CHAPTER 5

Jayla lingered beside the herb stall far longer than was called for, her gaze set on where Jade had disappeared a few moments past.

The bustling market seemed to close in around her, the vibrant voices of vendors calling out their last deals of the day blurring into a distant hum. She could still see Jade's figure etched in her mind-her sister's shoulders drawn tight, her steps quick, purposeful. Too purposeful.

*Why hadn't she said that she would be here?* Jayla thought, the idea nipping at her like a flea. They shared almost everything she had thought. A twirl of unease curled in her stomach as she turned back to the herb stall, fingers tracing the edges of a bunch of parsley without really seeing it.

The heavy phone in her pocket seemed to reverberate with Jasmine's call, still ringing in her ears, but it was something entirely different that held her attention. 

Jayla couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She could almost feel it like a thick, invisible thread tugging her toward the truth she wasn't sure she wanted to uncover.

What are you hiding, Jade? she thought, her mind replaying the way Jade had moved through the market, almost like she was trying to avoid being seen. She didn't look like someone casually shopping -she looked like someone with a secret.

Jayla tried to focus on the task at hand, grabbing a bunch of fresh herbs and adding them to her basket. But her hands were trembling. She breathed in deeply, trying to steady herself.

She had always been the one who kept her emotions in check, the one who saw things. But right now, everything felt clouded: Jade's behavior, Axel's charming smile, which seemed to mask more than show, and Jasmine's warning echoing louder in her head.

She paid for the herbs and began to walk towards the exit, her feet moving on autopilot, her mind spinning in a thousand directions. She didn't even notice that the sun was beginning to dip behind the buildings, casting long, grotesque shadows across the cobblestone path. 

The world seemed to stretch and distort around her, the cheerful chatter of the market now more like a distant murmur.

As she neared the edge of the market, a sudden flash of red caught her eye. A familiar dress. *Jade.* Jayla's heart skipped a beat and without thinking, she stepped behind a pillar, watching as Jade stopped near a quiet corner away from the crowd.

Jade's face was turned partly away, but Jayla could make out the tension in the way her fingers twisted together nervously. She was speaking with someone, arguing. Her voice, normally soft and modulated, was edged with something sharper now, something which ran a shiver down Jayla's spine. She strained to hear, catching only bits and pieces like "not yet" and "I told you.".

Jayla's breath caught in her throat. This wasn't like Jade, who was the quiet peacemaker, always working out a way to smooth everything over. But now, she looked like she was on the edge of something: fear, maybe both.

It was then that Jade's eyes darted around, seemingly onto something, as if sensing she was being watched. Jayla whipped her body flat against the cold stone of the building, her heart pounding against her ribs. The guilt of spying washed over her. Yet, there was something that wouldn't let her walk away. There was a truth here buried beneath the surface and she needed to know it.

She peeked out again, just in time to see the man Jade was speaking to a tall, shadowed figure whose face she couldn't quite make out.

 He reached out, grabbing Jade's arm in a way that made Jayla's blood run cold. She watched as Jade yanked her arm away, her face fierce and unyielding and then, just like that, the man turned and walked away disappearing into the crowd like he had never been there.

Jade stood there for a moment, her body still tense, before She finally exhaled,  her shoulders slumped like she'd been holding up the weight of the world. Again, she looked around once more, and Jayla ducked back, holding her breath. Her pulse pounded hard and unsteadily in her throat. What had she just seen?

When finally she dared to look again Jade was gone, swallowed up by the crowd and the coming twilight.

For a moment Jayla stood frozen, her feet rooted to the spot.

She wanted to chase after her to demand answers but something held her back. Was it fear? Or perhaps the realization that once she knew the truth, there would be no going back.

Jayla finally took a step back from the pillar, her hands clammy, her heart like a drumbeat in her ears. The colors of the market faded to gray, as a cool wind swept through sending a shiver down her spine. 

