Chapter 15 - The Shattering of the Altar
The silence between them stretched until it snapped with a terrifying force. David slowly raised his hand, holding the yellowed note right between their faces, his voice dropping to a harsh, icy whisper that cut through the afternoon air. "Where is she, Elena?" he demanded, his eyes burning into hers with a terrifying, unyielding fury. "Where is Rebecca? And what did you dig up?" Elena’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. The color drained completely from her skin, leaving her as pale as her wedding dress. She took an involuntary step backward, her sweeping lace train catching on the stone floor. Before she could craft a lie, before she could utter a single word of defense, a sharp, distinct sound echoed from inside the dark archway of the stone chapel. It was the loud, rhythmic click-clack of high heels striking the marble floor of the sanctuary—slow, deliberate, and approaching the open doors. David’s eyes didn't leave Elena’s face, but he saw the absolute terror that instantly seized her features as the footsteps grew louder. From the dark depths of the chapel archway, a long, dark shadow stretched out across the stone path, spilling right up to the hem of Elena's white dress. The past had arrived, and the true nightmare was just beginning.
