Chapter 1
A black Toyota Camry stood alone in the heavy rain.
Amelia Fenwick hurried out of the house, one hand gripping the door while the other clung tightly to Nova.
Her eighteen-year-old daughter was shaking so badly that Amelia could feel it through her soaked clothes.
'Mom, we can't do this...' Nova's voice broke between sobs.
Her clothes were stained with blood.
Neither of them knew whose blood it was.
Nova's hands were still trembling. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying, and there was something distant in them that told Amelia her daughter was still trying to understand what had happened.
'Nova, we don't have time for this. Get in.'
Amelia glanced over her shoulder.
The house stood behind them, enormous and silent beneath the storm.
She pushed Nova toward the car and hurried after her.
The moment the doors slammed shut, Amelia started the engine.
The tires rolled over the wet driveway, and within seconds, the Fenwick mansion disappeared behind the sheets of rain.
Neither mother nor daughter looked back.
They drove into the darkness.
---
Few Hours Earlier
The Fenwick family home was the kind of mansion that made people slow down when they passed it.
It rose behind towering iron gates, surrounded by sprawling grounds, private driveways, manicured gardens and perfectly trimmed hedges. Every part of the property spoke of wealth.
But behind the front door, none of that mattered.
William Fenwick stood in the middle of the living room, his jaw clenched. "Amelia, this is what's best for Nova. She needs this."
Amelia stared at him.
"I know I made a lot of impulsive choices back then, but now I think I know better." William said.
Amelia's eyes reddened. "Impulsive? So you're trying to say it was all a mistake?"
William's expression hardened.
'Tell me, William. Did you ever love us?' Amelia yelled.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" His voice rose.
Amelia didn't move.
"What I will not let you do, Amelia, is question my love because I gave up everything for you."
"So what you're trying to do now is blame me?" Her voice trembled with anger.
"News flash, William. I never asked you to leave your family."
William clenched his fists. "You're really something, Amelia. I am going to take Nova, and she will get what she deserves."
Amelia stepped closer. "You will do no such thing."
"You don't understand."
''I understand perfectly." William's voice grew louder.
"No, you don't.' Amelia's expression softened. 'Can't you see? They are lying."
"Amelia—"
"They're lying to you!"
"Amelia!" William's shout echoed through the house.
Upstairs, Nova heard it.
Not the words.
The tone.
It was the kind of voice that made her pause the game on her phone and sit completely still.
She had heard her parents argue before.
But never like this.
Then she heard her father's voice again.
Louder.
She stood up.
A few seconds later, she stepped into the hallway.
"Where are you taking me, Dad?"
William turned toward her. "Nova, go to your room."
She frowned. ''What's happening?"
"Go upstairs."
"William, you will not take my child away." Amelia's voice cut through the room.
"I can and I will." William turned back to her.
Something in his expression changed.
He charged toward Amelia.
Her back struck the wall. "You will not take her."
"Watch me."
William grabbed Amelia by the neck.
Nova froze.
Her fingers tightened around the railing.
"You know what, Amelia?" William said through clenched teeth. "I actually regret marrying you."
Nova couldn't breathe.
Her father's hand was around her mother's neck.
This wasn't real.
It couldn't be real.
"Stop."
The word barely left her mouth.
Neither of them heard her.
Amelia struggled against William's grip.
"The feeling is mutual."
Her voice came out strained.
Her face was already bruised, a cut visible near her temple. William wasn't in much better condition. There was blood on his shirt, and his breathing was heavy.
''Nova," he said.
She looked at him.
"Pack your bags."
"What's happening?"
No one answered.
Nova looked between her parents.
Her mother was crying.
Her father was furious.
And for the first time in her life, Nova didn't recognise either of them.
Then Amelia's hand moved.
Nova's eyes caught something silver.
Something sharp.
Something she couldn't quite understand.
Then everything happened at once.
Nova screamed.
She ran down the stairs.
"Mom!"
William fell.
Nova rushed toward him.
"What did you do?"
She dropped beside her father, her hands shaking as she tried to wake him.
"Dad?"
Nothing.
"Dad, please."
She looked at Amelia.
"Let's get him to the hospital."
Amelia stood completely still.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Nova grabbed her father's shoulder.
"Dad?"
William's eyes opened slightly.
They found Amelia.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"I did love you."
Amelia's face crumpled.
William swallowed painfully. "But now... as I take my last breath, I know who you really are."
His voice grew weaker. "I... I hate you, Amelia."
His eyes closed.
Nova stared at him. "Dad?"
Nothing.
"Dad!"
Amelia covered her mouth as a sob escaped.
Nova looked at her mother. Then at her father. Then back at her mother.
Amelia stared down at her hands. They were shaking.
She wiped the tears from her face. "Nova."
Her daughter didn't answer.
"Nova, we have to go."
"Where?"
"Anywhere."
Amelia grabbed her hand.
Nova resisted.
"Mom, Dad—"
"We have to go now."
And before Nova could understand what was happening, Amelia pulled her toward the door.
---
The rain had become heavier.
Inside the car, the radio was the only thing breaking the silence.
"Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing tonight. Residents are advised to stay indoors. This is expected to be the coldest night of the season so far..."
Nova sat in the back seat, staring through the window.
She kept wiping her tears.
It didn't help.
Her father's blood was on her hands.
On her knees. On her clothes.
She didn't remember standing up. She didn't remember walking to the car. She didn't remember leaving the house. But she was here.
The car moved through the darkness.
Amelia kept both hands on the steering wheel.
Every few seconds, she looked at Nova through the rearview mirror.
Her daughter was silent.
Too silent.
Amelia wanted to say something. Anything. But what could she possibly say? How could she explain what had just happened?
Nova stared at the road behind them. Her thoughts came slowly.
Dad is dead.
She swallowed.
Dad is dead and Mom did it.
Her breathing became uneven.
Dad is dead and Mom did it and I'm in the car.
Rain battered the windows.
The windshield wipers moved.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Nova watched them.
For some reason, she couldn't stop.
How are the wipers still working?
The thought was so absurd that it broke whatever was holding her together.
"Why?"
The scream ripped through the car.
Amelia flinched.
''Why, Mom?"
Nova buried her face in her hands.
"Why?"
Her shoulders shook violently. "Why did you do it?"
Amelia's eyes filled with tears. She looked at her daughter through the mirror. Then she looked back at the road.
She couldn't answer.
Nova cried harder.
''Dad is dead."
Her voice cracked.
"Dad is dead and you killed him."
Amelia's lips trembled.
"Nova..."
"Why?"
Amelia finally broke. Tears rolled down her face as she gripped the steering wheel tighter.
She had no explanation that could make this better. No words that could bring William back. No way to undo what had happened inside that house.
So she kept driving.
Farther and farther away from everything they had known.
Until the lights of the city disappeared behind them.
Until the roads became unfamiliar.
Until the sign appeared ahead.
RAVENSMOOR
Amelia slowed the car. Nova lifted her head. Neither of them knew anyone there. No one knew them.
And for the first time that night, Amelia allowed herself to believe that perhaps they could start again.
