Chapter 6 - The Fall from Grace
Eleanor leaned precariously over the edge, the freezing rain blurring her desperate vision.
She could barely make out the small hands gripping the fragile root jutting from the rock face.
It was Julian, dangling helplessly over the deadly, crashing waves hundreds of feet below.
Eleanor reached her arms down as far as they would go, screaming for Julian to grab her hand.
Julian was crying hysterically, his small fingers slipping on the wet, muddy bark of the root.
He cried out that he was sorry for not being her real son and that she should just save Leo instead.
Eleanor violently rejected his words, shouting that he was her son and she would never leave him behind.
Leo bravely crawled to the edge beside her, digging his knees into the mud to anchor himself.
The street boy grabbed Eleanor's waist tightly, acting as a human counterweight so she could lean further down.
With a final, desperate surge of strength, Julian let go of the root and lunged for Eleanor's outstretched hands.
She caught him by the wrists, the sudden jerk nearly pulling both her and Leo over the precipice.
Together, Eleanor and Leo strained against the heavy mud, slowly dragging the wealthy boy back up to safety.
They all collapsed onto the wet grass, coughing and clinging to one another as a unified, inseparable family.
The three remaining armed guards, seeing their employer dead, wisely turned and fled into the stormy night.
Eleanor wasted no time, rushing the boys to a hidden garage on the property where she kept a vintage sports car.
They sped away from the nightmare estate, driving furiously toward the nearest police precinct in the city.
The bright, sterile lights of the police station offered the first feeling of genuine safety they had felt all night.
Eleanor marched to the front desk, immediately demanding to speak to the highest-ranking officer available.
The desk sergeant quickly escorted them into a warm, private office belonging to the precinct captain.
The captain walked in with a warm, reassuring smile, offering them dry blankets and hot tea.
Eleanor finally relaxed her guard, preparing to give a full statement about her husband's horrific crimes.
As the captain handed her a cup of tea, his uniform sleeve slid back just a few inches.
May you like
Eleanor froze, staring in absolute, suffocating terror at his wrist.
The captain was wearing a custom silver watch engraved with the exact same snake insignia as Marcus's tattoo.
