Contents
Chapter 38
Overview
Casey sneaks into her bedroom to retrieve her hidden gun, hoping not to wake Eleanor. The creaking house betrays her; the gun is missing from the drawer. Eleanor, fully awake and wearing Casey’s clothes, reveals she has the gun and points it at Casey, flipping their power dynamic.
Summary
Driven by fear and responsibility, Casey decides she must recover her unsecured gun from the bedroom where Eleanor is sleeping. She resolves to do it silently to avoid confrontation, hides the green notebook back in the sofa, removes her slippers, and creeps toward the room.
The cold, creaking house works against Casey. She eases the door open and confirms Eleanor appears asleep under layers of blankets. Fighting noise from hinges and floorboards, Casey reaches the dresser and carefully opens the top drawer to find the Glock.
As Casey searches deeper, she realizes the gun is not where she left it. Before she can react, Eleanor sits up, alert and dressed in Casey’s sweater and her jeans.
Eleanor reveals the missing gun, already in her hands, and points it at Casey’s head, declaring, “Looking for this, Casey?” The moment reverses control, escalating the danger and setting up a direct confrontation.
Who Appears
- CaseyHiding in her cabin; attempts to secretly reclaim her gun from the bedroom.
- EleanorSeemingly asleep, then reveals she has Casey’s gun and aims it at her.