Hadley managed to shout, “What are you doing?”

Linda’s hold around Hadley’s hand tightened until she could not move at all. Terror flashed in Hadley’s eyes. She started to shake, her voice quivering as she finally managed, “Let go! Are you trying to end your own life?”

“You think I want to die?” A bitter laugh slipped from Linda as she glared, her voice sharp and cold. “Look at what you did! You stabbed me. You’re the real killer here. Don’t act like you care now!”

The words made no sense. At that moment, Hadley glimpsed something unyielding in Linda’s gaze and realized what she meant to do.

Linda’s mouth twisted into a cruel smile. “Hadley, I’m done for. This is it. You’re the one who did this. You’re the killer now!”

Forcing her head up with what little energy she had left, Linda screamed toward the door, “Somebody, help! She’s trying to murder me!”

Jane and the nurse halted in the doorway, shock freezing them in place. Their horrified screams echoed through the room.

“No, please…” Hadley’s face went pale, her head shaking as fear took over.

“Hadley!” Tamara’s voice rang out in disbelief. What was going on?

Time was slipping away. She pressed down harder on Linda’s wrist. “Release her.”

Linda only grinned, her expression twisting into something dark. “You saw everything. She’s the one who stabbed me. Hadley’s the killer here!”

With that, Linda’s eyes burned with malice as she spat, “I’m finished! Hadley Pearson, if I die, you’re going down with me! Hahaha… ah—”

Linda’s energy failed her, and her eyes rolled back as her body slumped entirely onto Hadley.

Tamara steadied Linda but quickly shifted her focus. “Drop the knife, Hadley! You need to let go!”

Hadley’s fingers stayed curled around the handle. She could not feel anything except a strange numbness sweeping through her body. Icy dread rippled across her skin, leaving her shaking violently.

Tamara’s plea reached her ears, yet her hands would not obey. She felt detached from her own body, unable to move. Letting go was impossible.

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Paralyzed by terror, she could only stare at the knife still in her grasp, the blade buried in Linda’s flesh. Blood poured from the wound, seeping into Linda’s clothing and painting Hadley’s skin crimson. Sticky warmth coated her fingers while the heavy, coppery smell of blood filled the air.

Hadley parted her lips, struggling for breath that would not come. Her vision began to swim. With one last, shaky inhale, she dropped the knife and slipped out of consciousness.

“Hadley!” Tamara’s voice trembled with fear. She let go of Linda in a hurry and caught Hadley before she hit the floor.

“Get help!” Tamara glanced at the nurses, her eyes sharp with urgency. “We need a doctor. Someone call for an ambulance right now!”

Because this was only a retreat center with basic medical facilities, Linda’s wounds were far beyond what they could handle. She needed to be in a proper hospital immediately.

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