Page 28 of No Escape

“I wish I could have been a fly on the wall,” Suzie said. “Then I could know exactly what Mom is like deep down.”

“We still don’t know exactly what our mother did,” Valerie said. “But I refuse to be defined by the mystery of it any longer. All I can do is move forward and try to be better. We’re more than the sum of our parts, Suzie.”

Valerie slowed down and pulled into the sidewalk, not a soul in sight.

She turned and cupped her little sister’s face in her hands. “You are a lovely person and you deserve to be happy. There’s not an ounce of evil in you. And I should know…”

Valerie looked out to a row of houses, focusing her gaze on a two-story house in the middle.

“I’ve encountered it enough,” she said.

Suzie nodded, a tear streaking her cheek before Valerie gently wiped it away.

“My friend Will,” Valerie said softly. “He told me once that darkness needs the light. It craves it. All you need is someone to come along and flick the switch… We can do that, Suzie. You and I. Despite all the pain in our lives. Despite the history. We can flick that switch forotherpeople. Our lives might have been dark, but we can stop that from happening to other people…”

“I see it now.” Suzie smiled. “That’s why you did it, isn’t it?”

“Did what?” Valerie asked.

“Joined the FBI,” Suzie answered. “You wanted to bring a bit of light to the world.”

Suzie looked out at the houses again. “Which one is it?”

Valerie pointed to the two-story house in the middle of the row. “That’s it,” she said, her voice laced with misgivings. “Number 17.”

“That’s where John Murphy used to live with his wife?” Suzie asked.

“Yes,” Valerie murmured. “It was his family home, for a time at least. Come on.”

Valerie opened her door and stepped out into the street, feeling oddly exposed in the eerie silence. Suzie followed suit and they began walking along the cracked pavement toward the house. Valerie felt tense as they approached, unsure of what to expect.

The sun was shining down on them, providing some warmth as a gentle breeze blew through their hair. There were no other people in sight, no noise except for the occasional chirp from a nearby bird. Valerie couldn’t help but feel that something strange was happening—like there was an unseen force watching over them as they walked closer and closer to their destination.

Finally, Valerie spotted a “For Sale” sign planted in the overgrown front yard. The shutters on the windows were closed tight and Valerie felt a chill run down her spine as she wondered what secrets might be hidden behind them. She glanced at Suzie and saw that she was just as apprehensive.

Valerie huffed out a breath, trying to summon some courage from within.

“We’re lucky no one’s home,” she said, trying to sound more positive than she felt. “If John Murphy had still been here with his family… he could have killed them.”

Suzie nodded slowly, but it was clear that she was still troubled by the idea. They reached the front gate of the house and Valerie paused before pushing it open. Taking a deep breath, she stepped up to the door.

Valerie reached up and knocked gently, listening for any noises coming from within. As she expected, there was no answer, but just to be sure, she knocked again a little louder. Still nothing. Suzie gave her an encouraging smile and Valerie turned the knob, pushing open the door to reveal a dark interior.

“Why is it unlocked?” Suzie asked.

Valerie studied the lock. “Someone has forced it. Be careful, okay?”

Suzie nodded, hesitating. “You think he’s here already, don’t you?”

“Maybe.”

Valerie stepped inside and was met with the smell of stale air mixed with something else—something that sent shivers down her spine. She looked around cautiously but couldn’t see much in the darkness. Taking a few more steps forward, she felt something crunch beneath her foot and she paused, quickly realizing it was glass.

Valerie felt Suzie move closer behind her as she continued farther inside, careful to avoid making too much noise for fear of attracting unwanted attention.

As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they were able to make out some furniture scattered across the room as if someone had left in a hurry—or been dragged away from it without warning. It seemed like time had been frozen here—like they’d stepped into another world entirely. As if sensing their presence, Valerie felt an icy chill on her skin and whispers on the back of her neck as if something unseen was watching them intently.

A cackle sounded from inside the house somewhere. Valerie shuddered. It was her mother’s voice. The stress was getting to her. She was on the cusp of another hallucination

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