As I stood on the empty pier, the chill of the evening air seeped through my clothes, leaving a damp residue of dread in its wake. The water, which had swallowed Milina so eagerly, now lay still, as if it hadn’t just tried to claim her. The memory of the laughter echoed in my ears, each chuckle a cruel jab at the fear that had surged through my veins.
Preston, my son-in-law, and his family had always had a peculiar sense of humor. They liked to test boundaries, pushing limits as if daring the world to push back. But this time, they’d gone too far. The image of Milina, flailing for a moment before slipping beneath the icy surface, was seared into my mind.
The stranger who had helped us vanished as quietly as he had appeared, leaving no trace of his presence but the damp spot on the pier where he had knelt. His kindness, a stark contrast to the callous indifference of Preston and Garrett, was a small balm to my frayed nerves.
