Chapter 2

"Mark, no!" I screamed, chasing after him.

He was already at his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. The Facebook interface was open.

I saw the words forming, a sickening echo of the first time. "So proud of my amazing wife, Emily, heading off on some seriously dangerous work to keep us all safe..."

And the photo. That recent photo of her, smiling, vibrant. A death sentence.

"Stop it, Mark! You can't post that!" I grabbed for the laptop, trying to slam it shut.

He swatted my hand away. "Get off, Sarah! People should know how brave she is!"

"They'll know she's an FBI agent on a dangerous mission! The people she's going after will see it! You'll get her killed!" My voice was frantic, desperate.

A physical struggle. It was happening just like before.

He was stronger. He always had been, despite his weak will.

He shoved me hard.

My head connected with the sharp corner of the coffee table. Pain exploded behind my eyes, bright and sickening.

I crumpled to the floor, dazed.

Through the ringing in my ears, I heard the distinct click of his mouse.

"Posted," he said, a strange, shaky triumph in his voice. "There. Now everyone knows."

He thought he was being supportive. Proud. He had no idea. He was a fool, a terrified fool.

The world tilted. I tasted blood in my mouth.

Footsteps. The front door opened and closed.

"What in God's name is going on here?" David. My fiancé.

He was early too. Everything was slightly off, accelerated.

David rushed to my side, his face a mask of concern. "Sarah! Are you okay? What happened?"

He helped me sit up, his usually level-headed demeanor cracking.

Mark stood by the laptop, looking defensive, a little scared now. "She... she attacked me. She didn't want me to post about Emily."

"Post what?" David asked, his eyes narrowing at Mark.

I pointed a shaky finger at the screen. "He posted about Emily's mission. On his public Facebook page. With her picture."

David' s head snapped towards the laptop. He read it.

His face, usually so calm and collected, turned thunderous.

"Mark, are you insane?" David strode over, his voice low and dangerous. "Take that down. Now!"

Mark flinched. He always did when David got truly angry. He fumbled with the mouse. "I... I was just proud..."

"You're an idiot!" David seethed. "You have any idea what kind of breach that is? For an undercover agent?"

The post disappeared. Deleted.

A tiny sliver of hope. Maybe... maybe this time, with David here...

Mark looked utterly defeated, but then his eyes landed on the letter, still clutched in his other hand.

Desperation filled his face. "David, you don't understand. Read this. Read what she wrote."

He thrust the letter at David.

David took it, his brow furrowed in confusion. He started to read.

I watched his face, praying.

The anger slowly drained away, replaced by a dawning horror that mirrored Mark' s.

His skin went pale. His hand tightened on the pages.

This was the moment. The moment the poison spread.