Chapter 1 - The Freezing Courtyard
The violent, unforgiving winter storm howled aggressively through the massive stone courtyard of the multi-million-dollar suburban estate. Heavy, freezing snow completely blanketed the frozen ground beneath an aggressively overcast, depressing gray sky.
But the biting cold was absolutely nothing compared to the sickening, horrific cruelty currently unfolding outside the heavy wooden doors.
Toby, a tiny three-year-old boy, was weeping hysterically in the freezing snow.
He was completely bald, his fragile little body shaking violently inside a thin, light blue sweater. He had been locked outside, aggressively facing the cold stone wall. Scattered horrifyingly in the white snow around his small boots were distinct, heartbreaking clumps of brown hair.
Standing safely inside the warm, luxurious doorway of the estate was Agnes.
The sixty-something mother-in-law wore an incredibly expensive, heavy green velvet coat and thick diamond earrings. Her white hair was styled flawlessly. She didn't look horrified that a sick toddler was freezing to death on her property. She crossed her arms, her face twisted into a mask of pure, unadulterated disgust as she watched the little boy cry.
"Mommy!" Toby wailed, his tiny voice completely cracking as tears froze instantly against his pale, sunken cheeks.
Suddenly, a massive, desperate scream shattered the quiet winter morning.
Vivian, a thirty-something woman wearing a deep burgundy coat, sprinted frantically across the frozen driveway. Her brown braided hair whipped wildly in the freezing wind as she scrambled toward the crying toddler.
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"Toby!" Vivian shrieked, dropping forcefully to her knees in the freezing snow and pulling her weeping son into a desperate, fiercely protective embrace.
👉 Vivian looked up at her wealthy mother-in-law, entirely unaware of the apocalyptic secret Agnes was trying to hide.
