Twisted Distraction

Athena’s P.O.V.

“How’s the plan, Helena?” Daddy asked me as soon as I sat next to him in front of our long dining table.

Mouth-watering foods and spectacular decorations were prepared for my birthday, but those would no longer matter to me anymore now that the atmosphere had begun to change. It looked like a thick and black mist was starting to cover the whole place.

He was sitting at the corner while I was on his right side. Using the elevator, I came down here on the ground floor because I took care of the stuffed toys first—the ones that Cristoff gave me. I made sure that they were properly displayed on my bed. I wanted to hug them the moment I slept.

“I—I’m working on it, D-Dad.” My lips twisted as I stuttered, and my hands clasped under the table… moistly trembled.