The mother-in-law stormed in to punish her for sleeping late—but the moment she pulled back the blanket, what she saw made her scream and drop everything

unease.

“Mariana?” she said, this time softer.

Still nothing.

With shaking hands, she reached for the blanket and pulled it back.

The stick fell from her hand.

There was blood on the sheet.

Mariana’s face was pale, her lips almost colorless, and beside her pillow lay something Mrs. Hernández had not expected to see.

A small folded note.

Written in Carlos’s continue reading …