Chapter 1 - THE PLUM DRESS
The air in the hallway smelled faintly of stale lavender perfume and damp plaster.
Beige floral wallpaper lined the narrow corridor, its elaborate roses gleaming under the warm sconce lights.
At the center of the runner rug, five-year-old Lily cowered against the baseboard.
Her white cotton dress was smeared with grey dust.
Standing over her, Eleanor adjusted the waist of her sleeveless plum-colored dress.
Her blonde hair was pinned back in a tight, merciless bun.
"Cry all you want, little girl," Eleanor whispered, her long acrylic nails pinching Lily’s small shoulder.
"Dead girls don't reveal family secrets!"
Before Lily could scream, a small frame threw itself into the gap between them.
Ten-year-old Toby, his grey hoodie torn at the elbow, rammed his shoulder straight into Eleanor’s hip.
The impact sent the woman stumbling back two paces, her heels catching on the rug's fringe.
Toby stood tall, his small fists balled tight, shielding his little sister with his own body.
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A fresh scratch red on his cheekbone throbbed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He glared up at Eleanor with pure, unyielding hatred.
