I laughed when I inspected my face in the mirror. The grey contacts made my eyes look dead. The prosthetic nose felt tight but convincing. My skin was paler under the cheap foundation and the janitor’s cap pulled over the short wig made me look… invisible. Filthy, forgettable. Just how wanted it. I smiled. No one sees the help. No one questions the ones that scrub floors.
Perfect.
I zipped up the old cleaning uniform and tucked the burner phone in my pocket, pressing it close to my chest. It was filled with clips I saved–Geneva smiling with Elle, that brat giggling in her arms, Niccolo laughing in the background like he hadn’t thrown my love away for trash.
They looked like a family. And I looked like the ending they thought they escaped.
“You took everything from me, Geneva,” I whispered to my reflection, voice low and shaking with hate. “Now I take you apart piece by piece. You healed? Let’s see how you patch this one up.” The school was easy. The Montenegro money made it untouchable from the outside, but no one suspected the inside. No one suspected the cleaner.
I’ve been here for weeks now. Watching. Learning.
Elle sat in the second row. She liked strawberry milk and always gave the guards a flower before going home. She always wore her mother’s necklace under her uniform. The one with the M insignia on it.
She didn’t deserve to be so loved.
Every time I saw her smile, I remembered how Niccolo used to smile that way with me. Before Geneva stole him. Before he called me a mistake.
I shook at the memory of that gala. Of him falling to his knees for her like a dog. Of him ignoring my texts, ignoring my tears, ignoring me.
He was supposed to cry for me.
He was supposed to choose me.
But no. He bled for her. In front of everyone. In front of the Salvacion ancestors. The fucking world watched him cry for that heiress like she was gold and I was ash.
I’ll ruin her.
I’ll make sure she chokes on her own perfect world.
Today’s the day.
I slipped into the school through the south service gate. My ID scanned. No one blinked. I nodded once to the other janitor–Carla–and handed her the tea I “made” with extra sugar. And something more potent. She drank it fast. She always did.
Two minutes later, she was unconscious in the supply closet.
I locked it from the outside.
I disabled the east wing hallway cameras with my magnet swipe, custom rigged to fry the
Me Strapped Bombe to Our
4
1:00 pm P P P P
sensors without tripping the network.
Everything was set.
I crouched near Elle’s classroom, waiting like I’ve been waiting every day since Geneva showe
her face again.
My palms were sweating under the gloves. My heart was calm. Controlled.
This time, there would be no mistakes.
I whispered to myself, crouched in the dark hall. “Say goodbye to your daughter, Geneva. Let‘: see if you’re still their queen when the crown is soaked in your child’s blood.”
And then I heard the bell ring.
I saw Elle went to the restroom alone. Her little legs skipped like she didn’t have a care in the world. The guards stood by the hallway entrance, casual, too trusting. I stayed behind the cornel pretending to mop the floor, watching every move with precision.
Then I heard her tiny voice.
“Hi, Mama.”
I gritted my teeth. That soft tone, full of love, full of safety. It made me sick.
Geneva’s voice came through the child’s watch.
“I’ll be back today, baby. The meting went fine, so I’m bringing your favorite food, okay?”
Elle giggled, “Thanks, Mama. You’re the best. I love you!”
I pressed my back to the wall and shut my eyes, whispering under my breath, “Best? No, sweetheart. She’s the beast. And beasts need to be caged. Or killed.”
I slipped the pellet under the door. Just enough to make her weak, not dead. I needed her alive Her breathing slowed after a few seconds. I counted.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
She started coughing. Then choking. The door unlocked and I rushed in. My gloves were already on. The janitor’s mask hid my smile.
“There, there,” I whispered like a lullaby as I pressed the cloth over her face. “Don’t fight it. Mama Margot is taking you home.”
She went limp in seconds.
I laid her inside the janitor’s cart, tucked her under fake trash and bundled linens. Not too tight. Not too loose. Just enough to keep her quiet.
I pushed the cart down the hallway like I’d done a hundred times. I passed by one of the guards
on his smoke break.
He gave me a lazy nod. I gave him one back.
I almost laughed in his face.
Down in the basement, I reached the side door. Pulled the stolen access card from my pocket and swiped.
9/2 8029
1:00 pm
The green light blinked.
Click.
Freedom.
wheeled the cart down the narrow ramp toward the hidden garage, unloaded her into the back of the black van I hotwired yesterday, and tucked her in the backseat with care.
She looked peaceful. Like an angel in sleep.
Shhh,” I cooed. “You’ll wake up soon. But Mama won’t be there. And guess what? Your rea nama won’t find you either. Not this time.”
slammed the door shut and climbed into the driver’s seat.
As the engine roared to life, I glanced at her through the rearview mirror and whispered
Geneva… you healed too fast. Let’s open your wound again, shall we?”
stepped on the gas and disappeared into the city, laughing as the school shrank in my mirror.
Chapter 26
