Page 121 of The House Swap

This was unravelling too quickly.

‘Please stop,’ she said, stepping forward. ‘We can talk about this.’

‘No!’ Martin snapped. ‘We’re past talking.’

His grip tightened further, the knife nicking Keira’s skin, and she cried out, struggling to free herself.

And that was it. The moment everything broke.

Keira twisted again, a sharp, desperate movement, her hand flying up to grab at Martin’s wrist. The knife wavered, just for a second, but it was enough. And in that moment, Poppy acted.

She grabbed the heavy ceramic bowl on the counter and she swung it hard, aiming for Martin. It connected with his arm, making a dull crack, and he cried out, his grip loosening as the knife jerked away from Keira’s throat.

As Keira tore free, stumbling forward, Poppy yelled at her. ‘Run!’

Poppy was momentarily distracted, checking her friend was safe, unaware Martin was behind her until Jem yelled a warning.

Martin’s hand shot out, catching Poppy as the bowl slipped from her grip, smashing across the tiled floor. Pain flared up her arm as his fingers dug in, his face twisting now, his mask gone completely.

Jem was already there, lunging forward and grabbing onto Martin, wrenching him back. The force broke his hold on Poppy, sending her stumbling as the two men crashed to the floor.

The knife skidded across the tiles, and for a split second, everything held. Then Martin lashed out, striking Jem across the side of the head.

Keira screamed, as Poppy’s eyes locked on the knife.

It was the other side of Martin. She wouldn’t reach it in time.

Her eyes darted, searching and landing on the shattered bowl. Jagged pieces were scattered across the floor and she dropped to her knees, snatching up a shard.

She barely felt it slicing into her palm.

She looked towards Martin, who was already pushing himself up and turning back again towards Keira. Still the easier target.

No!

Poppy threw herself forward, driving the shard into his side.

She stepped back as Martin gasped, his body jerking in shock as he staggered sideways.

For a moment, everything paused. Then he looked at her, really looked at her, his expression changing. Not to anger. Instead, it was as if, for the first time, he was seeing her clearly.

Then his legs gave way and he hit the floor hard.

Jem scrambled upright, kicking the knife further out of reach, before dropping down beside him, forcing Martin’s arms behind him.

‘Stay down,’ he ordered.

Martin struggled briefly before the fight drained out of him.

Poppy remained where she was, the shard still clutched in her hand, her breathing uneven. The room was suddenly too quiet. Too still.

‘Poppy!’

At the sound of Keira’s voice, she turned, relieved to see her friend was unscathed. That was when the tension inside of her finally gave way. Her grip loosened and the shard slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor.

The nightmare was finally over.

EPILOGUE