SHOCK: MY FRIEND'S DOPPELGANGER

Chapter 5

Scarlett pov

"Elena?" I whispered, my face pale with shock, as I struggled to comprehend the sight before me. I rushed forward, arms open wide, but instead of a warm embrace, she pushed me away, her hands firm on my chest. I stumbled back, my hair whipping sideways as I collided with the door. "Why...why are you pushing me away?" I demanded, confusion and hurt etched on my face.

"What are you doing here?" I asked again, but her response only added to my bewilderment. She looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity, shaking her head gracefully. "Who are you?" she countered, her question sending shivers down my spine.

"Hey, miss, I brought you here to stay, not to cause trouble," Nyx said, gently grasping my wrist, but I pulled away, crossing my arms under my chest and turning to face him. "What now? Are you saying I'm causing trouble? That's my friend Elena! Don't make me feel like I'm losing my mind," I exclaimed, playfully punching his chest. He winced, groaning loudly.

"Ouch... that could crack my bones, be careful, miss," he said, his voice husky, revealing his vulnerability to pain, a trait uncommon in his kind.

Nyx gestured towards the door, and I nodded, still gazing at Elena, while he followed closely behind me.

As we entered the house, Elena's eyes never left mine, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "So, you're saying we're friends?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, we were inseparable! We shared everything, from secrets to dreams. You were my rock, Elena."

Elena's gaze drifted to Nyx, then back to me. "I don't remember any of that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"And, by the way, my name is Katherine, not Elena," she said abruptly, gesturing to the cup of water I had accidentally spilled on the floor. The sudden change of name left me stunned.

"Why did you change your name?" I demanded, my voice rising in confusion.

And then, a wave of panic washed over me. "Where's my son, Henry?" I exclaimed, jumping up from my seat and frantically scanning the room. It was as if I had been living a lie, and everything I thought I knew was crumbling around me.

Nyx, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his eyes still fixed on his phone. "Tell her you don't know what she's talking about," Katherine, his voice firm, as if instructing Katherine to deny any knowledge of my claims.

"How can I explain anything to her when you've brought a... a disturbed person into my home?" Katherine exclaimed, her voice rising in frustration. "Did I say disturbed? I mean, a madwoman! Did you expect me to justify myself further?"

She glared at me, her eyes blazing with anger. "See, what's your name, miss? I am not Elena! Can't you grasp that?"

As she yelled, the veins in her neck bulged, and her face reddened. I sighed heavily, my heart racing as I watched her genuine distress, tears streaming down her face.

"Do you understand now?" she finally asked, her voice calm and laced with a hint of desperation.

I nodded slowly, trying to process the situation. "I understand that you're not Elena, Katherine. But I need to know, what's going on? Why did Nyx bring me here? And what's happened to my son, Henry?"

Katherine's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still held a hint of wariness. "I don't know anything about your son, I swear. And as for Nyx, he's... a complicated person. He's been helping me with some issues, but I didn't know he was bringing you here."

"Oh my goodness, she still doesn't get it!" Katherine exclaimed, throwing up her hands in frustration. She stormed out of the living room, only to return with a box, which she dumped onto the floor and table, spilling out a flurry of pictures. "Look at all these photos! Here's my mom, here's my dad. What more proof do you need? If you don't believe me, then leave! Use the door!"

I stood up, my eyes scanning the room in frustration, before landing on the wine cellar. I stumbled towards it, my movements sluggish, and selected a bottle of 100% alcohol. The glasses clinked together as I poured myself a drink, the sound echoing in my ears. I downed the glass in one swift motion, gasping as the pungent smell wafted out of my mouth. I needed something to clear my head.

Katherine's expression softened slightly as she watched me struggle to compose myself. "Maybe we should start from the beginning," she said, her voice a little gentler. "I don't know what Nyx told you, but I think we've got our wires crossed."

I nodded, still trying to process everything. "I thought you were my friend Elena," I admitted, feeling a mix of emotions. "I thought we had a history together."

Katherine shook her head. "I'm sorry, but that's not me. I don't know what kind of relationship you had with Elena, but I'm Katherine. I've never met you before in my life."

I took a deep breath, trying to wrap my head around this new information. "Okay, Katherine. Let's start from scratch.

"I'm Scarlett," I began, catching myself before revealing too much. "I'm... sorry, I made a mistake calling you my friend." I apologized, offering a sheepish smile.

I hastily retreated to the wine cellar, pouring myself another glass of liquor and downing it swiftly. "Sorry about that," I said calmly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

Katherine waved it off, her voice firm and confident. "It's fine, Scarlett. People can look alike, I suppose."

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around the situation, and pulled Katherine into a hug. My mind was reeling with the revelation that Elena had a doppelganger.