🗝️Detective Ryker Viltarin must uncover dark secrets before he loses not only his heart but also his life.🗝️
You're on your own, far from home
The wind is blowing in the top of the pines
A gloomy sky where the sun never shines
Deep...
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The next morning came far too quickly. Eve felt exhausted as if she hadn't slept for ages. The last few days had robbed her of an infinite amount of strength, and although the storm had passed, no hopeful ray of sunshine penetrated the dense cloud cover. Instead, dull, gray clouds hung in the sky and reflected the dreary mood in the cottage.
Evelyn crept quietly out of the room and listened for a moment with each creak of the floorboards to see if she had woken anyone in the house. But it remained quiet for the time being. Barefoot, she crossed the living room and was thinking about what to make for breakfast when her eyes fell on the box that was still on the kitchen counter. The yellow looked strangely out of place on the polished wood and didn't match the oppressive feeling it triggered in her. Everything suddenly seemed to make sense - and yet it didn't.
The flowers that kept reappearing, the boxes with strange contents. Yes, she certainly believed Dylan was capable of all that. When they argued, and sometimes she was already packing her suitcase, he always came with presents—flowers, chocolates, a new piece of jewelry, a family outing—and lots of apologies and empty promises. But money and presents couldn't make up for or straighten out everything.
"What the hell are you thinking, Dylan?" she wondered aloud before stepping up to the counter and scowling at the package as if she could pierce the box with it. Part of her wanted to throw the stupid box in the trash unopened. What would be worse? Not knowing what was inside, asking all the time, and never getting an answer? Or opening the thing? Eve knew it would annoy her no matter what was inside. So, open it or throw it away?
Sighing, she finally pulled on the ribbon, untied the knot, and placed her fingers on the lid. Then she paused. Even she didn't know exactly why. It felt strange, made her pulse race, and suddenly, she heard the chirping of the early birds outside the windows louder than before.
She thought of the package from the porch—the red box with the skeleton key and the 'HOME' sign that wouldn't fit into any lock. That was ridiculous. What was he trying to achieve?
Eve shook her head as if she could banish the aimless thoughts - and pulled the lid off the cardboard box. Shortly afterward, yellow tissue paper rustled between her fingers as she unfolded it. The young mother stared momentarily while her forehead creased in incomprehension.