Home was where she needed to be, needed to talk with Jasmine; maybe she would be able to make some semblance of sense about it all. Maybe she could help her piece together what was happening with Jade.

But as she walked home, the unease only mounted her sister's secret now a shadow that clung to her, whispering that this was just the beginning of something so much more complicated and dangerous than she could ever have imagined.

The world outside seemed colder, harsher than before. Jayla slid into her car, her hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. She took a deep breath in, trying to settle the writhing unease within her chest. 

The market was behind her now, but the image of Jade's tense face, her low heated words with the stranger, clung persistently to her mind. She started the engine, and the low purr noiselessly filled the air as she reversed from the parking lot, her mind whirling with a thousand birds in flight.

The city lights flickered on as dusk crept into the night, stretching long shadows over the cracked pavement. Jayla's foot pressed harder on the gas, her mind running parallel to the blur of streetlights outside her window. She tried to concentrate on the mundane-on the traffic, on the sound of her tires gripping the road. It was her sister's voice that kept ringing in her mind, an edge to it, something sharp, unfamiliar.

What are you concealing, Jade?" she muttered to herself. Her fingers tapped nervously against the wheel, and her eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror almost expecting to see that man's shadowed face following her. 

She couldn't shake the sensation that something dangerous was looming just out of her line of sight much like a predator merely waiting for the right moment to strike.

The quiet hum of the car's heater blew a stale warmth around her, but she felt no comfort from it. She turned the corner onto their street-the familiar row of townhouses rising like dark looming sentinels. As she pulled into the driveway, the last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon, casting her home in twilight's eerie glow.

She sat there for a moment, the engine idling. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of anxiety and suspicion.

 She wished she could be assured there was a simple explanation for what she saw, but deep down inside, she knew there wasn't. Her sister was hiding something from her-something huge. And whatever it was, it involved a tall, menacing figure and a heated discussion at a secluded corner of the market.

She sighed heavily; the condensation from her breath fogged up the windshield. 

She needed to talk to Jasmine. 

Maybe her sister would have some idea and some clue to help untangle this knot in her belly.

Jayla booted the car door open and stepped out into the chill of the evening The air was crisp, with a faint scent of wet leaves and wood smoke hanging in the breeze She rushed up the steps to the front door, fumbling with the key as her hands still quivered Inside, the warm light spilled out of the kitchen, and the familiar sound of her sisters' voices offered a sliver of comfort.

"Jayla, you're back!" Jasmine called out, her face brightening as she turned away from the stove where she was stirring a pot, "Did you get the herbs?"

Jayla nodded, dropping her bag onto the counter and pulling out the bunch of fresh herbs. "Here" she said, her voice sounding distant even to her ears. She passed them over her eyes searching Jasmine's face for a semblance of reassurance, something solid to anchor herself to.

Jasmine took the herbs, her smile faltering as she studied Jayla's expression. "What's wrong?"

Jayla hesitated, glancing around the kitchen as if the walls might have ears, too. "It's Jade," she finally whispered. She leaned in closer, her voice strained with urgency. "Something happened at the market… I saw her arguing with someone, Jasmine. A man. I couldn't hear everything, but it was tense. She looked… scared."

Jasmine's eyebrows furrowed and her hand paused mid-motion on the board "Arguing? Are you sure?

Jayla nodded, her breath quickening. "I've never seen her like that. She was. Different. And when she looked around, I swear she knew someone was watching. She looked right at me, Jasmine. Right through me."

Jasmine's eyes widened while the color mostly left her face. "Why didn't she tell us she was going out? Why keep that a secret?

"I don't know" Jayla replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's just not like her. And the way that man grabbed her arm. Jasmine, it wasn't right. She pulled away, and he disappeared. She didn't see me, I don't think, but I just. I can't shake this feeling."

Jasmine put the knife down, her expression growing more troubled. "Do you think it has something to do with what Jasmine warned us about last week? Maybe Jade's caught up in something we don't know?"

