Charles stood in silence, his gaze fixed on Caleb. I waited, expecting him to say something important, but minutes passed with only the weight of silence between us.“I thought…” I began tentatively, but Charles cut me off with a chuckle before I could finish my thought.“No, nothing serious. I have to go, Al—”“Caleb,” Caleb said smoothly, his voice calm yet authoritative. “Let’s step outside,” he suggested, casting a glance in my direction. “Eliana, take some rest. Tomorrow, you can begin cleaning the mansion.” He chuckled softly at my disappointed expression before leading Charles towards the door.Left alone, I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of curiosity and exhaustion settling in. Deciding a refreshing shower would clear my mind, I walk to the spacious bathroom adjoining my room. The marble floors were cool beneath my bare feet as I turned on the water, adjusting it to the perfect temperature. Steam filled the room, carrying with it the soothing scent of lavender from the gard
I lay in bed for an hour, unable to sleep. Caleb still hadn’t finished talking to Charles. I got up and walked to the door, hesitant to go outside but uncomfortable. Something inside me needed to be checked. I went downstairs and saw Mrs. Higgins in the living room. She smiled at me.“Do you need anything?” she asked.I smiled back, walking toward her. “I can’t sleep,” I answered.Mrs. Higgins motioned for me to sit next to her on the couch. “Would you like some tea? It might help you relax.”I nodded, appreciating her kindness. She got up and headed to the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The house was quiet except for the faint murmur of voices from Caleb and Charles’ ongoing conversation. I wondered what they were discussing so intently at this hour.Mrs. Higgins returned with a steaming cup of chamomile tea and handed it to me. “Here you go, dear.”“Thank you,” I said, taking a sip. The warmth of the tea began to soothe my nerves. Mrs. Higgins sat back down, her presenc
I blinked my eyes multiple times and found myself in my room. The familiarity of my surroundings felt jarring after the chaos of my dream. I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself in reality. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches on the floor. I got up quickly, my heart still racing from the vivid images in my mind, and ran outside.In the living room, Caleb and Charles were engaged in a lighthearted conversation, their laughter filling the room. The normalcy of the scene was almost unsettling given what I had just experienced.“Where is the monster?” I blurted out, my voice trembling. They both turned to look at me, their expressions shifting from amusement to confusion, and then they laughed.“What are you talking about?” Caleb asked, a hint of concern in his voice.“The creatures... The wolf!” I exclaimed, my desperation clear. The vivid memory of the wolf’s eyes and the eerie silence of the forest lingered in my mind.They both stopped laughing, their
I did not say anything and just looked at Mrs. Higgins. Caleb and Charles walked into the dining room. I followed them quietly. The atmosphere was tense, charged with unspoken words and hidden emotions that seemed to press down on us all.Mrs. Higgins had prepared three meals: fish, chicken, and pork. Each dish was meticulously arranged on the table, a testament to her culinary skills. The aroma of the food filled the room, but none of us seemed to notice. We ate silently, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and the occasional scrape of a chair against the floor. It was a far cry from the lively meals we used to have, where laughter and conversation flowed freely.As I picked at my food, my mind wandered to the events of the past few days. There had been an air of secrecy around the house, with whispered conversations and doors closed quickly when I approached. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being kept from me, and it gnawed at my insides like a persistent i
I turned around, but no one was there. I shook my head, and before I could go out, Caleb came inside. He shook his head and smiled.“What is it?” I whispered.“It’s just a cat,” he said, pointing to my bed. “Go to sleep.” I nodded, and then he went out. I went to my bed and closed my eyes, but the voice I heard earlier made me feel anxious. I blinked my eyes multiple times, but it was still the same. I sat down and hugged myself.“When you have difficulty sleeping, think of happy thoughts.” My tears flowed down my cheeks. It was Miss Rosie's reminder for me. I miss her so much. She’s like my older sister. Suddenly, a thunder roared, followed by rain. I lay down and pulled the blanket over myself until I fell asleep with tears on my face.“No!” I shouted after an hour, and fear lingered in me. What was that about? I couldn’t recall my dream, but my body was shaking with fear. Caleb ran inside to me. He hugged me, and it calmed me down.“What happened?” he asked. I shook my head. I coul
