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
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 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
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 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
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'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.
Staring at the vicinity of the Safe Haven Orphanage—primarily painted with red and blue walls, gives overwhelming rejoice. It is a school and a place to stay for orphans. I closed my eyes and averted my gaze. I grew accustomed to the people and environment after living here for 17 years but hearing the conversations inside the Headmistress’s office shattered my heart; I sighed and leaned on the wall. Another turned down to adopt me, but it hurt me even more because I could hear Headmistress Rosie pleading with the wealthy married couple inside.“What are you doing here, Eliana? Return to the classroom!” Miss Lalita suddenly appeared and yelled. I nodded and started walking. Since I was ten years old, I’ve used this cycle, which still breaks my heart.“How was it, Eliana? Are you going to start living in a villa now?” Risa inquired as she stood at the door, wiggling her curly hair. I entered the room with a half smile on my face. She is one of my cheerful friends.“Risa, don’t irritate
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