Freya
On the day of the event, excitement was everywhere in the air. Families had gathered at the school, and a special bus had been arranged to take us all to the forest campsite. It had soft, comfortable seats arranged in groups of four around small tables.
It felt more like a luxury train than a bus for a preschool event.
Lily and I made our way toward the back, holding hands as we moved through the crowd of parents and children, all of them buzzing with excitement. As we got close to the last row, someone caught my eye.
Alpha Vane, my stepfather, was sitting in one of the seats near the front. Next to him sat Clara, my stepmother, with a small boy who looked about four years old. My stomach dropped the moment I saw them.
If he hadn’t come to my house to threaten me recently, I w
