Chapter 4 - TRAPPED IN THE DARK
Silence fell over the dark apartment like a heavy blanket.
Ethan immediately reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, turning on the flashlight.
Marcus did the same, illuminating the dark corners of the study.
“The main power breaker was cut,” Marcus whispered, his voice tense.
“The building has a backup generator, but it hasn't kicked in.”
“Someone manually disabled the power to this floor,” Ethan said, clutching the brass key tightly in his fist.
He slipped the key and the parchment note securely into his inner jacket pocket.
From the hallway outside the study, a faint sound echoed through the darkness.
It was the slow, rhythmic sound of footsteps dragging across the hardwood floor.
Click.
Click.
Click.
It was the sound of high heels.
Ethan gestured for Marcus to stay behind him.
He stepped out of the study and beamed his phone light down the long corridor.
Standing at the end of the hallway was Eleanor.
The white satin robe she had been wearing was gone.
She was now dressed in a sleek, dark tactical outfit, her long hair tied back tightly.
In her right hand, she held a sleek, silver handgun equipped with a suppressor.
The sight of the weapon made Ethan’s breath catch in his throat.
She was no longer pretending to be a helpless, hysterical wife.
The mask had completely fallen off.
“You always were too clever for your own good, Ethan,” Eleanor said, her voice smooth, icy, and completely devoid of emotion.
“Give me the key.”
Ethan kept his flashlight beam aimed directly at her face to obscure her line of sight.
“Who sent you?” Ethan demanded, taking a slow step backward toward the study door.
“Was it my father’s business partners?”
“Or did you target me on your own?”
Eleanor chuckled softly, a chilling sound that echoed off the bare walls.
“Your father was a paranoid old fool,” she said coldly, taking a slow step toward him.
“He thought he could hide his past forever.”
“He thought he could protect you and that pathetic little girl.”
“Where is the key, Ethan?”
“If you give it to me right now, I might let you leave this apartment alive.”
“What about my daughter?” Ethan asked, his voice shaking with anger.
“What about the child you burned tonight?”
Eleanor smiled cruelly in the darkness.
“She was a convenient distraction,” Eleanor sneered.
“I needed you frantic, confused, and angry so you wouldn't notice what was really happening.”
“And it worked perfectly, didn't it?”
“You brought the lawyer right to me.”
“You found the hidden compartment for me.”
Ethan realized she had manipulated the entire sequence of events from the moment she lit that lighter.
She had staged the attack to force him to open the secret hidden compartments in the house out of desperation.
“You’re a monster,” Ethan hissed.
“I am a professional,” Eleanor corrected sharply, raising the suppressed pistol.
“Now, hand over the key.”
Before Ethan could react, Marcus suddenly lunged from the shadows of the study door.
He threw his heavy leather briefcase directly at Eleanor’s head.
Clang!
The heavy bag struck her arm, knocking her aim off balance.
Thwip!
A muted gunshot spat from the suppressor, the bullet embedding itself harmlessly into the wooden doorframe.
“Run, Ethan!” Marcus yelled at the top of his lungs, tackling Eleanor against the hallway wall.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
He turned around and sprinted down the dark hallway toward the guest room.
“Maria! Open the door!” Ethan roared, slamming his hands against the heavy guest room door.
The lock clicked instantly, and the door swung open.
Ethan shoved himself inside and slammed the door shut, locking it tight behind him.
May you like
From the hallway, the sound of a violent struggle suddenly ended with a dull thud.
Then, absolute silence returned.
