Last night had been a mess for Alice. As expected.
The chaos of the cinema, the fireworks, and Paula's call hadn't even been the end of it.
She had a dream. Again. A warm, unsettling dream where Hades called her "Princess." The word felt like a secret between them, a terrifying intimacy. As if the universe were mocking her, the second dream was a nightmare: Paula was strangled to death by Priscilla for making that secret call.
She woke up with a gasp, the fear cold and real. Yet, she couldn't call back; she couldn't risk it.
She got out of bed and her eyes fell on a note slipped under her door.
She sat up, her heart leaping into her throat, but then, a flicker of logic cut through the fear. Why was she in a panic? It was not like anyone in this house would send her a threatening note.
Right?
Cautiously, she went to the door, bent down, and picked it up. The paper was simple, the handwriting neat. And simple:
Keep the car. No bugs, no stalking.
