CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR – FINDING SECURITY

The fluorescent lights of the police station cast a sterile glow on the waiting area. Madison and Veronica sat side-by-side, an uneasy truce hanging between them. The events of the past day had left them both shaken, a stark contrast to the animosity they usually shared. The arrival of Ethan and Constance brought a wave of relief washing over Madison. Ethan rushed over, his face etched with concern. "Madison, are you alright?" he asked, pulling her into a tight embrace. Veronica, momentarily forgotten, watched the display with a flicker of something akin to longing in her eyes. "I'm scared, Ethan," Madison whispered, clinging to him. Briefly, she glanced at Veronica, then continued, "Someone broke into the house. They trashed the place and… wrote something awful on the wall." Ethan's jaw clenched tight. He looked at Veronica, his expression softening. "Veronica, are you okay?" Veronica, still wrapped in a cloak of shock, simply nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from her shoes.