Neil and Greg both went cold all over. What the hell? How had this woman gotten inside? Before either of them could react, the woman flicked her hand. The candle went out, and the study was swallowed in darkness. Their hearts shot straight into their throats. Neil quickly realized who she was. In the dark, he stammered out, begging for mercy. "It was my wife and daughter who acted foolishly, not me. Don't be angry, we can talk this out ... " Greg, on the other hand, bolted. He shoved the door open and stumbled into the hallway, nearly tripping over himself in his rush to escape. Neil cursed inwardly and made to follow, but suddenly, a sharp beam of light hit him square in the face. He instinctively squeezed his eyes shut. Bang! The gunshot split the silence. Neil's head burst open, his body crumpling to the floor. Natalie lowered the gun, still holding the flashlight in her other hand. She picked up the rifle Neil had been clutching. Just as Isabelle said, it really was a fake. Looked convincing enough, though. Better safe than sorry, Natalie had killed the lights, afraid of getting shot. Who would have guessed it was just a prop?She tossed the fake gun aside. The father was done. That left the son. Instead of chasing right away, Natalie stayed put in the study. She shut the door and sat calmly for a while, eyes fixed on the window. Sure enough, not long later, Greg came tumbling out of the villa, barefoot and frantic. Natalie's lips curved faintly. With a flash, she appeared right behind him. Greg was in such a rush that he lost one of his shoes. He had known the second the candle went out that something was very wrong. So, he bolted from the study, barreling downstairs in the pitch black. The villa was so dark but he did not even dare stop to light a candle. He had just reached the second floor when a gunshot thundered above him. His heart nearly stopped, and immediately, tears stung his eyes. Dad was gone. And if this woman had already come for them, then his mom and sister were probably dead too. Shaking with fear and grief, Greg staggered into the kitchen, groped blindly for a cleaver, and crouched in the shadows. He would wait. When she came down, he would ambush her—one strike, kill or be killed. But the house stayed quiet. Too quiet. Then it hit him, she had not come through the door earlier. She had appeared out of nowhere.Cold sweat drenched him as goosebumps appeared on his skin. What if she was already behind him again? Greg's nerves snapped. He scrambled out of the villa, tripping and stumbling, desperate to get out. The gate outside was still locked tight. How had she gotten in? And then, before he could open the gate, he felt it. That cold, creeping chill across his back. He turned and saw that terrifying woman standing silently behind him. "Ah!" Greg screamed, heart hammering, face twisted in terror. Bang! Natalie pulled the trigger, and he dropped lifeless to the ground. The rifle's power was immense, and at that distance, one shot was all it took. Confirming he was dead, Natalie turned and strode back into the villa. Neil's words echoed in her mind. There was still food stored here. Next door, in the neighboring villa, Jacob had just been in bed with Lillian, dead set on finally giving her the child she wanted. The first gunshot shattered the moment. He froze in place, completely deflated. Lillian, startled, shoved him off and sat up. "That came from next door!" Her face went pale. "That woman from the other house actually chased Isabelle all the way to her home?" Jacob's own expression was grim, but mostly for another reason.It was hard enough trying to get a son, and now he had been scared half to death in the middle of it. Muttering darkly, he snapped, "All this over some petty squabble, and she's killing people at night? How dare she disturb the whole neighborhood? She has no upbringing at all! Did her dad never teach her what manners are?" Lillian hurriedly covered his mouth. "Hush! The windows are open. You'll bring trouble on us!" Jacob grumbled a few more curses, but she soothed him until he calmed down. Just as they were about to lie back down, a terrified scream split the night—followed instantly by another gunshot. This one was louder. Closer. Almost like it came from downstairs. The couple exchanged a look, then threw on clothes and rushed to the window. Jacob started to pull back the curtain, but Lillian grabbed his arm. "Be careful! What if she sees you?" "It's fine," he muttered. "I'll just crack it a little. She won't notice." Carefully, he tugged the curtain open a sliver. Both of them peered down into the Boltons' courtyard. And there it was. Greg's body, sprawled lifeless on the ground, and a fleeting glimpse of a shadowed figure disappearing into the dark.