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(Maria POV) The car ride was silent, the kind of silence that felt alive, pressing in on me from all sides. The only sounds were the faint hum of the tires on the road and my own uneven breathing. I sat in the back seat, staring out the tinted window, watching as the city lights faded into the darkness of the countryside. The estate had disappeared behind me, swallowed by the night, but I could still feel its weight lingering on my skin. Alexander’s voice echoed in my head. "You don’t have to do this." But I did. I clenched my fists in my lap, nails digging into my palms. The weight of the gun tucked beneath my coat felt heavier than it should have. Every breath I took felt like I was inhaling something poisoned. “Are you ready?” Gerald’s voice broke through the silence, pulling me
- Writer