I moved my feet gingerly and blinked against the bright sunlight filtering through the dense foliage. Its warmth enveloped me, contrasting sharply with the cold fear lingering in my chest. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I cautiously scanned my surroundings, each glimpse bringing back fragmented memories of the night before. A werewolf? The thought made me shudder involuntarily, and I hugged myself tightly as if to ward off the lingering chill that threatened to pierce through my skin.“Ouch!” I exclaimed, more surprised by my touch than the pain it caused. The forest was eerily quiet around me, broken only by the rustling of leaves and distant bird calls. Suddenly, the stillness was shattered by approaching footsteps.“Are you okay?” A deep voice cut through the silence, making me jump. I turned around and looked up, my eyes meeting those of a tall man who seemed to tower over me. His presence was unexpected, his expression a curious mix of concern and amusement.“Hey, beautiful wo
I settled in well at Gonzalo's place. He explained everything to me, even providing lists of instructions on how to clean his house. It wasn't as big as Caleb's mansion but incredibly peaceful. Despite being literally in the middle of the forest inside there was no trace of eerie sounds or the growls of werewolves. I paused. Could the wolf I heard at the Orphanage have been Caleb? Goosebumps prickled my skin, adding to the pain already gnawing at me. How could I feel so emotionless?Gonzalo had been kind and patient since bringing me to his secluded cabin. He seemed to understand my need for space and solitude, giving me time to adjust to my new surroundings. His presence was reassuring, yet I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that lingered beneath the surface.As days passed, I fell into a routine of cleaning and maintaining Gonzalo's home. The tasks kept my hands busy, but my mind wandered incessantly. Memories of Caleb haunted me—his smile, his touch, the secrets he kept hidden
I stared at the wolf. It seemed unharmed and just looked at me. I gulped and moved my feet backward. He moved forward, and I was alarmed. I ran without direction until someone grabbed me. I shouted and pushed him."Eliana!" I was stunned when I heard Gonzalo and faced him. "What happened?" he asked with a worried face. My heart beat so fast, and I didn't know if I could trust the man in front of me."I... saw something... scary," I said and collapsed on the grass.—I settled into a routine at Gonzalo's place, finding comfort in the peaceful solitude of the forest surrounding his cabin. Gonzalo continued to be kind and supportive, offering me guidance and understanding as I processed the revelations about Caleb's world. But still, I couldn’t open up completely to him—about the wolf I saw and about Caleb. I would deal with it myself.Days passed in a blur of chores and quiet contemplation. Gonzalo kept busy with his tasks, often disappearing into the woods for hours at a time. Despite
Eliana's feet slid into the dirt, and she breathed in quick, harsh bursts. The storm raged around her, yet the noise didn't drown her out, driving her heart race. She'd never felt more out of control, and the space between her and Gonzalo seemed like an ocean.She hadn’t meant to come out here. She hadn’t meant to confront him. But now that she was, standing just a few feet from him, the truth hung in the air—heavy, suffocating.Gonzalo’s eyes darted nervously toward the trees. Something stirred in the woods, just beyond the line of rain-soaked branches, a low growl spiked a fear in her bones. She felt the chill on her exposed skin and in her veins, which only served to heighten her resolve to uncover the truth. The storm wasn't the only thing. The tension in the air seemed off for some reason.
The rain hit against the roof, and the constant pouring panicked Eliana’s thoughts, keeping her on edge. The quiet after the explosion still hung heavy in the air. The danger had left, but the unease lingered, settling deep within her chest like a weight she couldn’t bear.She ambled around the room, unable to sit still. Her mind replayed the events from the night before. Gonzalo’s calmness had bothered her, the way he’d brushed off the explosion with such ease, the faint flicker in his eyes when she asked about it. It wasn't just him, though. It was the growl she had heard, the one that made her skin tingle and seemed to rattle the air. The woodland was where it had come from. She was certain. What makes it an animal? She kept asking herself this question until she heard another loud smash outside, followed by the howling wind that seemed to lash through the trees with unnatural ra
Eliana tried to escape to the man beside her, but his grip was tight around her arms. Her eyes looked around, desperate to find a way out, but the darkness swallowed everything. Why is it so dark? The question echoed in her mind, her breathing rapid and shallow.A light appeared in the distance, just enough to see the man's face. Then, she takes the chance to escape."Ahhhh!" The sound hit her ears as her leg scraped against something sharp. She winced, pain shooting up her side, and her hands flew to the nearest tree trunk, fingers digging into the rough bark.Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat louder than the last, drowning out all other noise. Clinging to the tree, Eliana struggled to pull herself up, feet scrambling to climb again. Sweat trickled down her brow, mingling with the dirt and blood
