The days since Robert’s latest move had been quiet—too quiet. Claire couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing, that the calm was only a prelude to the storm. Each time she walked past the photograph of her and John, still lying on the coffee table, she felt a chill run down her spine. Robert’s message was clear: no place was safe.
She threw herself into her routine, dividing her time between her mother at the hospital and her shifts at the diner. The constant motion kept her mind from wandering too far into fear, but the weight of uncertainty never left her.
Claire was on her way home from the hospital when she noticed something unusual. A group of neighbours had gathered at the edge of her driveway, and there was a mix of curiosity and concern. As she approached, her breath
