As I watched the chaos unfold from the safety of my car, my mind raced with questions. What was happening inside the house? Who sent these cryptic messages, and why was I warned to leave? The piercing anxiety was overwhelming, yet a small part of me felt an odd sense of relief for being out of harm’s way, whatever that harm might be.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. My family was inside, caught in the middle of something I didn’t understand. I thought back to the conversation with Amanda. Her insistence on “protocols” suddenly seemed insignificant compared to the scene playing out before me. I hoped my grandchildren were okay, that they weren’t scared by the sudden arrival of the police.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed again, startling me. I glanced down to see another message from the unknown number: Trust no one right now. I’ll call you soon. The urgency of the message was unnerving, yet there was also a strange sense of reassurance in knowing someone was looking out for me.
