Chapter 2 INTO THE DARK WATERS

Author's pov

Damien and Everly stood in the dimly lit room, their eyes fixed on Glenira's limp body sprawled on the cold, cracked floor. The once vibrant young woman was now nothing more than a lifeless shell, her soft brown hair matted against her pale skin, and her once bright eyes now dull and vacant. The eerie silence that filled the room was only broken by the shallow breaths of the twins, their chests rising and falling in unison as they stared down at their handiwork.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across Damien's lips as he tilted his head slightly, taking in the sight of Glenira's still form. "It's done," he whispered, the words dripping with cold satisfaction. His hand, still trembling slightly from the adrenaline, reached out to grasp Everly's, pulling her closer. "We did it."

Everly's lips curled into a grin that mirrored her. There was a coldness in her eyes, an emptiness that only deepened as she gazed at her twin sister's body. Glenira, who had always been the more beloved of the two, was now nothing more than a tragic casualty of their dark ambitions. "She was always so naive," Everly muttered, her voice laced with disdain. "But it was time she learned that this world isn't kind to the weak."

Damien chuckled darkly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Everly's face. "And we've made sure of that."

Everly tore her gaze from Glenira and turned to Damien, her scowl deepening. "How do we get rid of this body?" she asked, her tone harsh and practical, as if discussing a mere inconvenience rather than the disposal of their sister's corpse.

Damien's eyes gleamed with a twisted sort of pleasure as he considered the options. Then, an idea struck him. "Let's dump her in the cursed river," he suggested, his voice carrying a sinister edge. "No one will bother to look for her body if they ever get the hint. The river is sacred, and everyone tends to avoid it. Even the bravest of souls wouldn't dare venture near it."

Everly nodded in agreement, her mind already picturing Glenira's body sinking into the dark, swirling waters of the cursed river, swallowed by the secrets it had claimed over the centuries. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "That's perfect."

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and their accomplice, the driver who had been sent to bring Glenira to the abandoned tower house, stepped inside. His eyes darted nervously between the twins and the lifeless body on the floor, but he quickly composed himself, knowing there was no room for hesitation now.

"Dump her in the cursed river," Damien instructed, his tone cold and authoritative. "You get your full payment when that is done."

The driver swallowed hard, nodding in understanding. "Consider it done," he replied, though his voice wavered ever so slightly. He wasn't one to question orders, especially when such a large sum of money was on the line. He approached Glenira's body, his hands steady despite the unsettling task ahead. With practiced ease, he began to bundle her lifeless form, wrapping her in a thick, coarse blanket to conceal her features. As he worked, he could feel the weight of the twins' gaze on him, their eyes boring into his back.

Damien and Everly exchanged a final glance before turning to leave, their footsteps echoing off the walls as they made their way out of the tower house. They had to return back to the birthday party. After all, it was Evelyn and Glenira's birthday, their absence would raise questions, and the last thing they needed was to draw attention to themselves. As they walked, their hearts pounded with a mixture of fear and exhilaration, the thrill of what they had done still coursing through their veins.

With every step, they forced themselves to adopt a facade of normalcy, practicing their smiles and laughter in the dimly lit hallway. By the time they reached the exit, their expressions were masks of innocence, the perfect picture of siblings eager to celebrate their sister's special day.

Meanwhile, the driver finished securing Glenira's body and hoisted the bundle over his shoulder, grunting slightly under the weight. He moved quickly, not daring to linger any longer than necessary. The drive to the cursed river was a short one, but it felt agonizingly long as the oppressive silence pressed in around him. Every bump in the road made his heart skip a beat, as if the river itself was calling to the body he carried, eager to claim yet another soul.

When he finally reached the cursed river, the driver hesitated for just a moment, his hand trembling as he touched the surface of the icy water. The river was as dark and foreboding as the stories had said, its depths unknowable, its waters unnaturally still. But he had a job to do.

With a deep breath, he stepped closer to the edge and, with one final glance at the lifeless bundle, heaved Glenira's body into the cursed river. The water splashed up around her as she sank beneath the surface, the ripples quickly fading as if she had never been there at all. The river accepted her without question, pulling her down into its cold embrace, where she would remain hidden from the world above.

The driver watched until the water was still again, then turned on his heel and made his way back to his car, eager to be away from the cursed place. As he drove off, he felt a strange sense of relief wash over him, as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

But deep down, he knew the river would never forget what it had taken that night.