Jayla shrugged, her mind racing. "I don't know. But I feel like we should find out. We can't just pretend everything is alright.

They were silent for some time, but the tension between them seemed heavy. Then Jasmine broke her silence in a firm tone: "Let's wait till she gets back. We'll ask her then. For now, let's just finish setting the table. We need to eat and think this through."

Jayla nodded, though her mind was already buzzing with half-formed theories and fears. She helped her sister set the table, her movements mechanical, her thoughts a thousand miles away.

The clatter of the front door echoed through the hallway, and both sisters looked up as Jade’s voice called out, “I’m home!”

Jayla turned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Jade step into the kitchen. “Hey, how was your day?” she asked, trying to sound casual, though her heart thudded with anticipation.

Jade smiled, and an actual brightness lit in her face that caught Jayla off guard for a moment. "It was great! I went to the Elysium Art Gallery. You wouldn't believe how beautiful the paintings were. 

There was one named 'Tempest' that just. I can't even describe it. It was like the waves were alive, moving right off the canvas. I felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm.".

Jasmine joined in, curious. "That sounds incredible. Did you go alone?"

"Yeah," Jade said quickly a little too quickly. "I just needed some time to myself, you know? To clear my head."

Jayla opened her mouth, ready to press further, but just then, their parents walked into the kitchen, followed by their best friend Sarah.

"Hey, Sarah!" Jasmine greeted, hurrying across to envelop their best friend in a hug. Jayla noticed their dad's eyes flicker with something like unease as they fastened onto Sarah's. She watched as Sarah's lips arced into an unsettling smile, one that seemed a little too knowing, too sharp.

“Join us for dinner, Sarah,” their mother invited. The tension seemed to settle into the room, unnoticed by most, except for Jayla. She kept a close eye on Sarah and her father as they all sat down at the table.

Dinner passed with awkward small talk, the atmosphere thick with an unspoken tension. Jayla’s gaze kept darting to Sarah, who now and then cast a glance toward their father. Their father, in turn, seemed to be rushing through his meal, his eyes never lingering too long on anyone, especially not on Sarah.

The meal finally ended, and their father quickly excused himself, mumbling something about work. Jayla watched as he nearly bolted from the room, her curiosity piqued. Their mother followed soon after, mentioning she needed to shower, her tone light, but her steps hurried.

As soon as their parents left, Sarah’s face changed. The friendly mask slipped and for a split second, Jayla swore she saw something dark in her friend’s eyes—something cold and menacing. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by a sweet smile.

"So," Sarah said, her voice dripping sweet as syrup. "Tell me more about this art gallery, Jade.".

The tension loosened a bit as they all started talking about lighter matters; as usual, they laughed, teased each other, and made jokes. It would seem that nothing could break the bond between the triplets and Sarah, because their memories intertwined like some sort of tapestry.

But with all the laughter, Jayla's mind had wandered far away to a place where something was drastically wrong, and she couldn't let go of the thought.

When Sarah finally stood to leave, the girls hugged her goodbye, and she left with a wave and a smile. Jayla watched her go, feeling a prickle of unease run down her spine. She shrugged it off turning back to her sisters but out of the corner of her eye, something caught her glimpse.

Sarah’s posture changed the moment she stepped outside. Her shoulders tensed, and her smile vanished, replaced by a scowl so fierce it made Jayla’s blood run cold. She watched, frozen in place, as Sarah marched down the street to her own house just a few doors down. Her movements were stiff, almost angry.

Jayla waited until Sarah was out of sight before she tiptoed to the window. She saw Sarah enter her house and slammed the door shut behind her. She hesitated, then turned to Jasmine who was now clearing the table 

"Did you see that?" Jayla whispered. Jasmine looked up, puzzled, but Jayla only shook her head. "Never mind."

