Page 169 of Everything She Feared

“Get out! We’re not like you!”

“Katie is! She’s exactly like me.”

“Get out! You’re a monster! Get out!”

“YOU’RE THE MONSTER, HAYLEY! AND TODAY’S THE DAY FOR DESTROYING MONSTERS!”

Still gripping her phone, Sara illuminated the screen to call 911.

Magda’s hand shot in and out of her pocket. A steel blade flashed, and Magda struck Sara with several rapid thrusts until she collapsed on the floor.

Katie’s screams vibrated off the ceiling, walls and windows.

Magda looked up at her. “Shh, sweetheart. It’s going to be alright. I’m your true grandmother. And today’s the day I’ve come to take you with me.”

Horrified, Katie cried out, “Mom! Mom, get up! Why did you hurt my mom?”

“She was a terrible mother. She lied to you all these years.”

Paralyzed with fear, Katie’s eyes widened as Magda moved toward the staircase, still holding the knife dripping with Sara’s blood.

“I watched over you in the park that day,” Magda said, taking the first steps up. “I wanted to get you alone and talk to you. I followed a little behind you and that girl on the trail, keeping out of sight. I didn’t see, but I heard a scream. Then, from the forest, I saw you looking down over the cliff. That’s when I knew—you pushed her.”

“No! No! I never pushed Anna!”

Magda took another step.

“How did it feel to have that power over life?”

“I didn’t push her!”

Another step.

“I know you did it because we’re the same. Your blood is mine.”

“No.”

“And after you ran, I looked down at her. She was hanging on to that tree root. I knew if they saved her, she would tell them what you did—”

“But I didn’t!” Katie shook her head. “I didn’t!”

Another step.

“If she survived, she would tell, so I got a rock and did what needed to be done, for you. For us.”

“No!” Katie sobbed.

“You have to accept it. You have my blood. We belong together. I’ve been dreaming and waiting for this special day. We are destined to do glorious things. Together.”

Magda neared the top of the stairs and Katie screamed.

“MOM! PLEASE GET UP!”

On the floor below, Sara’s eyelids fluttered open.

Her body numb, her vision blurred, she heard Katie’s cries. Grunting, she pulled herself to her knees in time to see Katie run from Magda, fly into her room and slam the door.

Sara crawled to the stairs and began climbing them on her hands and knees.

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