As I turned back, a sudden, heavy thud shattered the fragile silence, followed by two more in quick succession. The sounds were dull yet ominous, like sandbags hitting the floor. My pulse quickened, but my movements were deliberate as I walked back into the dining room.
Three bodies lay crumpled on the ground. Anne’s delicate frame was sprawled near her chair, her makeup smudged as if mocking the perfect image she had projected just moments before. Tom and Sarah lay side by side, their faces pale and lifeless.
David, still conscious, struggled against the paralysis overtaking him. His eyes, wide with a mixture of disbelief and seething hatred, locked onto mine. “Bianca,” he gasped, his voice hoarse and trembling. “What did you do? Are you insane?”
I tilted my head, a cold smile tugging at my lips. “Insane?” I echoed, my tone light, almost mocking. Slowly, I stepped toward the kitchen. I picked up a knife from the counter, its blade gleaming under the fluorescent light.
***