Prologue

          He stared at her with his eyes full of fear. The back of her brown hair was matted and messy after a rough night’s sleep, her white dress chosen to wear rumpled from lying on the floor unfolded. He knew it was something horrible to think about and even more horrible to go through with, but he didn’t have a choice. He needed to make it look like an accident, and he needed her to not remember.

            Slowly, he inched towards her as she paused at the top of the stairs. She gripped the railing with her right hand as she covered her mouth with her left. She yawned and lowered her palm as he crept closer, his arms out in front of him ready to strike. A floorboard creaked under his weight and she started to turn around.

            When she saw him, her eyes lit up with a mixture of shock and joy. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes at such the sight of the man she called her father, the man she hadn’t seen in months. He disappeared and now he was back. She didn’t think to ask any questions.

            Time slowed as she took her first step to run towards him, droplets now rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t get to take another step to reach her father.

            He had reached her first.

            “I’m sorry, Sloane,” he whispered.

            His expression was hard as his palms collided with her shoulders. With force he pushed her and her happiness quickly turned to fear. He could see it in her big brown eyes, the blue flecks more visible in the chocolate than ever. They were wide with shock as a scream left her lips, and almost instantly he felt as if he were drowning in them.

            She reached for his arm to save herself as she fell backwards, her hair a mess around her as she tilted towards the stairs. He took a step back, satisfied as she screamed down the stairs. After a few bangs and crashes, she laid at the bottom of the stairs.

            Gradually, he walked down the stairs, taking each step without moving his eyes from her. When he reached the bottom he stepped over her and headed for the door.

            He didn’t check to see if she was alive.

            As he stepped into the empty street he didn’t turn around. She will wake, he thought to himself.  And when she does, I’ll be waiting.