Eve's heart pounded as the message on the wall seemed to pulse with life, each letter jagged and wild, as though carved in a frenzy. The scent of iron and damp wood hung heavy in the air, making her stomach churn. Gabriel's grip on her wrist was strong, almost bruising, but she didn't shake it off. She needed the contact, a silent acknowledgment that whatever darkness had just made itself known, they were in it together.
Gabriel released her and stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he surveyed the attic. The boxes were overturned, their contents reduced to a chaotic spill of memories—a child's drawing of a cabin beneath a crimson sky, a faded photograph of a man with the same steel-gray eyes as Gabriel, and a bundle of letters tied with frayed twine. He knelt and picked up the photograph, staring at the face of his father, younger and less burdened by the weight of the years.
"This was deliberate," he said, his voice low and edged with anger. "They wanted us to see this."
Eve shivered as the wind found its way through the cracks in the walls, chilling her to the bone. "Who would go to such lengths? It doesn't make sense."
Gabriel didn't answer immediately. His jaw tightened as he glanced back at the writing on the wall. The phrase, Blood remembers. Blood repays., seemed to taunt them, as if daring them to piece together the mystery. He straightened, turning to face her, eyes hard with determination.
YOU ARE READING
Blood Ties
Ficção AdolescenteIn a remote cabin, 33-year-old Gabriel and 20-year-old Eve must face a brutal slasher targeting their family. Once high school enemies, their tense past is reawakened as they are forced to work together to survive. The killer is no stranger-it's a f...
