Chapter 84 - THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW
The coastal house looked abandoned.
Broken shutters.
Overgrown grass.
Salt stains on the walls.
But one window was illuminated.
Someone was inside.
Julian reached for the door.
Locked.
I stepped closer.
The door opened.
By itself.
We froze.
Then a voice came from upstairs.
“Emily.”
I knew that voice.
I had never heard it before.
Yet something about it felt familiar.
We climbed the stairs.
At the end of the hallway stood an elderly woman.
White hair.
Gray coat.
One hand resting on a wooden cane.
She looked at me.
And smiled.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Who are you?”
She stepped into the light.
“I am Eleanor Reed.”
My knees almost gave way.
“My grandmother?”
“Yes.”
Julian stared.
“Everyone thought you were dead.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“Everyone was supposed to.”
She walked toward us.
Then stopped in front of me.
“You accepted the position.”
I stared at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because I created the condition.”
“What condition?”
“That the next Director must choose willingly.”
I shook my head.
“I didn't choose this.”
“You signed.”
“Because Lucas threatened my son.”
Eleanor's expression softened.
“That is still a choice.”
I looked at her.
“What happens now?”
She turned toward the window.
“Now The Circle will test you.”
“How?”
She pointed toward the road.
Three black vehicles had appeared in the distance.
“They already have.”
Julian moved toward the window.
“How many?”
“Three.”
Eleanor smiled sadly.
“No.”
She looked at me.
“Four.”
A fourth vehicle appeared behind the others.
And it carried a symbol I recognized.
May you like
The same symbol from the wedding invitation.
Victoria's symbol.
