Found You

Mira's (Elara) POV

For Five years, I had always prided myself on being able to manage the chaos of everyday normal life. After all, what was there to be afraid of now? It was just the world, doing what it does... waking up, going to work, picking up my son from school, and coming home to whatever random mess the day had decided to throw my way. Normal. Boring. Safe.

But today, today was different.

The sound of Lucian’s laughter filled the small apartment, ringing through the air like an echo I could never quite grasp. It was the sound of innocence, of joy. It made everything else fade into the background for a moment. The warm glow of the morning light filtered in through the window, casting soft shadows on the worn wooden floor beneath our feet. It was the kind of day that should have felt peaceful, but it didn’t. Not for me.

"Come on, buddy! Breakfast is ready!" Mira’s voice broke my thoughts, as she juggled a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in one hand while grabbing Lucian’s backpack with the other. She moved quickly, as usual, already in the throes of managing everything at once.

Lucian, with his wild hair, always a mess, no matter how many times I tried to tame it but it came barreling down the hallway, eyes wide with excitement. The kind of energy only a child could have. His small hands reached for the plate like it was Christmas morning.

"Thanks, Mama!" he beamed, the sheer joy in his face pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I forced a smile, taking my seat across from him. The weight of everything that lay ahead, the never-ending to-do lists, the bills I’d yet to pay, the looming sense of dread that gnawed at my gut, faded for a second. Lucian’s laughter, his chatter, made the whole world feel lighter. But not enough.

I watched him dig into his breakfast, his enthusiasm so pure and effortless. It made me feel like a fraud, forcing a smile when I knew my thoughts were miles away from this peaceful moment.

"Alright, you ready for school?" I asked, standing up to grab my coat from the hook by the door. My fingers trembled slightly as I slipped it on, but I ignored it.

"Yep! I’m gonna be the best in class today!" Lucian declared, his face lighting up with the kind of self-assurance only an eight-year-old could possess.

I ruffled his messy hair affectionately, my heart swelling with pride and fear all at once. "I’m sure you will. Now, get your shoes on. I’ll take you to school."

His quick nod was all the encouragement I needed. I grabbed my bag and keys, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settling back into my chest.

The drive to school was short, just a few blocks away but that strange feeling gnawed at me again. I glanced into the rearview mirror. Nothing. But I couldn’t shake the sensation. It was there, creeping under my skin, making my hands tighten around the steering wheel. Was someone following me?

I shook my head, trying to brush the thought aside. I was being paranoid. Living in Greensville for five years, I had become accustomed to my routine. Every day, the same. I had to trust that things were normal, that they’d stay normal.

Lucian chattered beside me, his little voice filling the silence, oblivious to the quiet storm brewing inside me. The car rolled to a stop at the school entrance, and he unbuckled himself with excitement.

"I’ll see you later, Mama!" he called over his shoulder, before running toward his friends.

I smiled, waving as he bounced off. But as I watched him go, a knot twisted in my stomach. I couldn’t explain it, but something was wrong. I couldn’t keep this feeling at bay anymore.

Work wasn’t much of a distraction. At the vet clinic, I kept my head down, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. But there was an edge to the day, something was off. The usual routine, the familiar faces of animals and their owners, didn’t put me at ease like it usually did. My eyes kept darting to the door whenever the bell chimed, and I swear I could feel someone’s gaze on me. The air was thick with something I couldn’t identify, and I hated it.

“Mira!” My boss’s sharp voice snapped me back to the present.

"Yes, sorry," I muttered, heat rising to my cheeks. I turned to face him, my hands trembling slightly as I tried to hold it together.

"You’ve been distracted all day. Get it together. We have work to do," he snapped before walking away.

I stood frozen for a moment, trying to steady myself. That feeling again. The one I couldn’t shake. Like someone, somewhere, was waiting for me to slip.

I tried to push it out of my mind as the day dragged on, but the unease remained, growing stronger with each passing hour. Every sound felt louder, every glance more piercing. By the time my shift ended, I was ready to escape the suffocating tension of the clinic.

When I finally stepped out into the parking lot, the quiet greeted me like an old friend. I felt a brief sense of relief, but it didn’t last. The air felt… different. The moment my hand touched the door handle to my car, I felt it again. That creeping sensation, like something was wrong. Like someone was watching.

I looked around, but there was no one. I told myself I was being foolish. I just needed to get home, lock the door, and put my mind at ease.

But when I got to the apartment, everything changed.

I opened the door to find chaos. Furniture was overturned, my drawers emptied and scattered across the floor like someone had ransacked the place. A chill crept down my spine, and my heart started pounding.

My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of who had done this. I couldn’t think straight. Who would do this? Why?

And then I saw it.

Carved into the wall, just above the couch, was a single, haunting phrase:

“Found you Elara!.”

I froze. My blood ran cold as the reality of the situation crashed over me. The shadows that had lingered on the edges of my awareness, the feeling of being watched... they weren’t just my imagination. Someone had been here. Someone had found me.

The room spun, and I stumbled backward, my hand clutching my chest, trying to steady my breath. I glanced around wildly, looking for any sign of who had done this, but the apartment was eerily silent. No movement. No footsteps.

How had he found me? I’d been so careful.. so damn careful, keeping everything under wraps, keeping Lucian safe, keeping myself hidden.

I felt the panic rise in my throat, sharp and burning. I took a step back, my eyes wide and desperate, trying to find some semblance of logic in the madness that was unfolding before me.

But there was nothing. Just the words, etched into the wall.

And with that, the fear I had been running from for years… had finally caught up with me.