The Pianist's Reckoning

scraps of food when her "duties" were done. Sleep was a luxury, snatched in a cold attic ro

during a rare moment alone, wh

do you want from me?" Her

ssion, Ava. A sincere apology to Lila. For

didn' t

en you' ll stay here, l

. Maybe she' s just not ready to face what she' s done." She placed a comf

asoning, no escape through truth.

shed. Fear became her constant companion – fear of what t

d to s

an to feign

red, "Yes, sir," and "No, sir," to Mark. She even offered a weak

r with a calculating look, perhaps w

The sky turned black, wind howled, and rain lashed

as her

ouse, likely by the fireplace. Ava was confi

d hidden a tiny, old burner phone years ago in a loose floorboard in the pantry, a reli

etrieved it. The battery wa

zzy" Rossi. A young, sharp journalist Ava had mentored year

nnected, mi

m in trouble. Serious trouble."

location, Mark, Lila, the

' re trying to break m

t do anything rash. I' m on my way." The line cr

opped. The

nough. Ava pray

wait. Mark mig

to get

m the outside. The windows were

her. She found a

in dish towel, she smashe

l, into her hand. Pain seared up her

gged edges, her ha

t, bare, landed on the muddy ground outsi

t care. Sh

bell on her collar tinkled eerily in the storm.

, away from the house,

s throbbed. She was col

the storm raging around her, unsure where sh

e out. She collapsed at the base of a large

. A vehicle was slowly making i

had to

st ounce of str

d. A figure emerge

va, is t

' s

ng over her in a dizzying wave ju