Frances sat on the couch in her house, tears streaming down her face, while Anne, seated beside her, wore an expression of deep concern.
"I don't know what to do, Anne," Frances said, her voice trembling. "I can't call the police on my own daughter. But even if I do, we don't know where she's hiding."
"I understand, Aunt. It's a terrible situation," Anne replied. "But we have to do it to protect the others. If we don't, more people could get hurt."
Just then, Officer Roberts entered briskly. "Good afternoon, ladies," he greeted.
"Good afternoon, Officer Roberts," Anne and Frances replied in unison.
"About the plan to catch Selina," Roberts said, shifting his focus. "Are you ready to hear it?"
"Yes," both women affirmed.
"Selina disguises herself when she targets her so-called victims. She managed to get to Michael and Sophia. If we had known about them, we could have protected them."
Anne's brow furrowed. "She got to them? How did she even find them?"
"That's a good question, one I don't have an answer to yet," Roberts admitted.
"Is someone working for her?" Frances asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We tracked her to her mansion yesterday, but she escaped, thanks to a maid."
"A maid?" Anne repeated, puzzled.
"Yes, but I don't think she's using the maid for anything significant," Roberts said. "She doesn't know Selina's hiding spot."
"So, what's the plan?" Frances pressed.
Roberts nodded. "We're going to play Selina's game at the hospital today."
"Disguise?" Frances asked, her apprehension evident.
"Exactly. She's definitely going to disguise herself as a nurse," Roberts explained.
"Or a patient," Anne added thoughtfully.
"Smart thinking, Anne. You're going to be a nurse."
"Aye aye, captain," Anne replied, a hint of humor returning.
"Mrs. Frances, considering your health…" Roberts began.
"It's my daughter we're talking about. I'm in," Frances interrupted firmly.
"Well, you'll be a patient," Roberts said, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"Yeah, I see what you did there," Frances replied, half-laughing despite the tension.
"My team will pose as security at the door, and I'll be with Dr. Henry," Roberts continued.
"What if she goes for her principal?" Frances asked, anxiety creeping back in.
"As we speak, the principal is protected. We're just a call away from him," Roberts assured her.
Anne's eyes widened. "Wow, we're surely going to catch Selina today. Wait, what about Jake?"
"He's with the principal," Roberts confirmed.
"Alright, let's do this," Frances said, steeling herself.
"But we're not going to hurt my friend," Anne insisted.
"I have a cuff for her, not a bullet," Roberts replied, his tone serious.
"Deal."
Just then, Roberts's phone rang. "Hello? Okay, I'll be right there," he said before hanging up and standing.
"Is everything okay?" Frances inquired, concern etched on her face.
"My attention is needed at the station. I'll be in touch," Roberts replied, exiting swiftly.
In a sterile, white-walled room, Richard and Helen sat disheveled and frustrated in the psychiatric hospital.
"Now that I think of it, she was giving us the drugs we wanted to give her years ago," Richard mused.
"She was smart to know our plans, but we were foolish to fall for hers," Helen lamented.
"Now we're here. She got us real good," Richard said, his voice heavy with defeat.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but your daughter is a genius. She won the game," Helen conceded.
"We have to find a way out of here and teach her a lesson," Richard insisted.
Just then, Selina entered, disguised as a psychiatric doctor. "Not so fast, sweet daddy," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"You little witch," Richard spat.
"You haven't won yet," Helen added defiantly.
"Really? I just heard you saying I won the game fair and square," Selina retorted.
"How are you pulling this off? You're weak," Helen challenged.
"Wrong. I used to be weak," Selina shot back.
"Let us out of here," Richard demanded.
"I will when I'm done with you. What type of death do you deserve?" she asked, tilting her head.
"We deserve mercy," Richard replied, desperation in his voice.
"Wrong again," Selina said, opening a matchbox to reveal its ominous contents.
"What are you doing?" Helen gasped.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Selina replied coolly.
"Selina, darling, don't do anything stupid," Richard pleaded.
"Do you, by any chance, know where I can find gasoline?" she asked, a glimmer of malice in her eyes.
"Even if we knew, we wouldn't be stupid enough to tell you," Richard said firmly.
"I'll find out myself," she declared before exiting, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.
"She's crazy. We have to get out of here before she gets us like the others," Helen urged.
Selina re-entered, a sinister smile on her face as she poured gasoline around the room. "Are you in a hurry already?" she taunted.
"Selina, listen to me. Please let us out. We'll do whatever you want," Richard begged.
"Before I light this matchstick, I'll ask three questions. If you get them wrong, you die. But if you get them right, you'll still die," Selina explained, a manic gleam in her eyes.
"This is madness," Helen protested.
"Selina, please. I am your father," Richard implored.
"That's my first question. Are you my real dad?" Selina asked, leaning in closer.
"Yes, I swear," Richard answered, his heart pounding.
"Okay, I'll give you that. Second question: were we not enough for you?" Selina probed.
"I was not in my right senses. Please forgive me," he replied desperately.
"Wrong. Lastly, why did you despise me?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.
"Because I didn't want a child. Your mom wanted you, but I didn't," Richard confessed, his voice cracking.
"Go on, I'm loving the story already," Selina said, leaning back with interest.
"I wanted to live my life as a bachelor even when I was married, so I told your mom not to get pregnant. I convinced her to abort you, but she wouldn't budge. When you came into the world, I couldn't live my life to the fullest anymore. That's why I despised you, but I'm sorry. I was a terrible dad, but I can change that if you give me a chance," Richard poured out.
"Wrong answer. Ciao," Selina replied, her smile fading into something cold.
Selina lit the matchstick, dropped the key just out of their reach, and rang the alarm.
"Selina, you're not in your right senses. Get us out of here," Richard cried.
"The key is right there, sweet daddy. If you could just reach out. Bye. I despise you too," she said before exiting, leaving the patients and doctors to flee in chaos.
The bustling street contrasted sharply with Selina's inner turmoil. Disguised as a psychiatric doctor, she strode purposefully, her expression a mix of resolve and sorrow. The city noise faded as Richard's harsh words echoed in her mind.
"I didn't want a child. Your mom wanted you, but I didn't."
"I'm sorry, Dad, but you deserved it," Selina muttered to herself. "If I weren't born, maybe you'd still be alive. I can't stop now. I need to apologize to Mom. She kept me, and she isn't regretting it."
With determination evident in her stride, Selina continued walking, her resolve solidifying as she moved toward her next destination.