Seventy Four

Lenora

I was watching a crime thriller about a woman who murdered someone and buried her body in the middle of nowhere when I heard the noise. It sounded like a scream and a strangled sob from downstairs.

When I recognized Mariselle's voice, my body jolted upright and my heart began pounding like an anvil. I quickly turned off the TV and without a second thought, sprinted down the stairs, eager to find out what was going on.

They were in one of the mini living rooms, Mariselle with her face in her hands while her hair hung loose on her face.

Bursting into the living room, my eyes darted around, and the trio immediately stopped talking. I frowned, wondering why there was such a sudden hush.

"What's going on?" I asked, rooted to the spot, my gaze fixed on CJ, who blinked rapidly and forced a watery smile on his face.

The tension in the air felt thick and suffocating as the silence stretched longer and thinner. My stomach tightened, and my breathing hitched. Something bad had happene