Chapter 2 - THE UNNOTICED LINE
Elowen backed away from the vanity, her heels scraping against the white bathroom tiles until her back hit the far wall. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, forcing the panic down into her chest.
Think, Elowen. Think.
She glanced down at the dark glass screen again. Right beneath the bold, mocking notification of NO SIM CARD, two words glowed faintly in white text:
EMERGENCY CALL.
She tapped the screen with a blood-stained thumb.
The line didn't hum or dial—it connected instantly to an automated routing server, followed by the crisp, steady voice of a local emergency dispatcher.
"911, what is your emergency?"
Elowen sank lower against the wall, sliding down until her knees hit the tile, her voice dropping into an urgent, breathless whisper.
"My name is Elowen Vance. I'm locked inside the master bathroom at 144 Oakridge Lane," she breathed, her lips barely touching the phone's microphone. "My husband pulled me roughly by my hair... my nose is bleeding. His mother is outside with him. Someone took my SIM card."
"Is the door secure, Elowen?" the female dispatcher asked instantly, her tone calm, grounded, and intensely focused.
"For now," Elowen whispered, holding Leo tighter as he whined against her neck. "I pushed my weight against it, but the lock is flimsy."
"Stay exactly where you are," the dispatcher commanded gently. "Officers are being dispatched to your location right now."
Outside the door, the heavy pounding suddenly ceased.
The silence that followed was far worse than the shouting. Elowen held her breath, watching the space under the door where two pairs of shadows blocked the hallway light.
"Open up, Elowen," Kael’s voice returned, but its tone had shifted completely. It was quiet, smooth, and laced with that terrifying, measured softness he used whenever neighbors were nearby. "You're making this seem far worse than it is."
Mara’s voice followed immediately—sharp, cold, and calculated through the painted wood.
May you like
"Tell whoever you've reached that you slipped and fell, Elowen."
Elowen froze, her throat locking up. They didn't know the emergency operator was listening to every word.
