The Girl Who Moved In The House Next Door: GIRL IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR SERIES

By Mark Edwards

Some of the unkind and heartless people around were probably a bit too kind and loving, once upon a time.

She's naturally pretty, long dark hair, dark eyes, the perfect skin – well almost; there is a nasty scar in her back. If you're allowed to see it then you would have been a bit too close to even think about turning back. That is where things might get a bit dirty, gruesome to be exact. You think playtime is over but it wasn't a game and you realize this when you don't have a clue how to get out.

It's kind of complicated, why? Because she's the woman who moved in the house next door.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Edwards
• Release date: Dec 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393844280

Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. He has sold 4 million books since his first novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013, and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, The Retreat, In Her Shadow, Because She Loves Me, The Hollows and Here to Stay. He has also co-authored six books with Louise Voss. Originally from Hastings in East Sussex, Mark now lives in Wolverhampton with his wife, their children and two cats. Mark loves hearing from readers and can be contacted through his website, www.markedwardsauthor.com, or you can find him on Facebook (@markedwardsauthor), Twitter (@mredwards) and Instagram (@markedwardsauthor).

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PROLOGUE

Cvikovlậ 2001

I knew Pinasovi would come back to get us out of here, even though I'm convinced by now that she hated us.  I coughed a bit. I figured that the smoke must have triggered my bronchitis.  She actually didn't mind us calling her by her first name - Pinasovi.  We thought that it would be rude for us to, but addressing her by her first name made her less angry with us.  She kept telling herself that we were in no way related.  Pinasovi never stopped telling herself that my sister and I were the reason why we all didn't get to move to Lyon.  Life would have been so much lovelier there, we were all told. 

While lying on the floor, I managed to look over at my sister; she was the splitting image of me, only that her eyes were as red as maraschino.  It must have been the thick black smoke.  She was a little more plump than me too. I tried to move towards her but I remembered that I had two encumbrances:  One, my wheezing started and two, even if I wanted to risk it, to pull her from the worst part of the room, I couldn't; the large metal door jam turned into a shackle as it rested on my leg.  I couldn't move.  Well, that was what I thought until I glanced over and saw her, my sister, stretching her hands towards me. She wailed for help.  My heart pained.  I knew that I had to rescue her, if it even meant leaving my leg under the large metal door jam.  I continued coughing; I heard my chest, sounding like the buzzing of a thousand drone bees.  I  pulled and pulled, even though I lay there on the floor, on my tummy.  I screamed the scream of a thousand voices when I felt a hot burning rod on my back.  It fell from the ceiling.  I wiggled my entire frame like an insect.  The metal that rested on my leg shifted slightly.  It must have been the way that I twitched my body.  I managed to pull my leg out, leaving my shoe.  It was time to help my sister, but it felt as if my breath was leaving.  It was the darn smoke.  I don't know who did this to us but they must have been heartless creatures.  I don't know why but whoever did it must have hated Pinasovi so badly.  Speaking of which,  I though that she would have been back to get us out.  She hated us, but would she really ditch us, when we needed help the most? 

I forced myself outside, just to catch breath.  I took a few deep breaths which did give me some resurgence.  Insufficient though.  I kept wondering, where Pinasovi had gone. Time wasn't on my side, so I went inside to pull my sister out.  There was a blast.

FOURTEEN  YEARS  LATER

DIFFERENT TIME ZONE    -7 HOURS GMT

OAKLAND.

WELCOME TO THE CITY WITH THE YELLOW FLAG  

1

JOHN

CARE FOR SOME LEMONADE, John? she asked me. 

I removed my sunshades and then looked up at her; I just couldn’t help admiring how well my wife wore her teal green swimwear.  I took a look at her complementing mint green colored toe nails.  Delicious, I thought.  I then glided my greenish iris up her well-toned pair of legs and then halted my eye-feasting exploration an inch or two above her thighs.  For 30 this woman is drop-dead gorgeous...and gifted too, I giggled to myself while gazing fervidly at my wife, Kate, who held the platter with the tall glass of lemonade.

How about some of your tropical flavor?  I raised my hand, accepting the tall glass of the greenish beverage with the lemon hitched to