Ten minutes ago, when Elizabeth and Ms. Chen lifted the plant at the entrance of apartnt No. 1 and walked slowly behind, Mr. Grant was preparing to head ho with Jessica.
"Did she really an that about ghosts?" Leah said while opening the door. "It's impossible to confirm things you can't see."
When the door swung open, Leah looked back and saw Mr. Grant quietly standing behind Jessica. She frowned. "Huh?"
Jessica smiled, saying, "I invited him over."
Leah wasn't too pleased but didn't argue, turning to enter the apartnt. Mr. Grant and Jessica exchanged a glance, smirking.
"Is everything set?" he whispered to Jessica as they entered.
Jessica nodded. "Just needs your hands."
Being needed by soone he cared for brought Mr. Grant profound satisfaction; he closed the door. Following their plan, Jessica swiftly caught up with her friend, urging her toward the living room couch to eat cookies, ensuring Leah always had her back to Mr. Grant, not giving her a chance to look back.
Mr. Grant followed behind them, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms. Who would have thought that teaching in a high school, a seemingly dull profession, would lead to a mont like this? He had taught biology for years and was well-versed in the anatomy of major arteries. If pressure is applied to the carotid artery, one would fall unconscious within 15 to 20 seconds.
Jessica, a young girl lacking strength and knowledge, naturally needed his assistance for this act. He was pleased to help; as much as one might appreciate flowers, it's best to let them be in their natural habitat, alive in their own way, without plucking them—that's how he expressed his love.
Unaware, Leah sat on the couch, failing to notice Mr. Grant stealthily approaching from behind.
Just as he was about to make his move, the door echoed with knocking.
Startled, Leah quickly turned around, saying to Mr. Grant, "See who it is."
Such a perfect opportunity gone to waste. Frustrated, Mr. Grant exchanged a glance with Jessica before reluctantly opening the door.
To his surprise, it was Pink's grandma.
"What is it?" he inquired curtly, glancing outside where Pink sat idly on the lawn, picking grass. The child seed indifferent to where his grandma wandered off to, occasionally glancing upwards at the apartnt. The old woman, usually so protective of her grandson, chose today of all days to wander off, leaving Pink behind. What an inconvenience.
"Oh, Pink, you're here," Pink's grandma mumbled, about to step inside. "Is there tea at ho?"
Mr. Grant hurriedly stopped her. "I'm not Pink. Pink is outside."
"What are you saying? You are my grandson." Pink's grandma wasn't one for social graces. She tried to force her way in, remarking, "Oh, you have guests?"
The two girls approached, trying to placate Pink's grandma, but the confused old woman remained, staring into the living room, repeating, "Tea... tea..."
"Forget it, she might be thirsty," Jessica said, waving her hand. "Give her a glass of water and then send her away."
Given the identical layouts of the apartnts upstairs and downstairs, Pink's grandma might have believed she was in her own ho. She quickly fetched a kettle and cup from the kitchen. After drinking, she smacked her lips, saying, "The tea is a bit bland."
"Your grandson is still outside," Mr. Grant said, trying to persuade her. "Such a young child shouldn't be left alone."
"No, no, you are my grandson. You are not outside." Pink's grandma set down the cup and grabbed his hand, rubbing it affectionately. "You've grown so much, but don't forget your grandma."
Leah snickered, and a surge of irritation welled up within Mr. Grant. He exchanged a look with Jessica. While Pink's grandma was fussing about serving tea to the guests, he snatched the cup from her and pulled her to her feet.
"You should go find your grandson," he said, pointing to Pink outside before shoving Pink's grandma out the door.
Stumbling out, she continued to mumble, "You are my grandson, you really are my grandson."
Before he closed the door, he instinctively glanced across the hallway and saw Ms. Chen and Elizabeth carrying a plant upstairs. Then, the door closed again.
As he walked back inside, Jessica distracted Leah.
"Co on, sit here," Jessica said with a smile, taking Leah's hand and seating her beside herself on the couch. "Let's watch a movie together. What do you want to watch?"
"What have you got?"
"A lot," Jessica said, turning on the TV. "There are supernatural films, thrillers, romance, and much more. What genre are you in the mood for?"
Leah suddenly kicked the remote control from Jessica's hand. Seeing the remote fall to the ground, Jessica slowly turned her head to look at Leah, who was struggling on the sofa, and sighed.
"It'll be over soon. You'll be fine," she said softly. Reaching out, she grabbed Leah's flailing foot and gently stroked the back. "Careful. Don't knock over the kettle."
As if her words carried significant soothing power, Leah slowly stopped resisting. Her body relaxed until she went completely limp. To be safe, Mr. Grant waited a couple of more seconds before releasing her from his chokehold.
"She's fine. She'll wake up in a bit," he said. "Where's the rope?"
"It's ready," Jessica said, pulling out a large coil of thick rope from the kitchen cabinet. "You're stronger; tie her up tightly."
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"Alright." Mr. Grant took the rope, knowing he needed to be quick and careful with this step. After spending several minutes binding Leah's hands and feet, he was sweating profusely. Neither of them ntioned gagging Leah to prevent her from shouting for help when she woke up. Both he and Jessica knew that even if Leah scread the house down, it was useless.
When he stood up, Jessica thoughtfully handed him a hefty hamr. Mr. Grant weighed it in his hand, asking, "What about you?"
"I have this," she said, waving an ice pick. "I like making shaved ice treats."
Mr. Grant smiled. "Too much ice isn't good for girls."
Jessica's only response was a smile. The two then left the unconscious Leah.
Just as they stepped out, the door of apartnt No. 7 upstairs burst open and Elizabeth erged. Known for her eerie pretense, she stared at them intensely with a pale face as if she had seen a ghost.
Mr. Grant quickly realized Elizabeth wasn't looking at them but above their heads — apartnt No. 2 was directly below apartnt No. 6, Pink's grandma's ho. Taking a few steps out and looking up, they noticed the door to apartnt No. 6 was ajar. However, the grandmother and grandson who lived in the apartnt were still on the lawn, also noticing Elizabeth's odd behavior.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Pink shouted.
Mr. Grant and Jessica exchanged glances and shrugged. Whatever was happening now was unimportant. It was rely a matter of chance whom they encountered first.
As they approached the grandmother and grandson on the grass, Elizabeth gathered her courage and approached the railing. "C-Chen... Ms. Chen... The one who just entered your apartnt..."
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