Elissa couldn’t bring herself to wonder how that little family of three was spending the holidays this year.


    After dinner, she crouched in the yard with numb fingers, shaping a lopsided Santa <i>out </i>of the snow. By the time her hands were raw and red from the cold, she retreated inside for


    a hot bath<i>. </i>


    Edna, seeing it was snowing again, must have cranked the heat up <i>too </i>high.


    Elissa couldn’t even be bothered to dry her hair properly. She curled up against the headboard with a book, and before she knew it, she’d drifted off to sleep.


    The next morning, Elissa woke with a start.


    A sharp, jarring crash rang out–she couldn’t tell if it came from downstairs or just outside


    the door.


    Probably just Hickey tearing the ce apart again.


    She was wide awake now. After washing up, she headed down to fix herself some


    breakfast.


    She’d barely reached the top of the stairs when Hickey sprang out of nowhere, hands on her hips, eyes zing with fury. “Wicked witch! Why won’t you just die!”


    Elissa frowned, but before she could get a word out, Hickey barreled straight toward her.


    This time, Elissa dodged quickly, but suddenly something yanked her hard from behind.


    Her bnce vanished. She tumbled down the stairs, every bone in her body mming into the steps. Her forehead struck the stonending; blood streamed down the side of her


    face.


    Elissay sprawled at the bottom, battered and breathless. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she slowly raised her head–Marcia was standing at the top of the stairs, a cryptic little smile <i>on </i>her lips.


    “I’m not moving out,” Marcia whispered. “You can forget about it.”


    It was Marcia who’d grabbed her from behind.


    Edna, hearing themotion, rushed in and froze in horror, while Elissa, struggling to stay


    conscious, forced out, “Call an ambnce.”


    “Y–yes! Right away!”


    Edna fumbled with her phone, hands shaking as she dialed 911.


    13:31


    By the time she managed to give the address, Elissa’s world had already faded to ck.


    Pain.


    Pain so deep it felt like she wasing apart.


    When Elissa finally surfaced again, that was the only thing she knew.


    Cold fluid dripped through the IV into her arm. The hospital room was empty.


    But out on the balcony, voices were raised in heated argument.


    Frank’s tone was clipped, furious–she’d never heard him like this. “Have you lost your mind? I told youst night, this has nothing to do with Elissa. We just can’t <i>live </i>under the same roof anymore!”


    “I told you to take Hickey and leave. That was my decision–mine alone!”


    “And even now, you’re still defending her!”


    Marcia didn’t believe a word.


    It had to be that bitch, whispering something in Frank’s ear.


    Last night, she’d gone out to celebrate Christmas, only toe home and hear Frank say he’d already found her a ce to live. Told her to take Hickey and move out as soon as possible.


    Frank, exasperated, snapped, “Even if that’s true, it’s no excuse for what you did to her! Don’t tell me Hickey pushed her–Marcia, maybe you can fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me.”


    Marcia’s eyes were bloodshot as she shot back, “Fine! I pushed her–so what? You always take her side. Now you’re ready <i>to </i>kick me out for her!”


    “And have <i>you </i>even thought about whates next?”


    Frank’s brow was drawn tight. “If Elissa presses charges, you’ll be facing assault! There’s no escaping it.”


    Elissa, clutching her IV pole, had only meant to make a trip to the bathroom,


    But those words <i>stopped </i>her cold. All the color drained from her cheeks.


    When she pushed open the balcony <i>door</i>, both Frank and Marcia turned, caught off guard,


    Elissa gripped the doorframe to steady herself, then looked at Frank. “Don’t worry. I won’t call the police.”


    The pain etched across her face made Frank’s heart twist, but what came out was, “What <i>do </i>you want? I’ll make sure you’repensated.”


    13:31


    He was her husband–yettely, every word from his mouth was aboutpensating her for someone else’s cruelty. Never defending her. Only restitution.


    Elissa’s clear eyes met his, her voice barely more than a whisper, “Anything I want?”


    “Of course.”


    “Then I want her to get what she gave me. An eye for an eye.”


    Her voice was steady. Before Frank could react, Elissa raised the IV stand–and hurled it straight at Marcia.