Everything seemed the same. Eliana returned to doing chores in exchange for Gonzalo's kindness in caring for her and letting her live in his house. At first, she felt like a robot, performing the same tasks repeatedly.She reached for the broom and started sweeping when she gasped and dropped it.“Are you okay?” Gonzalo asked.Eliana forced a smile and grabbed the broom. A loud growl resounded, but it lasted just a second. “Perhaps you're hungry. Let’s eat.” She nodded, ran out of the kitchen, and began preparing the food. Gonzalo smiled, and they started eating. The silence gnawed at her, making it difficult to chew the pork properly as if she wanted to vomit until Gonzalo’s phone rang. He answered it with a frown.“I have to go,” Gonzalo said, then left. Eliana exhaled deeply and grabbed a glass of water. She thought it would be the last time. She needed to get along with him until she could find a way out.The next day, Gonzalo knocked on her door. She opened it and gawked. Gonzalo
Eliana stood frozen, her pulse racing as the figure emerged from the shadows. It was Caleb—or at least, who it appeared to be. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming. But the warmth of the air around herand the texture of the ground beneath her feet felt too real.“Caleb?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, laced with confusion and hope. She moved forward and couldn’t take her eyes off him.He smiled, his eyes holding a familiar warmth, but there was something different—something unsettling she couldn’t quite place. “I knew you’d find me again,” he said softly, the words wrapping around her like a fragile promise. Find him again? But I ran away from him.Befor
The walls felt like they were closing in around her. Eliana could hardly breathe in the oppressive silence of Gonzalo’s house; his presence and words suffocated her. Each passing moment in this place felt like another chain tightening around her. She needed to get out, needed to escape the overwhelming pull of his intentions, the pain that kept clawing at her chest, and the confusion that only seemed to multiply with each passing day.She had thought about it all night. The plan was simple, but it had to be quick. Quiet. Eliana knew Gonzalo would never let her leave willingly—not after everything. He had made it clear that he wouldn’t give up on her, no matter how hard she fought. But she couldn’t stay, not in this cage of false comfort, not with his manipulation twisting every decision she made. She knew it seemed like she didn’t respect Gonzalo after all he had done for her.
Eliana forms a smile while looking at Gonzalo. She thinks about Caleb and sees him in a second. “I mean...I will just watch the house..” Gonzalo did not say anything and that day their conversation was not followed.The days blurred together in a haze of routine, but none of it felt real to Eliana. Every morning, she woke up to the same narrow room, the same quiet house, the same silence that seemed to echo louder each time. Gonzalo had been kind to her, always checking in, offering comfort, and trying his best to make her feel at ease, but it wasn’t enough. Not when Caleb’s face kept appearing in the quiet spaces of her mind, in her dreams, in her heart.Every time Eliana closed her eyes, she could still feel his presence—his soft laugh, his touch, the warmth that had once made her feel safe. She missed him more than she cared to admit. The memories of their time together haunted her, constantly reminding her of what she had lost, what she couldn’t have anymore. The world outside mi
Eliana’s mind drifted as she curled up on the couch, the exhaustion of the day pulling her into a restless sleep. The remnants of tears still clung to her lashes, but her breathing steadied as she surrendered to the quiet embrace of slumber.In the depths of her dream, the familiar figure of Caleb emerged from the shadows. He stood with his back to her, his tall frame outlined by the soft glow of a moonlit night. The silvery light kissed his tousled dark hair, giving him an almost ethereal presence. He turned slowly, his face coming into view, and Eliana’s heart fluttered despite herself.There he was—Caleb, with his annoyingly handsome features that had haunted her thoughts more times than she cared to admit. His sharp jawline, slightly crooked smile, and those piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through her soul. There was something infuriatingly perfect about him as if he had stepped out of a dream too vivid to be real."Eliana," he called softly, his voice a tantalizing mixt
The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains, casting warm, golden beams across the room. Eliana stirred from her restless sleep, her body still aching but more familiar with the discomfort. She sat up, her eyes heavy, and took a moment to breathe in the fresh morning air that carried a hint of dew and earth. The house was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds and the rustling leaves outside.Eliana moved through the small house, each step echoing softly against the wooden floor. Gonzalo’s home was simple but functional, every corner speaking of a life lived with quiet routine and modesty. She found the kitchen easily, a modest space with well-worn counters and shelves lined with jars of preserved goods. A pot of coffee sat on the stove, and she poured herself a cup, savoring the warmth in her hands as she sat by the small table.Her mind drifted to the previous days—the confusion, the fear, the overwhelming sense of something not quite right. She had tried to push it aw