Chapter 4: Setting the Trap

4

Killing someone isn’t actually that hard.

The hard part is that this man is almost always with Lillian, making it tough to get close.

If he ever showed up alone during the day, it would be easy.

All I could do was wait for my chance.

In the days that followed, I rarely had time alone with Lillian.

That man—Caleb—came over more and more often.

They sweated wantonly on top of me, never realizing someone was hidden inside the mattress, witnessing their passion.

I was resentful, jealous—wishing I could tear Caleb to pieces.

But I kept waiting, biding my time.

I knew I needed to use a trick.

One day, while Lillian was at work, I crawled out of the bed to stretch.

I disconnected the gas line and blew on the gas detector for a while.

Sure enough, the alarm started blaring.

Soon, a neighbor knocked on the door, then called Lillian.

I hid in the closet, quietly waiting for someone to arrive.

The apartment complex was buzzing that afternoon—kids racing through the hall, a dog barking somewhere outside. I pulled on a faded hoodie, heart pounding as I fiddled with the gas valve behind the old oven. My hands shook, but I forced myself to focus. A high-pitched screech split the silence as the detector wailed. From the closet, wedged between winter coats and Lillian’s laundry basket, I watched dust motes swirling in the sunlight. Every creak in the hallway made my palms sweat. All I could do was wait for the universe to toss me a chance, just once.