Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
There were no signs of someone forcing their way inside, but that didn’t mean anything. My car doors had been locked and someone still got in it and left me the music box. At this point, I just wanted to make sure I was alone.
I took the knife with me into the dining room and perched on the edge of my air mattress. Sitting the knife aside, I cautiously lifted the lid of the music box. My stomach twisted. A blackened severed finger rested against the pale red velvet. Our wedding rings rested on either side of it.
Chills washed over me, and my hands began to shake. I picked up the shiny black band to check for an inscription. Till death, right before a small infinity symbol. I sat it down and reached for the next, heart racing in my chest. Do we never part.
Till death, do we never part.
These were our rings. “How did you get here?” I whispered brokenly.
Constantine was wearing his that night, and I’d left mine tucked into the front pocket of his shirt. For them to be here now…
I didn’t want to believe what all the signs were pointing to. I couldn’t entertain the notion Con was alive. That he was here. His death had been confirmed.
A door slammed upstairs. I jumped, and the music box fell from my hands and landed on its side. The severed finger was sent rolling across the dining room floor. I grabbed my knife and lurched to my feet, heading straight for the stairs. I took them two at a time, hesitating briefly when I got to the top.
Every single door was shut. Tightening my grip on the knife’s handle, I pushed each one open. The bathroom was empty. Molly’s room was empty. Our spare bedroom was empty. But the window was open again. I circled back around and checked every closet. I dropped down and looked beneath Molly’s bed.
There was no one.
The house was utterly silent.
I ignored the breeze blowing through the open window and walked back down the stairs, gripping the railing tightly. I got halfway before my legs gave out. I sank down and dropped the knife. Was I losing my goddamn mind?
“What do you want?” I asked the quiet. “What the fuck do you want?” I shouted, knowing no one would answer. Three long seconds later, my cell phone began to ring. I raised my head and slowly stood up, taking my knife with me. I walked the rest of the way down the stairs and back into the dining room. By the time I got to the air mattress, it had stopped and started again. I scooped it up and stared at the screen.
Caller Unknown.
My eyes began to burn with unshed tears. I answered the call and put it on speaker.
At first, there was nothing. And then I heard his voice.
“Hello, Rose.”