Silence followed, thick enough that she checked the screen to see if the call had dropped. It had not. He was still there, breathing, hesitating, fighting with something he did not want to say.
Then he spoke again, and the tremor in his voice made the hairs on her arms rise.
“Listen carefully. Take Sophie and leave that house immediately.”
Abigail laughed out of reflex, a nervous sound that did not match the cold feeling forming in her chest.
“What are you talking about, Evan. We are at a birthday party.”
“Do not argue with me,” he said, his voice tightening further. “Do not ask questions. Just take Sophie and get out of that house right now.”
She swallowed, suddenly aware that her heart was beating too fast, that the cheerful noise around her felt distant and strange. Evan had never raised his voice in panic, never spoken without explanation, never sounded afraid. This was not anger. This was fear.
“Evan, please tell me what is happening,” she whispered.
“I will explain later,” he said, his breath audible, uneven. “Please trust me. Leave immediately.”