lie'

apsing to the floor, blood pouring from his mouth. Panic surged through me, and I darted toward

k, his face obscured, pointing a gun straight at me.

ll me," I begged,

," he commanded,

me," I pleaded again

ur eyes,"

nd of a gunshot. But there was only silence. After what felt like an etern

ilva. To my horror, she was bound with rope

ll me," she mumbled, h

ened?" I asked urgen

ase, untie me

er, I asked, "W

in black," she explained. "H

to confront him, but he overpowere

leave," Perc

ed. "We're in serious trouble. If the poli

call my gan

ahead,"

f us in total, part of the group known as 'PSCF,' which stood for 'Perfect, Smart, Computer Fas

Perfect asked,

man killed him

didn't succe

"But first, we must deal with the corpse. The police will

body?" Comp

njuries on his face, a grim reminder of the violence that had unfolded. The situation was deteri

I asked, my voice tin

then headed to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he returned

ressed, anxiety e

urnace," Sma

the furnace?" I inquired, feeli

unk," Smart s

lly until the body fit. With a collective effort, we managed to close the trunk. I grasped one of the handles,

fted the trunk onto my shoulder, fighting against its weight. My muscles ached, and the strap du

trunk over to the furnace, where I heaved it upright, struggling against its weight. Smart an

ill there be enough coal to burn the

t with coal. I pushed the lever to start the furnace,

e will smell this," he said. "T

exhaust fan mounted high on the wall behind the furnace. He flicked

haust fan will suck the air out of the

emed to fade, though the weight of our actions hung heavily in the air. The furnace roared with life