Chapter 7 - The Black Dome
The heavy wooden beams of the custom pergola crisscrossed overhead, covered in dense green ivy vines.
Tucked deep into the shadow of the main crossbeam, almost entirely hidden by thick leaves, sat a small, matte-black dome.
A high-definition security camera.
Arthur had installed the hardwired system three months ago, right after they moved into the estate.
It was supposed to monitor package deliveries at the side gate.
It was supposed to keep his new family safe.
A microscopic red light nestled inside the glass lens blinked steadily in the shade.
Blink.
Blink.
Arthur’s eyes locked onto that tiny pulsing dot.
The ice in his chest melted instantly, replaced by a white-hot, consuming fury that made his hands stop shaking.
His right hand reached down into his pocket, his fingers wrapping around his smartphone.
Elise saw the movement of his eyes and followed his line of sight up into the green ivy.
When her eyes hit the small black dome and the tiny red indicator light, every drop of color drained from her face.
Her skin turned from smooth porcelain to the sickly grey of wet ash.
Her glossed lips parted, but no sound came out—just a dry, helpless hitch of air.
Arthur pulled his phone out and tapped the screen to wake it.
The bright light reflected off his dark, unforgiving eyes.
His thumb swiped across the glass with practiced speed, opening the encrypted home surveillance application.
A small white loading ring spun against the black background of the display.
Elise took a hesitant, trembling step forward, her hands outstretched in a silent gesture of plea.
May you like
The loading ring vanished.
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