I forced a sneer, suppressing the hatred churning within me. "Did Ben agree to this?" I feigned indifference, but I desperately wanted to know if he, too, wanted to push me to the brink.
"Of course he agreed," Kaitlyn said, her triumphant smile like needles piercing my heart. "We'll be good neighbors from now on, 'looking out' for each other."
I didn't respond immediately, only saying that I needed to prepare dinner and we could discuss everything later.
*****
The aroma of dinner filled the air when a bloodcurdling scream erupted from Oliver's room. My heart lurched, and I rushed over.
Oliver huddled in the corner of his bed, his small body trembling like a fallen leaf. He clutched his teddy bear tightly, his face pale, his eyes filled with terror.
Kaitlyn stood in the center of the
