Chapter 6 - Daniel Left Them There
Claire pressed herself against the cliff wall.
Lily clung around her neck.
Above them, Daniel shouted once.
Then silence.
Claire waited for instructions.
For someone to climb down.
For a rope.
For a 911 call.
Nothing.
Then she heard Vanessa’s voice faintly.
“Daniel… what are you doing?”
His reply was too quiet to make out.
Minutes later—
car doors.
Engines.
Then nothing.
They left.
Claire’s fear became certainty.
Daniel had seen where they were.
Maybe not clearly.
Maybe he didn’t know if they were alive.
But he made no rescue attempt.
No emergency call.
No search.
He simply drove away.
Claire looked below.
A narrow series of natural ledges descended toward a small cove.
It was dangerous.
But staying was worse.
The tide would rise.
So Claire climbed.
One hand on rock.
One arm around Lily.
Every movement sent pain through her ankle.
Lily cried silently against her shoulder.
“Mommy, don’t drop me.”
“I won’t.”
Claire didn’t know whether she could keep that promise.
May you like
She made it anyway.
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