Chapter 9 - The Bargain
It was Evelyn.
She stood in the freezing rain wearing a sleek black trench coat, holding a heavy tactical flashlight.
Behind her stood Thorne, the massive bodyguard.
"You really made me work for this one, Clara," Evelyn sighed, wiping a drop of rain from her perfect cheek.
Maria stepped in front of the children.
"Don't touch her," Maria snarled.
Thorne didn't say a word.
He simply stepped forward and struck Maria across the face with the butt of his pistol.
Maria collapsed into the mud, unconscious.
"Mom!" Leo screamed, dropping to his knees beside her.
Evelyn walked slowly up to Clara, clicking her tongue in disappointment.
"Your father is sitting in a holding cell for murder," Evelyn said calmly.
"You have no one left, little bird."
Thorne grabbed Leo by the collar, dragging him away from his bleeding mother.
"Bring them all to the house," Evelyn ordered.
"It's time to end this."
They were shoved into the back of a black van and driven back to the mansion.
Evelyn forced them down into the old wine cellar in the basement.
The room was damp, windowless, and smelled faintly of sulfur.
Thorne threw Maria onto the cold stone floor.
Evelyn pointed to an old wooden chair in the center of the room.
"Sit," she commanded Clara.
Clara dragged herself to the chair, shivering violently.
"Why are you doing this?" Clara cried.
"Your father’s wealth is tied to a trust," Evelyn explained, pacing the room.
"A trust that transfers entirely to you if he goes to prison."
"And if you happen to die in a tragic, accidental gas leak while he's locked up..."
Evelyn smiled a brilliant, terrifying smile.
"I inherit everything as your legal guardian."
She walked to the large iron gas pipes along the wall and gripped the main valve.
"It's been a long time coming, Clara."
Evelyn turned the heavy red wheel.
A loud, hissing sound filled the room, followed immediately by the sickening smell of natural gas.
Evelyn and Thorne walked out, slamming the heavy steel door shut and locking it from the outside.
Clara choked on the fumes, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, Leo crawled over to her in the dark.
May you like
He reached into his muddy pocket and pulled out a glowing cell phone.
"I stole Thorne's phone when he grabbed me," Leo coughed.
