Maria: Hold on with everything you have, Mrs. Clara! I won't let go!
Clara: Maria, the glass... it's breaking under my feet!
Maria: Don't look down! Just keep your hands on the cloth!
Inside the bright living room, Julian stepped up behind the large glass window. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in pure horror as he saw me suspended over the cracking skylight outside.
Julian: No! Hold on!
Clara: Julian! Help us!
Julian slammed his hands against the double-paned window glass, his face pale, a single tear falling from his eye as he looked on in helpless horror. He turned and sprinted toward the balcony access door, his hands frantically turning the heavy metal door lock mechanism to slide the latch open.
Julian: Evelyn! What did you do to the balcony door lock?!
Evelyn: I jammed the latch, Julian! Stay inside where it's safe!
Julian: You crazy woman! My wife and unborn child are out there!
Evelyn: She was going to take half of your inheritance! I did this for our family!
Outside, the central glass section beneath my feet completely shattered with a violent, exploding crash. Shards of thick glass rained down into the lower foyer void. Maria screamed as she pulled backward on the cloth rope, her hands bleeding against the linen as she dragged me onto the narrow marble edge of the balcony frame.
Maria: I've got your arm! Reach for the marble ledge, Mrs. Clara!
Clara: I've got it! Pull me up!
With one final, desperate tug, Maria pulled me onto the solid light marble floor of the balcony. I collapsed against the white wall, clutching my belly as my body shook with uncontrollable sobs.
Julian: Clara! Open the latch from the outside!
I scrambled to my knees, reaching for the exterior lock handle. I forced the heavy metallic latch sliding open, throwing the glass doors wide just as Julian rushed out into the sunlight.
Julian: Clara! Are you hurt?! Is the baby okay?!
Clara: The baby is okay, Julian... but Evelyn tried to kill us!
Julian turned around to face his sister, his face contorted in a dark, terrifying rage that I had never seen before in my entire life.
Julian: Evelyn... you are dead to me.