The harsh fluorescent light of the utility room buzzed overhead, casting long shadows across the white tile floor.
Elena adjusted the sleeves of her emerald green sweater, her expression remaining entirely devoid of any human empathy.
The woman smirks while closing the washing machine lid.
SFX: Lid closing
Lily: No! No! Don't do that!
Elena: Quiet down, Lily. It's just a little timeout to teach you both some manners.
Lily: He's only four years old! He's going to get dizzy and sick!
Elena: Then maybe next time he will learn to respect my authority in this family estate.
Lily: My mom would never let you do this to us! You're just a mean stranger!
Elena: Your mother is gone, sweetie. And your father gave me full legal custody last winter.
Lily's lower lip trembled violently as she stared at the heavy plastic lid of the top-loading machine.
Faint, muffled thuds echoed from inside the drum, accompanied by the desperate gasps of a terrified toddler.
Lily: Open it! Please, Elena, I'm begging you to let him out!
Elena: You should have thought about the consequences before you tracked mud across my clean kitchen floor.
Lily: We didn't mean to! The back door was left wide open by the gardener!
Elena: Excuses don't fix dirty floors, Lily. Just like they won't fix your broken attitude.
Elena stepped closer to the trembling little girl, towering over her with an intimidating posture.
Elena: If you make another sound, you'll be joining your little brother in the dark.
Lily: You wouldn't dare... Daddy will call the divorce lawyer and throw you out!
Elena: Your father signs whatever prenuptial and financial trust papers I place in front of him.
Elena chuckled softly, turning her back on the crying child to admire her reflection in the glass.
Elena: This entire mansion, the trust fund, and every single asset belongs to me now.
Lily: You're lying! Daddy loves us more than he loves your stupid money!
Elena: Money is the only thing that keeps this family afloat, and soon you'll both be shipped off to boarding school.
The muffled cries inside the appliance suddenly grew more frantic, sending a fresh wave of panic through Lily.
Will anyone reach the laundry room before the terrifying game goes too far?