Caroline stood frozen, her gaze locked on the girl now staring directly back at her. Gretha's grin stretched across her face like a blade, sharp and deliberate. Caroline felt an unexplainable weight settle over her, as though Gretha's presence alone could sap the strength from her limbs. What is she doing here? The thought echoed in her mind, unrelenting.
Gretha took a step forward, then another, her movements slow and deliberate, her grin never faltering. It wasn't just a smile—it was a statement, a challenge. Caroline's jaw clenched tighter with every step, her glare hardening as tension rippled between them.
"Maybe we should just leave," Daphne whispered beside her, her voice tinged with unease, but the thought had no chance to linger.
"Hi there," Gretha's voice cut through the air, dripping with mockery and condescension.