Page 1 of Rest In Peace

Prologue

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL

Thursday Evening

As the rain poured down heavily, Sarah gripped the steering wheel of her car, her knuckles turning white. Her mind was clouded with a mixture of anger, hurt, and frustration. The familiar streets blurred as she drove through town, her vision distorted by the raindrops cascading down the windshield.

She knew it was a terrible idea to confront Steven while in such a state. But the alcohol coursing through her veins drowned out any rational thought she had left. She had convinced herself that this confrontation was long overdue—her chance to finally express all the pent-up emotions that had been simmering inside her for far too long.

Lost in her turbulent thoughts, Sarah failed to notice the trash can standing defiantly in the middle of the road until it was too late. With an abrupt thud, the car collided with it, sending a cacophony of clattering sounds echoing through the empty street. A torrent of expletives escaped Sarah's lips as she slammed her foot on the brake, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the dented trash can, its contents spilling onto the wet asphalt.

"Great," Sarah grumbled, her anger further fueled by this unexpected obstacle. She glanced around nervously, praying no one had witnessed her reckless driving. If she were caught, this wouldn't be her first DUI, and she couldn't afford one more. The rain continued to pelt against the roof of her car, adding an extra layer of frustration to her already chaotic state.

Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to calm down and regain control of her emotions. This was not the time for distractions or accidents. She needed to focus on the real reason she was here—to face her husband head-on and tell him just what she thought of him and his actions. He wasn’t fooling her anymore.

With trembling hands, Sarah shifted back into drive and accelerated down the street. Her headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the path toward his house. Each passing minute brought her closer to the confrontation she had been building up in her mind for months. The rain intensified, pounding against her car with a relentless fury that mirrored the storm inside her.

Finally, Sarah arrived at the house. She parked her car haphazardly, not caring about the crooked angle or that she had hit the curb in her haste. She reached for the door handle, her hand trembling with nerves and anger.

As she exited the car, raindrops plastered her hair to her forehead and soaked through her clothes. But she hardly noticed; she was too consumed by the fire raging within her. She marched up the driveway, leaving muddy footprints in her wake. As she approached the porch, Sarah stumbled slightly, her unsteady gait a testament to her intoxication. Yet, fueled by anger and determination, she pressed forward, marching toward the front door with newfound purpose. The porch light flickered, casting an eerie glow on her flushed face. Sarah took a deep breath to steady herself before pounding on the door. Each thud echoed through the house like a declaration of war.

Seconds stretched into minutes, but there was no response. Frustration etched deep lines into Sarah's face as she pounded harder, her voice rising in a crescendo of anger.

"Open this door, you coward! We need to talk!"

With every passing moment of silence, Sarah's fury grew. The rain continued to drum against her back as if mocking her desperation. She stepped back and kicked the door with a force she didn't know she possessed. The sound reverberated through the quiet neighborhood, shattering the calm night like a thunderclap.

Prologue

Adam peered through the window, his heart sinking as he saw Sarah's familiar figure sprinting up to the front door next door. A sigh escaped his lips, and he turned to his wife, Nicki, who stood beside him.

"Oh, no," Adam muttered, his voice laced with weariness. "She's at it again."

Nicki's eyes widened, mirroring Adam's concern. "Oh, dear," she replied softly. "Should we call the cops again?"

Adam hesitated for a moment, contemplating the best course of action. Deep down, he knew reaching out to Sarah might be more productive than involving the authorities. He placed a reassuring hand on Nicki's arm and offered her a small smile.

"It might not be necessary," Adam said gently. "Let me go over there and talk to her."

Nicki nodded, her brow furrowed with worry. "Please, be careful," she urged, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Adam kissed her forehead, feeling a surge of warmth and love for his wife. "I will, I promise," he assured her, his eyes meeting hers. "I won't let anything happen to myself."

With a determined nod, Adam grabbed his raincoat from the hook by the door and slipped it on. He knew the importance of addressing this situation with empathy and understanding. Sarah had always been a troubled soul, lost amidst the chaos of her mind. He almost felt sorry for her, but he knew it was always the drinking that got her in trouble.If only she would stay away from the bottle….

As he stepped out onto their porch, Adam's heart raced with apprehension and compassion. He ran across the neatly trimmed lawn, jumping over puddles of water left by the passing thunderstorm.

Reaching their doorstep, Adam noticed that the door was still open and that it seemed like Sarah had kicked it in.

"Oh, no, what have you gotten yourself into this time, Sarah?” he mumbled, primarily worried about the family’s daughter, Victoria, who was most likely asleep in there somewhere, unaware of what was happening.

Adam stepped onto the porch, his heart heavy. The storm had ceased, leaving a trail of wet leaves and scattered debris in its wake. The front door was swinging eerily in the wind, revealing a glimpse of darkness within.

A chilling breeze brushed against his face as Adam took a tentative step forward. Suddenly, from within the house, he heard a scream that pierced through his bones.

Without hesitation, Adam's instincts kicked into overdrive. He dashed across the threshold and rushed through the dimly lit hallway. The house seemed to hold its breath, suffocating under an oppressive silence broken only by the sound of his racing heartbeat.

As he neared the bedroom door, fear tangled with dread inside him like an intricate knot. A flickering light spilled out from within, casting macabre shadows on the walls. Adam forced himself to push forward, his entire body trembling with horror and determination.

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