Katalina sat on the rooftop of her school during lunch, legs crossed and immersed in her book. The quiet was broken by a familiar voice.

"Good read, right?"

She looked up with a knowing smile. "You said it was interesting," she replied.

Henry sat down beside her, feigning shock. "It is interesting."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm three hundred pages in, and not one good thing has happened."

"You just have to be patient," he said softly, reaching out to gently stroke her hair.

Katalina stared at him for a moment, torn between frustration and trust. Finally, she chose to believe him, letting out a quiet sigh before turning her attention back to the book. They sat in silence for a while, with only the sound of the wind and the rustle of pages between them.

After a while, Henry broke the silence. "I'm surprised you're not down there today," he said, glancing at the bustling quad full of students below.

Without looking up from her book, Katalina replied, "Aren't you supposed to be down there? You're the teacher, after all. Why would I be?"

Henry chuckled, shaking his head. "Touché." He leaned back, watching her, clearly more amused by their banter than concerned about his own absence. "I just thought you'd want to spend more time with people your age."

Katalina kept her eyes on the pages, though she could feel the warmth of his proximity. "Don't get too full of yourself," she said, her tone light but with a warning edge.

He chuckled again, the sound low and familiar. "I wouldn't dream of it."

For a moment, they fell back into silence, the easy camaraderie between them settling in once more. Henry watched her read, his gaze lingering a little too long. "You know," he said, his voice softer after a while, "I think you're different from the others. You see things... deeper."

Katalina paused, her finger resting on the corner of the page she was about to turn. She met his gaze, the intensity in his words catching her off guard.

"Maybe," she replied carefully, not sure where the conversation was heading. "Or maybe I just don't like small talk."

He smiled, but this time a more serious undertone flickered in his expression. "Either way," he said, gently taking her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I like spending time with you."

Before she could respond, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Just as quickly as it began, he pulled away, the sound of the bell ringing echoing through the air.

"I guess that's my cue to be a teacher again," he said, a hint of reluctance in his voice as he stood up, his eyes still locked on hers for a moment longer.

After school, Katalina made her way to her teacher's classroom for some extra help. As she stepped inside, she paused, noticing that her primary teacher was absent. Instead, it was just Henry, leaning against the desk, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Looks like you've found me in my natural habitat," he said playfully, motioning for her to come in.

Katalina's heart raced a little at the sight of him. "I didn't expect to see you here," she admitted, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity.

"Sometimes I get to play the role of the tutor," he replied. "What do you need help with?"

Katalina stepped further into the classroom, her nerves settling as she approached his desk. "I'm struggling a bit with the last few chapters we covered," she said, pulling out her notes.

Henry nodded, his expression turning focused. "Let's go through them together. Sometimes talking it out helps."

After a while, they finished going over the last of the material. Katalina looked up at him, her confidence growing. "Thanks, that really helped."

Henry smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Glad to hear it. You've got a real knack for this, you know."

Katalina stood up and walked over to him, then perched herself on the edge of the desk. "About earlier," she began.

He got up, positioning himself between her. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, feigning innocence.

Katalina raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You're going to pretend that it didn't happen?"

He leaned closer, the playful tension between them palpable. "I don't know what you mean. Perhaps you could remind me," he said.

Before she could respond, he leaned in and captured her lips with his. Katalina instinctively wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer.

Just as they lost themselves in the moment, the classroom door creaked open. A student walked in, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Katalina and Henry wrapped up in each other.

"Oh my god!" the student exclaimed, eyes wide with shock as they quickly backed out of the classroom.

Katalina's heart raced, fear evident in her expression. Henry, sensing her anxiety, immediately rushed after the student. Katalina hesitated for a moment before she gathered herself and followed.

∘₊✧──────✧

There was a knock at the door, and Katalina quickly wiped her hands before heading to answer it, wondering who it could be. When she opened the door, she was taken aback to find her mother standing there.

"Why are you here? How did you find me?" Katalina asked, surprise evident on her face.

Her mother crossed her arms, a mixture of concern and determination in her expression. "I followed you the last time I saw you," she replied.

Katalina's eyes widened. "I live two hours outside the city!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Why are you here?" Katalina asked again, trying to mask her irritation.

"I'm here to take you and your daughter away from this," her mother said firmly.

Katalina rolled her eyes. "Come in," she said, stepping aside.

Her mother hesitated at the threshold.

"Henry isn't home, and he won't be for a while," Katalina replied, trying to ease her mother's apprehension.

"And Madeline?" her mother asked, glancing around anxiously.

"She's asleep upstairs. The least you could do is let me show you around." Katalina suggested.

Her mother stepped inside, still wary. "Come," Katalina urged, her tone firm but calm. "You think I'm some kind of prisoner in my own home, but I'm not."

She led her mother through the house, showing her around. They eventually stepped outside, and Katalina gestured toward the animals grazing nearby and the barn standing proudly behind them.

"Look," Katalina said, her voice softening. "I don't know what you think is going on here, but this is a great place for Madeline to grow up-with her mother and father. She's safe here. We're happy here."

Her mother glanced around, taking it all in, but then shook her head in disapproval. "No, Katalina. He's not a good man. He killed your father."

Katalina sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the conversation. "Come," she said, her voice quieter. "I want to show you the barn... and tell you something."

"I mean, who could blame you for thinking Henry killed Dad-except for everyone who did," Katalina said with a hint of dark humor, suppressing a laugh as she opened the barn door. Her mother remained silent, eyes narrowing as she tried to process Katalina's words.

