My Stepmother's Betrayal

The pounding rain swallowed the city as Sophia's car fishtailed away from the alley, tires hissing on the slick road. I could barely breathe — my father's handprint still burned on my arm, my mother's folder and USB pressed against my chest like a shield.

Sophia gripped the wheel with white-knuckled hands, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror every few seconds. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine," I lied, my voice ragged. "Drive, Soph. Just drive."

We didn't say another word as she sped through side streets, turning so sharply my head slammed against the window more than once. Only when we reached a rundown motel on the edge of the city did she finally kill the engine.

"Come on." Sophia grabbed my arm, half dragging me to the front desk. The clerk barely looked up as she paid cash, and minutes later we were holed up in a damp room with peeling floral wallpaper and buzzing neon lights outside the window.

I sat on the sagging bed, my hands trembling as I flipped through the folder Dr. Patel had given me. Every page felt heavier than the last. Arsenic. Thallium. My mother's life stolen in slow, careful doses.

Sophia sat across from me, chewing at her thumbnail. "We need to get this to the police, Nina. Before they find us."

I looked up sharply. "Why didn't you tell me you saw the black car coming? I could've been trapped."

She flinched, her eyes darting away. "I texted you—"

"Two words. 'Black car.' That's it?"

Sophia stood and started pacing, hands fluttering like trapped birds. "I'm sorry, okay? I was scared. I didn't know what to do—"

Something about her tone made my gut twist. "Soph… what's going on?"

"Nothing!" Her voice cracked. "I'm just trying to keep you safe—"

A phone buzzed. Her phone. It lay on the cracked bathroom sink, the screen lighting up with a name that made my blood run cold: Mirabel.

I moved before I could stop myself, snatching the phone up. Sophia lunged for it but I held it out of reach, my thumb pressing Accept.

I heard Mirabel's voice, low and syrupy sweet. "Did you get her? Is she alone? You know what to do, Sophia."

The room spun. My vision blurred at the edges. "You… you're working with her?"

Sophia froze, her eyes huge and wet. "Nina, please—"

I flung the phone across the bed. "How long? How long have you been lying to me?"

"It's not what you think!" she cried, her voice breaking. "I didn't betray you — I betrayed her! I've been feeding her scraps so she wouldn't come after you! I swear, I'm trying to protect you—"

"You told her everything about Dr. Patel—"

"No! Just enough to keep her from getting suspicious! I knew if I refused, she'd come for you — or your dad would. Nina, I love you. You're my family."

My pulse thundered in my ears. "And Patel? Did you tell her about the USB?"

She fell silent. Her silence was worse than any answer.

I shoved past her, clutching the folder like a lifeline. My heart screamed to run, to get away from her lies — but where would I go? They'd find me. They always found me.

Sophia grabbed my wrist, her grip desperate. "Please, I'm still with you. I never wanted to hurt you—"

A soft knock on the door made us both jump. We froze, staring at each other.

Another knock. Then a familiar voice, muffled through the wood: "Nina? It's Emily. Open up — please. It's safe."

Sophia looked at me, panic in her eyes. "Don't. It could be a trick—"

But something in Emily's voice — urgent, breathless — cut through my fear. I moved to the door, glancing through the peephole. There she was, drenched from the rain, her eyes wide with something I hadn't seen before: determination.

I cracked the door. "Emily? How did you find me?"

She slipped inside, dripping water onto the carpet. "I've been watching Mirabel for months. After that night at the bar, I knew she'd come for you. I was waiting for you to run."

Sophia bristled. "Who the hell are you?"

Emily ignored her. She turned to me, her voice trembling. "Nina — your mother left more than just Patel's folder. She left evidence in a place no one's found yet. A safe deposit box. But they know you have the USB now — you don't have much time."

I looked from Emily to Sophia. My best friend. My betrayer. My only family — and the girl who'd been lying to my face.

And now this drenched stranger claiming she held the last thread of my mother's truth.

My throat felt raw. "How do I know I can trust either of you?"

Emily stepped closer, lowering her hood. Rainwater dripped from her hair. "You don't. But you'll have to decide — right now. They're coming for you, Nina. And they won't stop this time."

Thunder rumbled overhead. Outside, the neon lights flickered like warning signs.

I clutched the USB so tightly the plastic dug into my palm.

My mother's voice echoed in my head: Trust no one. But don't stand alone.