Chapter 3 - Shadows on the Playground
The threat became terrifyingly real three days later.
Ryder and Cole, the twin troublemakers, were usually the loud, energetic core of the household. But when they came home from school on Thursday, they were uncharacteristically quiet. Clara found them sitting on the back porch, staring out into the snow-covered woods.
"Hey, you two," Clara said, sitting between them and wrapping a thick blanket over their shoulders. "Where's the fire? No snowball fights today?"
"A man was watching us at the school gates today, Clara," Ryder said, his voice small.
"He had a silver stick," Cole added, looking up at her with wide, frightened eyes. "He didn't talk to us. He just stood by the black car, smiling and pointing at us. He held up a drawing of a dragon. Like the ones we talk about."
Clara’s heart stopped. Julian Thorne. He was targeting the kids. He was showing them that they weren't safe, even at school.
She immediately brought the twins inside, locked all the doors, and called Victor. Within thirty minutes, Victor arrived at the mansion, accompanied by two large, stern-looking men in suits.
"These are security personnel," Victor explained, his voice laced with a dangerous, quiet fury. "They will be escorting the kids to and from school. No exceptions."
That evening, the atmosphere in the mansion shifted. The warmth of the past six months was choked out by a thick blanket of paranoia. Mason sat in his room, refusing to work on his science project. Lily clutched her teddy bear, refusing to leave Clara’s side.
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"We are under siege in our own home," Clara whispered to Victor as they stood in the kitchen, watching the security guards patrol the perimeter outside.
"I won't let him touch them, Clara. I swear on my life," Victor growled, his eyes burning with a dark, protective instinct. But Clara could see the fear beneath his anger. For the first time, Victor Hale didn't know how to win.