Sarah stormed into her house, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. The moment the door slammed shut behind her, her entire demeanor shifted. The warm, friendly smile she’d worn like a mask twisted into something dark and vicious, her lips curling in a sneer. Her chest heaved with a rage that seemed to come from a deep, ugly place within her, and she didn’t bother to hide it now that she was alone.

She stalked down the dimly lit hallway, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as she muttered under her breath, her words venomous and low. “Those girls… always so perfect, always so loved. They have no idea what’s coming.”

Reaching her living room she yanked, opening the heavy curtains, letting the pale moonlight spill in casting eerie shadows on the walls. The room was cold and sparse with minimal furniture—almost as if it were a stage set for some unseen drama and hanging on the far wall was the centerpiece of this twisted space: a collage of photographs.

It wasn’t just any collage. Sarah had covered the wall with pictures of the triplets—Jayla, Jade, and Jasmine—captured in moments of joy and laughter. School events, family gatherings, candid shots of them walking down the street, unaware they were being watched. Each photograph was carefully pinned, some with red string connecting them in a web-like pattern

Her eyes narrowed on one photograph, in particular a close-up of Jade, her face serene and reflective-looking out onto the lake from a family summer vacation. Sarah's face turned cold. "You think you can just waltz around, living your perfect life, with your perfect little secrets?

" she spat, her fingers quivering as she reached out and stroked the picture of Jade's face, with almost tenderness, before her nails ripped down the photograph, leaving a jagged tear across it.

She stepped back, surveying the wall, her eyes darting from one sister to the next. Her breathing grew heavier, more erratic. She picked up a framed picture from a nearby table-it was of the triplets together, smiling broadly, their arms draped around each other's shoulders. The frame shook in her hand, her eyes ablaze with a fury that seemed to engulf her.

"Always so perfect," she muttered again, but this time, a growl. "You think no one can see through you, through your little games." 

She slammed the picture frame face down on the table, shattering the glass beneath her hand, "You think you're untouchable, don't you?" She started to pace back and forth her mind spiraling into darker places. "But I see it. I see it all," she continued, her voice escalating in volume.

 "You Jayla, always the clear-headed one, always in control of things… And you, Jasmine, with your cloyingly sweet graciousness, with your mock concerns…" Her voice caught in her throat when she came around to Jade's ripped picture. "And Jade… poor, bewildered Jade. So willing to be led astray. So near to stepping over the brink.

Just a little shove is all it will take…

A slow sinister smile crept across her lips as she contemplated her next move, her fingers twitching with anticipation. She took a deep breath steadying herself. “Soon,” she whispered, the word hanging in the cold air like a promise. “Soon, you’ll all see. You’ll all know what it feels like.”

She turned away from the collage, her face smoothing back into a practiced, innocent expression. But her eyes remained cold, calculating, like a predator’s before the kill. She glanced at the clock on the wall—it was getting late. She needed to prepare. There was so much to do, so many pieces to put in place. But she was patient. She had waited this long, and she could wait a little longer.

With a final lingering look at the triplets’ photographs, she moved* toward the stairs leading to the darkened second floor of her house. Her steps were slow deliberate, each one echoing ominously through the silence.

As she disappeared up the stairs, the house seemed to settle into an unnatural stillness like it was holding its breath waiting for what was to come next. 

Whatever Sarah had planned, whatever twisted scheme she was weaving, it was clear that her obsession with the triplets was far from harmless. 

It was dangerous. And it was only just beginning.

In the darkness of her room a single candle flickered, casting long wavering shadows on the walls. 

Sarah stared at a new blank section of her wall—the one where she would place her next plan, her next move. Her fingers traced the edges of a small, sharp knife she had placed on her desk.

And in that dim light, her eyes gleamed with a manic intensity, filled with thoughts only she could understand. She lifted the knife, holding it to her lips like a secret, and whispered, "They won't see me coming. None of them will." 

The candle flame flickers again, nearly going out. And then the room was plunged into darkness.