Chapter 475 The Secret Beneath the Flesh
Fiona's elbow slammed into my chest, the jagged edge of the scorching rock digging into my spine. My vision went black, but I still fought to grab her.
"You crazy? Come at me!"
"Come at me?" Fiona grabbed my chin, her fingers pressing so hard it felt like my bones would shatter.
"You think your life is worth more than your daughter's pink backpack?"
She shoved her phone in my face, the image of Skylar waving to Melissa at the preschool gate stinging my eyes.
"Do you know what's trending on the dark web lately?"
Fiona deliberately slowed her speech. "Stripped Barbie dolls paired with the desperate cries of their mothers. The views can hit seven figures."
The salty sea breeze suddenly felt scorching hot, and I could feel my blood rushing to my head.
"If you lay a finger on her, I'll haunt you even in death!"
I bit down hard on Fiona's hand, the taste of blood exploding in my mouth.
Fiona slapped me, the force making my eardrums ache. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her wound, a cold smile curling her lips.
"Your daughter likes to kick off her blanket during nap time, doesn't she?"
Fiona leaned in close, her breath carrying a hint of bitter mint.
"Don't think Lucas's people can really protect your daughter. Remember, I control all the surveillance at her preschool. If one day the cameras suddenly malfunction..."
Fiona waved her phone. "A pink backpack might just show up at some abandoned construction site."
I gripped the tiny camera hidden in the rock crevice, my nails digging into the rough surface. Fiona adjusted her disheveled collar, the hem of her black coat brushing against my trembling knees.
"Smart people know what choice to make."
As she turned to leave, she threw one last threat over her shoulder.
"If you try anything funny, every traffic light on your daughter's way home from school will become a deadly trap."
The sound of the speedboat's engine faded into the depths of the sea, and Anne's figure was swallowed by the crashing waves. Fiona descended the hill first, her black high heels crunching on the gravel with a piercing sound. Jeffrey had taken Anne from the hospital, Nicholas's men were moving half-human-sized black boxes, and Fiona, to cover her tracks, wouldn't even spare those in chains. These scenes flashed through my mind, each one filled with sin.
I scanned my surroundings, the rock crevices filled with Fiona's hidden cameras. She had taken the waterproof paper from my backpack and torn a hole in my pocket. But if I stood by and did nothing, not only would Anne become the next victim to be drowned, but many more would be in danger.
As Fiona turned and flicked her hair, I instinctively lifted my skirt, pressing a pen against the skin of my inner thigh. The cold tip of the pen made my blood freeze. This was a life-or-death gamble, betting she wouldn't turn around suddenly, betting these crooked lines could become evidence to expose the darkness. Goosebumps rose on my exposed skin, the salty sea breeze prickling like countless tiny needles, sending shivers down my spine.
"Hurry up and finish."
I chanted in my mind, bending my knees slightly to lower my body. My thigh muscles were tense from the strain, each stroke of the pen scraping roughly against my skin. Cold sweat trickled down my back, pooling at my waist and soaking the waistband of my denim skirt, the sticky feeling making me even more anxious. My fingernails dug into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped indentations, as if that could ease my inner fear.
With each stroke, red marks appeared on my inner thigh, mingling with the black ink. Fiona's hair-fixing motion suddenly paused, and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest, my breath catching. The pen slipped, drawing a crooked line above my knee. I bit my lip hard, tasting blood.
"Don't stop, you can't stop."
I screamed in my mind, forcing my trembling wrist to keep moving.
"What are you dawdling for?"
Her voice, cold as iron, came from behind her sunglasses. The question sent my blood rushing to my head, but my hand moved even faster.
"Just tying my shoe."
I suppressed my trembling, lifting my skirt a bit higher, my lower back pressed against the rock, the protruding edges painfully reminding me there was no way out.
The pen moved quickly, leaving uneven marks on my skin. The friction made my inner thigh warm, contrasting sharply with the cold pen tip. I knew every scratch on my inner thigh was a fight for hope for those imprisoned, a way to protect a clean world for Skylar.
When I finally let my skirt fall back into place, my inner thigh was covered in a dense web of writing and lines, the sweat mixing with the ink causing a slight sting. As the fabric covered my skin again, I exhaled deeply, realizing the cold sweat on my neck had soaked my collar, the sticky feeling making me uncomfortable. Each step I took, the fabric rubbing against my inner thigh, reminded me that the secrets hidden beneath my skin were my last weapon against the darkness, a line I could never cross.
The car's stereo played a cheerful song, Fiona humming along and tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. I stared at the streets passing by, Skylar's image at preschool replaying in my mind. The thought of the surveillance footage on Fiona's phone sent a chill down my spine.
When my phone buzzed for the third time, my heart raced.
Fiona glanced over, and I quickly pressed the vibrating phone, my voice tight.
"Spam texts, there's been a lot of robocalls lately."
My palm was sweaty, and as the screen lit up, I saw Edward's name. I knew I couldn't answer. If I angered Fiona, Skylar would be in even more danger.
"Yeah, there's been a lot of scam calls lately."
Fiona suddenly turned off the music, her hand with blood-red nail polish resting on my wrist, the cold touch making me shiver. "Skylar likes to drink strawberry milk after school, right?"
She swiped her phone to show the preschool surveillance footage, Skylar on tiptoes watering plants. Watching Skylar's innocent face, my throat tightened.
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