Chapter 2 02

Sadly, on the fifth day after Adam had been jailed, a knock had sounded at her door and there was Daniel, smiling his 'innocent' smile which shot a bolt of fear through her being. Despite her assurance that she didn't want his help or 'sympathy', he continued to plague her. The first few visits had been standard Daniel, hovering too close, offering his version of pity at Adam's situation when it wasn't wanted.

Every time she saw his face, she wanted to threaten to call the police if he didn't leave her alone, but was too afraid of how Daniel might react, and she also didn't feel the police would believe her since no mention of Daniel had been made in the initial report.

Rain started to splatter across her windshield, and she turned the wipers on as her brain went over what had happened three days ago. The rhythmic sound of the rain only made her mind race more, adding an unsettling layer to her already frayed nerves. The situation had escalated so quickly, and she had no idea how to make it stop. She needed to think, to focus on something else, anything else, but the memories kept creeping back, like a dark cloud that refused to dissipate. She couldn't escape the feeling that things were about to get worse, far worse than she could anticipate. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel as the thought crossed her mind-how had Daniel gotten so close? How had she allowed him to get so close?

Juggling with three bags of groceries, she managed to unlock the front door without dropping anything. Her fridge had been empty for three days, but with Adam and an annoying subplot that wouldn't sort itself out, she'd been too busy to care, simply surviving on what was left in her pantry: cashews and muesli bars. At least, she thought as she walked into her house, the small consolation of a grocery run would make her feel a bit more normal. The thought of pasta for dinner had almost made her smile. But as she moved through the hallway to the kitchen, she wasn't expecting the nightmare that awaited her.

The heavy door to the kitchen swung open, and she froze, caught in the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat and then began pounding furiously in her chest as her gaze landed on him. Daniel. He stood there, leaned casually against the kitchen island, a terrifying calmness radiating from him. In his hand was her large cutting knife, the blade catching the dim light as he tested the sharpness with a careful touch, as though he were inspecting a prized possession.

She stood there, eyes wide, her hands instinctively clutching the grocery bags. A panic surged through her veins, and she could feel the heat rising in her face, a flush of fear that made her feel dizzy. What was he doing here? How had he gotten in?

"W-what are you doing in my house?" She demanded, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to sound strong. She could feel her throat tightening, but she forced the words out. Her feet refused to move, as if her body had forgotten how to flee.

Daniel didn't respond immediately. Instead, he shifted slightly, his gaze never leaving her, almost as if he were savoring the moment, taking in the effect his presence had on her. Then, with a sigh, he glanced down at the knife and casually lowered his arm, as though this was all just another casual conversation.

"Norah, Norah," he said with a slow, deliberate tone. His voice was soft, almost sympathetic, but she could hear the malice lurking underneath. "I've tried to be patient, but I'm afraid I've run out. Now, let's do this the easy way and no one will get hurt. Tell me where Adam hid the diamonds."

Her blood ran cold. Her breath caught in her throat, and her mind scrambled to keep up with the sudden shift in the conversation. Diamonds? What diamonds?

The confusion was fleeting, replaced by a sharp pang of realization. Daniel was desperate, and the way he said it, with that false kindness in his voice, sent a chill down her spine. The words he spoke hit her like a slap to the face. The last few days had been a blur of phone calls, legal threats, and Adam's constant state of worry, but now she was caught in the grip of something far more dangerous. She had no idea where Adam had hidden anything.

She didn't even know what diamonds he was talking about. The confusion, though, wasn't enough to hide her fear. That sinking feeling in her stomach only deepened, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. Her mouth felt dry, as if it had been drained of any moisture. She tried to steady her shaking hands, but nothing worked. The thought of running to the hallway, to the phone, to call for help was no longer even an option. He was too close.

Her voice cracked as she asked, "But I thought you already had them?"

Her words were a mistake. The moment they left her lips, she knew it. Daniel's face twisted, a flicker of frustration passing through his expression, and he moved fast-too fast.

Before she could even react, his hand shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder. The sudden force of it took her breath away, and before she could fight back, he slammed her against the wall with a violent shove. The impact rattled her bones, and she gasped for air, disoriented, barely able to keep her footing. The grocery bags slipped from her hands, scattering across the floor with a dull thud. The contents of the bags rolled in every direction, a surreal, detached moment as the panic intensified.

The knife was suddenly pressed to her throat, its cold metal edge digging into her skin, just hard enough to remind her of its sharpness. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, the adrenaline rushing through her body. Her breathing became shallow, and she froze, completely paralyzed.

"Tell me where the fucking diamonds are," Daniel snarled in a low, menacing tone. His voice dropped an octave, as if savoring the threat in his words. "Or I spill your pretty blood all over this kitchen."

His words sent a wave of terror crashing over her. The room spun, the air thick with fear, and every inch of her body screamed for her to do something-anything-to break free. But she was frozen, her mind a whirlwind of panic and confusion, unable to make sense of what was happening.

Her throat tightened, and she struggled to swallow, but the dryness of her mouth made it impossible. She could hear the faint sound of the rain outside, like distant thunder. For a brief, fleeting moment, she imagined herself back in the car, safe, driving away from this nightmare. But reality snapped her back as Daniel's grip on her shoulder tightened, pushing her harder against the wall.

"You can't keep playing games with me, Norah," Daniel hissed, his face inches from hers. The knife was so close now that she could feel the slight tremble of its edge against her skin. His breath was warm and sour on her face, and she could smell the sharp tang of sweat and something darker in his scent.

He wasn't going to stop. She knew that much. He would keep pressing, keep threatening, until he got what he wanted, and right now, she had no idea what that was-beyond the diamonds, whatever that meant.

Norah's heart hammered in her chest, the noise deafening in her own ears. She forced herself to meet his eyes, to show some kind of defiance, but deep down, she felt like she was drowning. Trapped in her own home. Trapped in her own life.

She swallowed again, but this time, her voice came out in a thin, shaky whisper. "I don't know where they are."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. The knife pressed harder against her throat, and she flinched, but she couldn't pull away. His grip on her shoulder kept her pinned.

"Then you'd better start figuring it out, Norah," he said, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes dark with something twisted and cruel. "Because I'm not leaving until I get what I came for."