Chapter 2 - Whispers in the Dark
The manor smelled of fresh lilies and decay.
Outside, the rain poured heavy against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the study.
Inside, Ava sat motionless in her wheelchair, her fingers trembling against her lap.
Every muscle in her body burned with exhaustion.
The daily doses of the drug were destroying her nervous system.
She looked at the antique mahogany clock on the wall.
4:00 PM.
In two hours, the lawyers would arrive for the final remote notarization.
Margaret had arranged everything.
She had declared Ava mentally incapacitated due to "severe neurological trauma."
All she needed now was Ava's signature on the transfer deed.
Suddenly, the heavy oak door squeaked open.
It was Rosa, the quiet twenty-two-year-old housemaid.
Rosa had been hired only two months ago to clean the west wing.
She was a quiet girl from a small town, usually keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.
Rosa walked in holding a stack of fresh linens.
She checked the hallway left and right before closing the door softly behind her.
She dropped the linens and rushed to Ava’s side.
"Mrs. Sterling," Rosa whispered, her voice shaking with fear.
"You need to know."
"I saw her."
Ava lifted her head with great effort, her eyes clouded.
"Rosa...?"
"I saw Mrs. Margaret in the kitchen this morning," Rosa stammered, pulling a tiny glass vial from her apron pocket.
"She was pouring this into your evening medicine cup."
"I took the empty vial from the trash."
"I looked up the label on the internet."
"It’s a powerful nerve blocker... it causes temporary paralysis and brain fog."
"She’s not curing you, ma'am."
"She’s paralyzing you!"
Tears spilled down Ava’s pale cheeks.
She wasn't crazy.
Her body wasn't failing naturally.
She was being crushed by the woman she called family.
"Daniel..." Ava gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Call... Daniel..."
"I tried!" Rosa cried softly. "All the landlines are disconnected!"
"The Wi-Fi router in your room was removed!"
"Mrs. Margaret took my phone this morning saying staff wasn't allowed devices during work hours!"
"We are completely locked in!"
The heavy footsteps echoed down the marble hallway outside.
Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
Margaret’s high heels were approaching.
Rosa gasped, shoving the vial back into her apron.
"She’s coming," Rosa whispered terror-stricken.
"Don't drink it today, Mrs. Sterling."
"Whatever happens... don't drink it!"
The door swung wide open.
Margaret stepped into the study, wearing a sharp burgundy suit.
In her right hand, she carried a silver tray with a small paper cup.
In her left hand, she held a thick leather folder.
"That will be all, Rosa," Margaret said coldly, her eyes sharp as glass.
"Leave us."
Rosa bowed her head, her knuckles white against her apron.
"Yes, Mrs. Margaret."
May you like
She slowly stepped back, but she didn't leave the hallway completely.
She stood in the shadow behind the heavy door, her heart hammering against her ribs.
