Chapter 47 Chapter 47
"When silence is enforced with blood, even the innocent begin to smell like guilt.”
Aylaree broke down the moment she hit the sofa, It wasn’t pretty crying, It wasn’t quiet either, It was the kind that tore out of her chest in harsh, animal sobs, shoulders shaking violently as she curled into herself, hands fisting the throw pillow like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely.
Trinity hovered awkwardly for a second before sitting on the edge of the armchair. Clara remained standing, rooted to the spot, unsure whether she should comfort the woman or keep her distance
“They have her,” Aylaree choked out, words slurring slightly through alcohol and panic. “They have my sister and I fear for what they might do to her "
Clara’s stomach dropped, who was she talking about.
“Who has her?” she asked carefully. “Aylaree, you need to explain clearly.”
Aylaree lifted her head, mascara streaked down her cheeks, eyes bloodshot and wild. She opened her mouth to speak but she gagged and both girls recoiled instantly.
“Bathroom,” Trinity said quickly. “Do you... want to use the bathroom"
“No,” Aylaree croaked, clutching her stomach. “I’m not going to throw up.”
She swallowed hard, eyes darting around the apartment. “I’m gagging because I know.”
Clara stiffened. “Know what?”
Aylaree sniffed loudly, then inhaled deeply through her nose like an animal testing the air.
“I can smell it,” she said hoarsely. “ The blood, the dirt, the rot. I know and I... I can smell it"
The room seemed to shrink, Clara felt her pulse slam against her throat. “Why would you say that?, the.. ....there's no blood here"
Aylaree laughed weakly. “Because that’s what they do,” she said. “They kill. They bury. And they move on like nothing happened.”
Trinity leaned forward. “Aylaree, you’re safe here, whatever you think you know say it, we won’t repeat it.”
Aylaree’s gaze snapped to Clara and In one sudden movement, she lunged at her, Clara yelped as Aylaree grabbed the front of her shirt, fingers digging in painfully. Trinity shot to her feet, heart pounding as she rushed to separate them
“This is your fault!” Aylaree screamed. “Yours!”
Clara froze, breath knocked out of her lungs. “What?, i.. i.. don't know what you're talking about”
“If you hadn’t questioned her that day,” Aylaree sobbed, shaking her. “If you hadn’t pushed her about Hale and Peterson, she would still be living her normal life!”
Trinity pulled Aylaree back roughly, forcing space between them. “Enough! What are you even saying? ”
Aylaree collapsed back onto the sofa, face crumpling again. “They took her,” she whispered. “They told me if I open my mouth… if I write one word about them… she dies.”
Clara slowly sank onto the arm of the chair, her arms trembling uncontrollably. She knew now who Aylaree was talking about.
Rihana hummed softly as she stood in front of her lined dresses fingers trailing over fabric. She pulled out a white dress and held it up against herself, twirling once in front of the mirror.
She frowned “No,” she muttered. “ blood will be too visible on this.”
She tossed it aside and reached for black instead. Held it up as she tilted her head.
“Too plain and boring "
She was reaching for another option when the door burst open and her father walked in
“Do you even know how to knock?” Rihana snapped without turning.
Her father stood in the doorway, jaw tight “That’s not why I’m here,” He said.
Rihana rolled her eyes and strolled toward her walk in closet, deliberately ignoring him.
“Has Peterson contacted you?” he asked sharply. “Has he reached out to you at all?”
She returned with two more dresses, holding them up side by side like he didn’t exist.
His patience snapped. “Don’t ignore me young lady."
She turned on him slowly, eyes cold. “Get out of my room now!!"
His tone softened. “Rihana, why are you chasing your daddy away?, Did i do something wrong? ”
“Yes. I'm mad at you cause you reached out to that witch,” she hissed.
His brows drew together. “Do not call Marilyn that. She's your mother afterall ”
Rihana frowned " She's not my mother, you might love her or whatever but I hate her with every cell in my body"
"Look Riri, she..."
“Leave,” she cut him off, voice rising higher this time. “Before I actually lose it.”
"I will but have you heard from you brother or have you perhaps seen him"
She shrugged " I don't really care about him, so no"
He hesitated then sighed. “Will you at least attend the opening of the Halloween festival?, be by Daddy's side?"
She scoffed. “So I can watch idiots run through the woods screaming like maniacs?, Nahh, I have better plans.”
She pointed at the door. “Now. Get. Out.”
Defeated, he turned to leave, In the hallway, he nearly collided with the housekeeper.
“Sir,” the man said quietly. “Your office has been cleaned.”
He nodded absently and moved to walk past but stopped when the man spoke again.
“Peterson came home a few days ago.”
His blood ran cold. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir, I saw him sitting on his bed and miss Rihana saw him too.”
The Mayor didn’t answer. He turned and walked down the hall towards the room in long strides. His secretary called. “Sir, the meeting is ready. Reporters are already present for the opening speech.”
“Delay it,” he said, standing outside Peterson’s room. “I’ll be late.”
He pushed the door open, tne room was empty and cold indicating that it had been vacant for a long while. His eyes swep the room before landing on the bedside table.
Peterson’s communicator lay there and beside it was a delicate piece of gold jewelry, not his. The Mayor’s stomach twisted as he stared at it, dread pooling deep in his chest. What could Peterson be doing with a gold jewelry when his skin reacted badly to gold.