Morning light streamed through the curtains as Tania stirred in her bed, her body heavy with exhaustion from the restless night. The nightmare she had lingered at the edges of her mind, leaving her with an unsettling feeling.
She had hoped it would fade with the dawn, but the fear remained, a constant weight pressing down on her chest. She glanced over at Ethan, who was already up and getting ready for work, casting worried glances in her direction.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ethan asked, his tone softer than usual. His concern had grown since her terrifying outburst the night before, and though Tania had reassured him, he wasn’t entirely convinced.
“I’m fine,” Tania replied, though her voice lacked conviction. “Just a bad dream, that’s all.”
Ethan paused, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of what was truly going on, but Tania remained guarded. After a moment, he nodded, deciding not to press the issue. “Alright, but call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will,” she lied, knowing that she wouldn’t. As Ethan left for work, Tania got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to shake off the remnants of her nightmare. But no amount of water could wash away the deep-rooted fear that somehow Ella was alive and is closing in on her.
Downstairs, Grace was already having breakfast, her cheerful voice echoing through the kitchen as she played with her cereal. Tania mustered a smile as she joined her daughter at the table. “Did you sleep well, my love?” she asked, her voice gentle despite her inner turmoil.
“Yep!” Grace chirped. “I’m excited to see Leo and Liam again today. We had so much fun yesterday.”
Tania’s stomach twisted at the mention of the twins, having a sinking feeling about them.”That’s great, sweetheart,” Tania said, forcing a smile.
As she sent Grace off to school, Tania’s mind wandered back to the nightmare-the image of Ella, cold and vengeful, holding that knife, accusing her of murder. It felt like a sign, a warning that her past wasn’t as buried as she thought. Tania had fought hard to build a life with Ethan, to leave behind the part of her that had betrayed Ella. But now, the cracks were starting to show, and she knew it was only a matter of time before everything revealed.
Across town, Ella woke up feeling refreshed, a sense of calmness enveloping her as she reflected on the previous day’s events. Seeing Ethan and Grace had stirred old emotions, but her resolve hadn’t wavered. Tania had stolen everything from her, and now, it was time to repay the debt. Her plans were falling into place, and Fabian’s presence gave her the strength to carry them out.
After breakfast with Leo and Liam, Ella sat with Fabian in the living room, going over the next steps. “We need to keep the pressure on Tania,” Ella said, her voice steady. “She’s already unraveling. I can feel it.”
Fabian nodded, his face serious. “I’ve been gathering information on her. She’s trying to cover her tracks, but she’s not as careful as she thinks.”
Ella smiled, a cold, calculating look in her eyes. “Good. Let’s make sure she knows there’s no escape.”
Later that afternoon, Ella went to pick up the boys from school. As she waited in the parking lot, she saw Tania’s car in the distance, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. Tania shocked quickly looked away, her face pale, but Ella didn’t miss the flash of fear in her expression. It was exactly what she wanted Tania on edge, doubting herself and the people around her.
Back at home, Tania couldn’t focus on anything. She tried to distract herself with work, but her mind kept circling back to Ella. How is she alive? had she sent that message? And most of all, did Ella know the truth?
Tania knew she needed answers. She couldn’t afford to wait for Ella to strike. That night, after putting Grace to bed, she sat down with her laptop, determined to dig deeper into Ella’s life. The more she searched, the more unsettled she became.
Ella had supposedly been dead for six years, but now she’s alive and back, her presence seemed stronger, more dangerous. And there was something about her connection with Fabian that sent chills down Tania’s spine.
As the hours ticked by, Tania’s paranoia grew. Every sound in the house seemed amplified, every shadow a potential threat. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Ella was already watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Ethan came home late, finding Tania still at the computer, her face pale and her eyes darting around the room. “Tania, are you ok? you look exhausted. You need to get some rest,” he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I can’t sleep,” she muttered, not looking up from the screen. “There’s too much going on.”
Ethan frowned, clearly worried. “You’ve been on edge for days. Is this about that dream?”
Tania finally turned to face him, her eyes filled with fear. “It’s not just the dream, Ethan. It’s… everything. I feel like something bad is going to happen. I can’t explain it, but I know it’s coming.”
Ethan knelt down in front of her, his hands gently gripping hers. “Tania, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
Tania hesitated, torn between the truth and her need to protect herself. She had kept so many secrets from Ethan, and now, they were catching up to her. “I don’t know,” she finally whispered, her voice cracking. “I just… I don’t know.”
Ethan’s face softened as he pulled her into a tight embrace. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together. You’re not alone, Tania.”
But even as she clung to him, Tania couldn’t shake the feeling that she was alone. Because if Ethan knew the truth about her past about Ella he will never forgive her. And that was a risk she wasn’t ready to take.
As the night wore on, Tania’s thoughts continued to spiral. She lay in bed beside Ethan, wide awake, her mind racing with the possibilities of what Ella’s next move could be. She knew she had to stay one step ahead, but the fear that she was already too late haunted her every thought.
And across town, Ella sat by her window, watching the moonlight filter through the trees. Her mind was calm, her heart steady. The pieces were moving into place, and soon, Tania’s carefully constructed world would crumble. It was only a matter of time.