Chapter 1 - The Cup Lily Wouldn't Let Him Drink
Daniel Carter had the teacup inches from his mouth when Lily screamed.
"Dad, don't drink it!"
The sixteen-month-old stumbled across the marble dining room as fast as her little legs could carry her.
Daniel barely had time to turn.
Nora moved first.
She grabbed Lily by the arm.
"Stay out of this!"
Then she slapped her.
Lily staggered backward, stunned.
For one frozen second, Daniel simply stared.
"Nora—"
Lily tore free.
She threw both hands against the edge of the dining table.
The cup slipped from Daniel's fingers.
It shattered against the marble.
Tea spread across the pale stone.
Then something strange happened.
It hissed.
Tiny yellow bubbles appeared along the edges of the spill.
Daniel looked down.
Then slowly at Nora.
Lily pointed at her.
"She made it!"
Nora's face changed.
Daniel crossed the room.
"What did you put in that cup?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
"You've lost your mind."
Daniel's rage broke through.
He struck Nora hard enough to send her down beside the table.
"You’re done for."
Nora stared up at him.
But she wasn't afraid.
Not really.
She smiled.
Daniel turned toward Lily.
And froze.
Something was wrong.
A cold wave moved through his chest.
Then heat.
Then a violent pounding behind his eyes.
He grabbed the table.
His fingers suddenly wouldn't hold still.
"Dad?"
Daniel tried to answer.
His breathing shortened.
His knees weakened.
Nora remained on the floor.
Watching.
Waiting.
Daniel stared at her.
"I didn't drink it."
Her smile deepened.
"No."
Daniel's blood went cold.
Nora whispered:
"You didn't have to."
His legs buckled.
Lily screamed.
Daniel caught himself against a chair before hitting the floor.
His vision blurred.
He remembered breakfast.
The pills beside his plate.
The glass of orange juice Nora had handed him.
The strange bitter taste he'd noticed and ignored.
Nora slowly stood.
Daniel realized the tea had never been the beginning.
It had been the backup.
And whatever Nora had given him earlier was already inside his body.
Lily ran toward him.
Daniel forced himself to stay upright.
"Phone."
He pointed toward the counter.
"Lily... Daddy's phone."
The toddler didn't understand everything.
But she understood fear.
She grabbed the phone and dragged it across the floor.
Nora stepped toward them.
Daniel raised one shaking hand.
"Don't."
For the first time, Nora hesitated.
Not because of Daniel.
Because the phone screen had lit up.
A video call was already connected.
Someone had been watching.
And a man's voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel? What's happening?"
Nora's face went white.
Daniel looked at the screen.
May you like
His older brother, Michael.
And Michael had just heard every word.
