Chapter 13

Clara White's wrist suddenly throbbed with pain. She turned to see Luna White's chillingly cold eyes staring back at her. The girl's grip was like an iron vise, her nails digging deep into Clara's flesh.

"You little brat! Have you lost your mind?" Clara gasped through the pain.

A cold smirk curled at the corner of Luna's lips. "Didn't you say you wanted to die to make me look bad? Didn't you want to brand me as unfilial?" She yanked Clara forward, dragging her toward the village outskirts. "Come on, I'll make your wish come true!"

Clara stumbled as Luna pulled her along. Jack White tried to intervene, but Luna dodged him effortlessly. She moved with terrifying speed, hauling Clara like a vengeful spirit.

"Help! She's trying to kill me!" Clara shrieked.

Mayor George Clark paled when he saw the direction they were heading—the village reservoir, deep enough to drown an ox.

"Luna! Let's talk this through!" George shouted, rushing after them with a group of villagers. "I'll make sure justice is served!"

But Luna had already dragged Clara onto the dam. The wind howled, and the dark water below looked menacing.

"You wanted to die, didn’t you?" Luna's voice was eerily soft. "I'll jump with you. Let the whole village see how you drove your own granddaughter to her death."

Clara's legs trembled. She never actually wanted to die—she’d just been trying to scare the girl.

"You're insane! A complete lunatic!" She scrambled backward, desperate to escape.

George and the villagers were closing in. Seizing her chance, Clara twisted free—and with a sudden, vicious shove—

SPLASH.

A deafening silence followed.

Clara blinked, only now realizing what she’d done. She spun toward George, cowering behind him. "Mayor, save me! She was trying to kill me!"

George's face turned ashen. "Quick! Someone get in the water!"

Jack shoved Clara away, his voice shaking with fury. "Mom! You pushed Luna in!"

Clara stood frozen. She stared at her hands, then at the empty dam. A violent shiver wracked her body.

Beneath the dark water, Luna smiled as the icy lake swallowed her.

That push?

Exactly what she’d wanted.