The Wedding Party

Part 81: A SUV

The storm raged around Helena as she approached the Manor, its imposing silhouette looming like a dark sentinel in the night. She took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy door, stepping into the dimly lit foyer. Shadows danced on the walls as she ascended the grand staircase, her heart pounding with each step.

"Helena," Macey's voice called out from the shadows of her bedroom. She stood near the window, her expression a mix of relief and sadness.

"Are you okay?" Helena asked, her voice cracking with concern.

"Is Braeden safe?" Macey asked urgently.

"He's alive," Helena replied, watching as her sister let out a shaky breath.

"Thank God." Macey's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I made a deal with Bo Brandt to keep him alive."

"Brandt is dead," Helena reminded her, her hand gripping the shotgun tighter.

"No," Macey whispered, shaking her head. "Our father shot him, but they never found his body."

"Even if that were true, why would he be trying to kill us now?" Helena demanded, her fear giving way to anger.

"Stay away, Helena!" Macey snapped, her eyes wild with terror. "Just leave me here and go back to the others."

Back at the bar, Amelia approached Olive hesitantly, her small voice barely audible above the din of worried conversation.

"Olive," she began, wringing her hands nervously, "I lied about Macey kidnapping me."

"Then who did, Amelia?" Olive asked, her gaze filled with suspicion and confusion.

At the Manor, Macey looked imploringly at Helena. "Brandt is alive, Helena. And I am not the reason he's killing again."

"Then why?" Helena's voice trembled as she noticed the rope tied to Macey's wrist, her sister's eyes filled with tears.

"Because I made a deal with him," Macey whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She gestured to a walkie-talkie on the nearby dresser. "It's too late for me."

"Please don't say that, Macey," Helena begged, her own eyes brimming with tears.

"Brandt won't stop killing, but you can finish this, Helena. You can end his reign of terror." Macey's gaze held a fierce determination as she looked into her sister's eyes. "I love you, Helena."

The moment the words left her lips, Macey was yanked backward through the window, her scream echoing through the stormy night.

Rain pelted against Helena's face as she stumbled out of the Manor, her heart pounding in her chest. Frantically searching for any sign of Macey, she spotted a rope leading from an SUV's bumper through a pulley system. "No, no, no," Helena whispered, her dread intensifying with every step she took.

Rounding the corner, she came upon the grisly scene: Macey's body hanging lifelessly, her face ashen and eyes wide open with terror. A guttural cry tore from Helena's throat as she crumpled to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

"Such a shame," a voice behind her drawled. Before Helena could react, Bo Brandt appeared, snatching the shotgun from her trembling hands. His cold gaze pierced into her soul as he said, "You look just like your sister."

"Go to hell, you monster," Helena spat, her grief momentarily replaced by a surge of fury.

"Helena, darling, it was never personal," Brandt replied, his tone mocking. He gestured toward Macey's limp form. "Your sister made her choice, and so have I."

"Choice?" Helena seethed, her fingernails digging into her palms. "You killed innocent people! You destroyed families!"

"Everyone has their reasons," Brandt mused, casually inspecting the shotgun. "Macey wanted to save your precious Braeden. Me? I'm simply tying up loose ends."

"Loose ends?" Helena's anger simmered beneath her fear, her thoughts racing to find a way to stop Brandt. "You're a sadistic psychopath who can't let go of the past."

"Ah, but the past is what shapes us, my dear." Brandt smirked, leveling the shotgun at Helena. "I must say, though, it's been a pleasure getting to know you better, but I'm afraid our time is up."

"Go on, then," Helena challenged, her voice wavering as she fought back tears. "Finish what you started. Just know that you won't break me."

"Brave words." Brandt's eyes narrowed, his finger tightening on the trigger.

In that moment, Helena forced herself to remain as still as possible, her thoughts racing through every memory of Macey, Braeden, and her friends. If this was going to be her end, she would face it with courage, just as her sister had done.