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“Agreed,” Fiona said, steeling herself for what lay ahead. “We’re coming for you, Clarissa.”
Chapter Thirteen
The last word of theritual hung in the air, like a note played on a piano, fading to silence. Bella and Karl looked at each other with a mixture of hope and apprehension as they waited for any sign that the talisman’s power might be broken. They held their breaths, desperately praying that their efforts would pay off.
A sudden knocking at the door shattered the stillness. As if in slow motion, Karl crossed the room and pulled the door open to reveal Max, the town’s sheriff. His face, pale and drawn, betrayed the terrible news he brought with him.
“Found another one,” he choked out, his voice cracking with emotion. “She didn’t make it.”
Bella’s heart felt like it dropped into her stomach. Her green eyes filled with tears as she clutched at the fabric of her dress, the weight of their failure settling heavily on her shoulders.
Karl’s jaw clenched, his eyes hardening with determination. He turned to Bella, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. “We’re not giving up, Bella. We’ll save the rest of them.”
“Please gather everyone in the living room,” Bella said, her voice wavering but resolute. “We need to discuss our next move.”
As the team filed in one by one, the tension in the room grew palpable. They settled into various seats, their faces etched with concern and resolve. Bella took a deep breath, steeling herself before speaking.
“Finding a dead victim only confirms that we need to act quickly to save the remaining victims and put an end to Clarissa’s reign of terror.”
“Agreed,” Karl interjected, his voice firm and steady. “We can’t afford to lose any more innocent lives. It’s time to take this fight to Clarissa and end it once and for all.”
“Right,” Bella nodded, glancing around the room at her teammates. “We need to pool our resources and knowledge to devise a plan that will allow us to locate and rescue the remaining victims while simultaneously dismantling Clarissa’s power base.”
“Any thoughts?” Max asked, looking expectantly at the group.
There was a brief silence as each person mulled over possible strategies, their minds racing with ideas and connections. Finally, Karl spoke up. “I still have some contacts in the military. If we can get a lead on Clarissa’s whereabouts, I might be able to call in a favor and get them to provide some assistance.”
“I think we need to go to the mansion now and do our best to get rid of her. And see if our ritual worked to break her connection. We’ll know nothing for certain until we’re at the mansion. As much as we all hate to walk into that place.”
“Aw, it’s getting kind of fun, I thought,” Karl joked. “Every time we’re inside, you all but jump into my arms.”
They all laughed, having needed a bit of humor to get through. “Let’s do it,” Max said. “I will do anything to prevent more deaths.” His gaze met Fiona’s. “Are you up for this? You haven’t been sleeping like you should.”
Fiona shrugged. “The girls need to learn that their mama is fierce!”
Jake nodded. “No one could ever argue with that.”
