Gini felt a cold shiver run down her spine as Mark's voice crackled through the phone. The words he was saying didn't make any sense. Jonah Goodwills, was murdered six months ago? The very idea was absurd, yet Mark's tone was grave and insistent.
"Ms. Ray," Mark continued, his voice steady but urgent, "Jonah Goodwills was found dead in the manor six months ago. The property was handed over to our company to manage on behalf of his relatives. If you're there with someone claiming to be Jonah, you could be in serious danger. You need to get out of there as soon as possible."
Gini's mind reeled. Her vision blurred, and her breath quickened. The room seemed to spin around her as she struggled to comprehend the enormity of what Mark was saying. How could Jonah be dead? She had been living with him, talking to him, and sharing moments of laughter and tenderness. The very idea that he wasn't who he claimed to be sent her into a tailspin of terror.
Just then, she heard Jonah's voice, sweet and familiar, calling out, "Shortcake?" It was a term of endearment she had come to cherish, but now it sounded like a death knell. Panic surged through her, and she hurriedly hid the phone under the kitchen counter, trying to compose herself.
"I'm just getting some water," she called back, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound normal. Jonah entered the kitchen, his presence now feeling like a dark cloud hanging over her. He walked up to her, his eyes warm and affectionate as he nuzzled his face into her neck, his hair tickling her skin. What once might have felt comforting now sent chills down her spine.
She forced a smile, her heart pounding in her chest. "We should go to the library," she suggested, desperate to escape the closeness of his embrace. "I want to read for a bit."
Jonah pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face. "Sure," he said with a smile, but there was something in his gaze that made her stomach churn. As they turned to leave the kitchen, the phone hidden beneath the counter started to ring. The sound was sharp and jarring, cutting through the tense silence like a knife.
Gini's heart stopped. The phone, her lifeline to the outside world, was now betraying her. She forced a casual laugh, trying to mask her fear. "I must have dropped it," she said, moving to retrieve it. But before she could react, Jonah's hand was already reaching for the phone.
"I'll get it," he said, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. His smile was warm, but there was something unsettling in his eyes. Gini watched in horror as he picked up the phone, glancing at the screen. Her breath caught in her throat, waiting for his reaction.
He looked at the caller ID, then smiled. "It's your mom," he said, holding the phone out to her. "She must be worried because of the storm. The communication channels must be back up."
Gini let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. She took the phone from Jonah, her hands barely steady. "Thanks," she mumbled, quickly answering the call. She forced herself to sound normal, chatting with her mother about the storm and assuring her that everything was fine. But her mind was racing, struggling to maintain the facade while her world crumbled around her.
As she ended the call, Jonah reached out and patted her head, a gesture that felt more possessive than affectionate. "Shortcake," he said, his voice soft but with an undercurrent that made her skin crawl, "I heard your phone ring earlier as well. Who was that?"
Gini felt the blood drain from her face. Her mouth went dry, and she struggled to find her voice. She couldn't tell him the truth, couldn't admit that she knew the horrific secret. Her mind scrambled for a plausible lie, anything to deflect his suspicion.
"Oh, it was just a wrong number," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "No one important."
Jonah's eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. For a moment, Gini thought he might press the issue, but then he chuckled, his expression softening. "People always call at the most inconvenient times, don't they?" he said, shaking his head.
Gini forced a smile, nodding along, but inside she was screaming. She had to get away, had to escape this nightmare. But how? Jonah was watching her closely, his gaze never leaving her. She could feel the weight of his suspicion, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, Jonah leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Shortcake," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear, "you know, don't you?"
Gini felt her heart stop. A wave of cold washed over her, and she could barely breathe. His words hung in the air, an accusation, a revelation. She stared at him, unable to speak, her mind racing. What did he mean? What did he know?
A scream escaped her she made a run for it.
She didn't know when her vision became blurry and total darkness came before her.