“Hey,” I said carefully, crouching near the porch steps. “I’m Ethan. What are your names?”
The girl on the left pointed to herself. “Emma.”
Then she pointed to the other girl. “Ella.”
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, almost eerie in a way I couldn’t explain.
I’d spent years negotiating multimillion-dollar investment deals with ruthless executives. Yet somehow, kneeling in front of those frightened children made me feel completely helpless.
“Where’s your mom?” I asked softly. ucrm
The question changed everything.
Ella lowered her head immediately.
Emma gripped the bread tighter.
Neither answered.
A cold knot formed in my chest.
“Are you girls hungry?”
Emma nodded slightly.
“Then why aren’t you eating?”
The twins exchanged a long look before Emma whispered something so heartbreaking it nearly stopped my breathing.
“Mom said we have to save it.”
“Save it for what?” I asked.
Neither girl answered.
Instead, both slowly turned their heads toward the woods behind the cottage.
Toward the narrow trail hidden between the trees.
The exact trail Olivia used to walk every evening before sunset.
Nobody else knew about that path.
Nobody.
A chill crawled up my spine.
Then Ella finally looked back at me.
And in a trembling voice, she whispered the words that made my blood run cold.
“Olivia said you would come.”
My heart nearly stopped.
Because there was absolutely no way these girls should have known my wife’s name.
And deep in the dark woods behind the house, something suddenly moved between the trees.
