Ethan felt it.
Claire saw it.
And smiled.
“Look at that… she’s waking up.”
She locked the door.
And as Ryan grabbed Ethan—
a voice shouted outside:
“Police! Open the door!”
But Claire was already too close…
“Let him go,” Ms. Parker said.
Claire tightened her grip.
“No one takes what’s mine.”
The door shook.
“Police!”
Ryan went pale.
“Claire—stop.”
“Now you’re scared?” she snapped.
“You cut the brakes!”
“Because you couldn’t!”
Every word shattered the truth wide open.
Ms. Parker said nothing.
She didn’t need to.
She was recording everything.
The door burst open.
Officers rushed in.
Claire struggled—but dropped something.
A scalpel.
Ethan broke free and ran to me.
“Mom…”
With everything I had left—
I squeezed his hand.
Hard.
“She’s awake!” he cried.
I forced my eyes open.
Light burned. Everything blurred.
