I stood frozen in place.
My breath caught in my throat as Cecil disappeared around the corner without looking back at me even once.
No...
Something was terribly wrong.
That wasn't the Cecil I knew.
Even if he was arrogant...
Even if he always wore that smug smile...
His eyes had always been alive.
But now...
They were empty.
Like a soulless doll, its strings tangled tightly in the hands of someone else.
I watched Mary as she watched him leave.
Then she laughed softly.
A satisfied laugh.
As though she had just finished placing the first piece on a chessboard.
Before I could hide, her gaze slowly shifted.
Straight toward me.
Our eyes met.
She smiled.
She didn't look surprised.
She wasn't startled.
Nor was she even afraid that her secret had been exposed.
It was as though she had known all along that I was standing there, watching her.
Then...
She raised one finger.
And gently pressed it against her lips.
A silent gesture.
"Shhh."
