Chapter 8 - The GuardianMartha stepped directly between Richard and Eleanor.
She was sixty-three years old.
Richard was thirty-five.
He was taller.
Stronger.
Armed.
But Martha had something he did not.
Courage without calculation.
“Put it down,” she said.
Richard stared at her.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Martha.”
“No.”
Richard raised the blade slightly.
“Move.”
Martha's voice remained steady.
“You'll have to go through me.”
Behind her, Eleanor began trembling.
“Martha...”
“Don't move,” Martha whispered.
Richard took one step forward.
Martha took one step forward too.
For several seconds, they stood only feet apart.
Then Martha quietly reached behind herself.
Her fingers found the emergency panic button mounted beneath the console.
She pressed it.
A silent signal traveled through the manor's security system.
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Richard didn't notice.
He was too focused on the knife.
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