"But I'm sorry to break it to you," Katalina continued, stepping aside and motioning for her mother to enter the barn. "He didn't kill Dad."

Her mother stopped in her tracks, turning to look at Katalina with confusion and disbelief.

"I did," Katalina confessed, her voice calm yet cold, the words hanging in the air like a storm ready to break.

∘₊✧──────✧

Katalina hurried up to the rooftop, her heart pounding. When she arrived, she found Henry holding onto the girl, who looked utterly terrified.

"Let her go," Katalina breathed, urgency lacing her words.

Henry hesitated, then glanced at her. "She's not going to go anywhere," she said firmly.

"Please," Katalina pleaded, stepping closer. "You're not going to go anywhere, right?" she reassured the girl, who began to shake her head.

With a reluctant sigh, Henry released the girl and took a step back, tension easing from his shoulders. Katalina turned to the girl, her expression softening. "I don't know what you think you saw in there," she said gently, her voice calming. "But it was just a misunderstanding."

"But I saw you two," the girl said, her voice trembling.

Katalina felt her stomach drop at the words. She quickly glanced at Henry, who remained silent, his expression serious.

"I understand how that looks," Katalina said, trying to maintain her composure. "But it's not what you think. We were just-"

"Just what?" the girl interrupted, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I promise I won't tell anyone what I saw. Please."

Sensing her fear, Henry pulled a flask from his pocket and handed it to her. "Drink some; it'll help calm your nerves," he said gently.

The girl hesitated, her hands shaking, but eventually took a sip. Afterward, she handed the flask back, her voice still shaky. "I won't tell anyone anything, I promise."

Henry took a step closer to her, his demeanor shifting suddenly. "I know you won't," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Before Katalina could react, he shoved the girl toward the edge, her terrified scream echoing as she stumbled backward.

∘₊✧──────✧

Her mother's breath quickened, her eyes wide with horror. "You-" she choked on her words, "You're lying. You're trying to protect him."

Katalina shook her head slowly. "No, I'm telling you the truth. He gave me no choice." Her voice trembled slightly, but her resolve was firm. "Don't you remember? He threatened to send me away, from the man I loved. I couldn't let that happen."

Her mother's eyes widened, fear and disbelief colliding on her face. "What did you do?" she whispered, the question almost choking her.

Katalina let out a small, bitter laugh. "You and Dad never paid much attention to what I grew in the garden. If you had, you'd have noticed the aconite. It's usually a paralytic... but when you drink it..." Her voice trailed off, her meaning clear as she looked at her mother with a twisted sense of justification.

Her mother's breath caught, her eyes darting to the barn door as if calculating her next move. "You poisoned him?" she whispered.

"I burned the plant right afterward. I mean, I couldn't have it traced back to me," Katalina said, her laugh ringing hollow in the tense air.

She leaned against the barn wall, a distant look in her eyes. "Looking back, it seems pointless. He was so old; it was written off as just a heart attack."

∘₊✧──────✧

Katalina gasped, her voice shaking. "What did you do?" she asked, panic rising in her throat. "What did you do?" she repeated, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Henry grabbed her arms, his grip firm but soothing. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he said, trying to calm her.

"No! She said she wasn't going to tell!" Katalina breathed, her eyes wide with fear.

"She was," he insisted, his tone unwavering.

"You don't know that!" Katalina shot back, searching his gaze for any sign of remorse.

"I do," he said, pulling her face closer to his, his breath warm against her skin. "I did it for you. For us." He stroked her hair gently, and as his touch lingered, her breathing began to calm, though confusion still clouded her mind.

"What happens when they find her?" Katalina asked, her voice trembling.

"They'll smell the alcohol on her, and she'll just become another dumb teenage statistic," he replied, his words chillingly pragmatic. "It'll be okay."

Katalina nodded slowly, though uncertainty lingered in her heart. As he pulled her closer, he noticed how small and vulnerable she felt in his arms.

∘₊✧──────✧

Her mother's expression twisted between disbelief and horror. "How can you joke about this, Katalina?

Katalina straightened, her expression hardening. "Who's joking?" she asked, her tone taking on an edge. "The only reason I'm telling you this is that it's become quite clear you're not going to leave me or my family alone."

As she spoke, she stepped behind her mother, careful to keep her movements discreet as she reached for something hidden in the shadows of the barn. "Go," Katalina said, her voice now firm.

Her mother turned to face her again, confusion and fear mingling in her eyes. "You know the truth now, so go," Katalina insisted, holding her breath, gripping the object tightly.

The atmosphere shifted as her mother hesitated, sensing the tension. "Katalina, this isn't the answer. We need to talk about this-"

"I gave you a chance," Katalina said coldly before swinging her arm, the object connecting with a sickening thud as her mother fell to the floor.

Katalina knelt beside her, heart pounding as she saw the blood pooling at her mother's head. "She'll know what you are," her mother gasped, her breaths ragged and strained.

Katalina met her gaze, a chilling calmness settling over her. "No, she won't. Because no one will be around to tell her," she replied, her voice steady.

With that, she swung again, the weight of her actions crashing down around her like a heavy shroud. Katalina let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline fading and leaving her feeling unsteady. Unsure of what to do next, she pulled out her phone with trembling hands, dialing Henry's number.

When he answered, her voice trembled. "Um, I think you need to come home. Now," she said, each word laced with urgency and fear.

There was a pause on the other end before Henry replied, his tone shifting from casual to serious. "What's going on? Katalina, what happened?"

She swallowed hard, glancing down at her mother's still form, panic rising in her chest. "Just hurry," she urged.