Two days in, he decided to cut the trip short. He blamed it on school deadlines and pretended to be regretful. Rose was disappointed but didn’t press. Kiara just stood by the door, arms crossed, watching him leave. There was something unreadable in her eyes. Something that chilled him.
Back upstairs, Kiara waited until the car was gone before slipping back into the guest room. The hairbrush sat exactly where she’d left it. She plucked one strand from its bristles with surgical care. Her hands trembled as she sealed it into a plastic bag, heart pounding with a quiet, resurrected hope.