
She swung again, hoping to knock him out, but this time he caught the wood mid-swing. Snarling, he yanked it from her hands and shoved her hard against the wall.
Her head hit the stone with a dull thud.
A warm liquid trickled down the side of her face. When she touched it, her fingers came away red.
Still, she stood her ground.
"There's no one else here," she said, voice shaking but defiant.
The man stepped forward.
"Wrong answer."
The next blow was swift, and this time—deadly.
Alicia collapsed in a heap.
Below the Floorboards
In the hidden space, Nerine squeezed her eyes shut, hands pressed to her mouth to keep from sobbing. She had heard everything.
She heard her mother cry out. Then silence.
She heard the rough shuffle of boots. And then voices.
"She's down. Check the rest of the house again."
"I told you this wasn't worth the risk," one muttered bending over her and stabbing her with knife he collected from their boss.
"We're just following orders," the tall one snapped. "His wife gave us clear instructions—'eliminate the woman and the girl.' That's all we were paid for."
His wife...? Nerine's thoughts reeled. Her father's wife?
She sent them?
The footsteps grew distant. Then, silence.
Only then did Nerine dare to move.
With shaking hands, Nerine pushed against the wooden tiles from below. They creaked, shifted, and finally gave way.
She crawled out slowly, the room swimming before her eyes.
The bed was askew. The door hung loose on its hinges. And there—by the wall—
Her mother.
Lying still.
Too still.
Nerine crawled to her side, dropped to her knees, and took her mother's bloodied hand in hers.
"Mom...?" she whispered.
No answer.
Alicia's skin was cooling. Her eyes—closed.
"No... no... please...!"
The grief slammed into her like a crashing wave. She sobbed, curling into her mother's body, clutching her tightly as if that alone could bring her back.
But then—darkness.
The room spun. Her vision blurred.
And Nerine collapsed beside her mother's body, tears still falling as her consciousness slipped away.