Without another word, I left them behind, stepping back into the night, leaving the house and her trembling silence in my wake. The darkness that had cloaked them faded into the night, leaving only the faint glow of moonlight on my skin.
As I stepped outside, I reached up and wiped the blood from my palms onto my dirt-streaked pants, the rough fabric absorbing the dark crimson. The cool night air brushed against my face, and I felt the weight of what I had done settle into my bones. It was done. Now, I would let the silence and fear do the rest of my work.
I took a long breath, glancing back at the shadowed house one last time. The silence hung heavy behind me, a reminder of what had transpired. There was no point in lingering, my purpose here was fulfilled.
With a steady, calculated s
