Ethan settled on the couch, adjusting the cushions beneath him. The weight of the evening pressed heavily on his shoulders, but his focus remained sharp. Every creak of the house and rustle of the wind outside heightened his alertness.
Ella lingered nearby, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, her thoughts a storm of fear and exhaustion. She glanced at Ethan, her expression softening slightly despite the tension.
“What about Grace?” Ella asked, her voice quieter than usual, tinged with concern. “She shouldn’t be in the house alone.”
Ethan nodded, already anticipating her question. “Don’t worry. I called her nanny on the way here. She’s at the house with Grace now. I told her to call me if anything comes up.”
Ella exhaled a long, shaky breath. “Okay. That’s good.” She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze drifting toward the window. “Who could it be, Ethan? Why now?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted, his brown eyes steady as they met hers. “But we’ll get through this, Ella. I promise you that.”
Her lips quirked into a faint, humorless smile. “You always did have a way of saying that, didn’t you?”
“It’s because I mean it,” Ethan said, his tone firm but gentle. “You, Grace and the boys, you’re my priority now. Whoever’s out there doesn’t know who they’re messing with.”
Ella chuckled weakly, a spark of her old self returning. “Well, I hope they’re ready, then.”
Ethan gestured toward the stairs. “You should get some sleep. It’s late.”
Ella hesitated, glancing toward the darkened hallway. The idea of leaving him downstairs while she tried to rest felt strange, almost unsettling. But her body ached with exhaustion, and the thought of collapsing into bed was tempting.
“Okay,” she relented. “But if anything happens..”
“I’ll wake you,” Ethan said, cutting her off. “Go on. I’ve got this.”
She nodded, her footsteps soft as she made her way upstairs. The sound of her bedroom door clicking shut echoed faintly through the house.
Ethan leaned back, pulling out his phone to check the security feed again. The backyard appeared still and undisturbed now, the eerie glow of the infrared camera illuminating only swaying tree branches. But the shadow he’d seen earlier lingered in his mind, gnawing at his instincts.
He set the phone on the coffee table, running a hand through his hair as he tried to push down the unease. His gaze wandered toward the staircase. He knew Ella was struggling to hold it together, even though she tried to mask it.
He sighed and settled into a watchful rhythm, his ears straining for any sound beyond the ordinary.
Upstairs, Ella lay in bed, her mind refusing to quiet. The boys were fast asleep in the room next to hers, their rhythmic breathing on the baby monitor a soothing balm to her nerves. She closed her eyes, trying to will herself into rest, but her thoughts swirled with memories and questions.
Who could be watching her? What did they want?
Her thoughts drifted back to the shadowy figure on the security footage, and her stomach churned with unease. Could it be someone from Tania’s tangled web of schemes? Or was it something else entirely?
She turned over, the mattress creaking softly beneath her weight.
“Get some sleep,” she whispered to herself. “You can’t fall apart now.”
Hours passed in a tense stillness. Ethan’s vigilance remained unbroken, though the silence of the house and the steady tick of the clock tempted him to relax. Just as his thoughts began to wander, a soft noise outside the window pulled him back into focus.
A faint scrape.
Ethan’s body went rigid, his senses on high alert. He moved silently to the window, peering out into the night. The backyard stretched before him, cloaked in darkness. He scanned the area carefully, his pulse quickening as he spotted a faint movement near the far edge of the property.
The figure was back.
Ethan grabbed his phone and quickly opened the security app, zooming in on the live feed. The figure was there again, partially obscured by the trees but undeniably present.
He weighed his options quickly. Confronting whoever it was could escalate the situation, but ignoring it felt equally risky.
He glanced toward the staircase, debating whether to wake Ella.
Before he could decide, the sound of footsteps on the stairs made his decision for him. He turned to see Ella descending quietly, her eyes wide and questioning.
“I heard something,” she said softly.
“So did I,” Ethan replied, gesturing toward the phone. “They’re back.”
Ella moved closer, her heart pounding as she studied the screen. The figure was moving now, slowly approaching the house.
“What do we do?” she whispered, her voice tight with fear.
“Stay here,” Ethan said firmly. “I’m going to check it out.”
“No,” Ella said quickly, grabbing his arm. “You’re not going out there alone. That’s insane.”
“Ella, someone needs to make sure they don’t get inside,” Ethan said, his tone calm but resolute. “If they do, we’ll have bigger problems.”
Ella hesitated, her grip on his arm tightening. “Be careful.”
“I will,” he promised. “Lock the door behind me, and don’t open it for anyone but me.”
She nodded reluctantly, her stomach twisting as he moved toward the door.
Ethan stepped out into the cool night air, his senses sharpening instantly. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of traffic were the only sounds as he made his way cautiously toward the backyard.
His eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of movement. The figure was gone now, but he knew better than to let his guard down.
“Who’s there?” he called out, his voice low but firm.
There was no response, only the soft whistle of the wind through the trees.
He moved further into the yard, his heart thudding heavily in his chest. Suddenly, a faint sound behind him made him spin around.
Nothing.
Ethan exhaled slowly, his fists clenching at his sides. Whoever was out here was playing games, and he wasn’t about to let them win.
“Show yourself!” he demanded, his voice louder this time.
A shadow shifted near the fence, catching his attention. He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the figure.
But just as he moved closer, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the opposite direction. He turned sharply, realizing too late that it had been a diversion.
He sprinted back toward the house, his mind racing.
Inside, Ella froze as a loud knock echoed through the front door.
“Ethan?” she called out, her voice trembling.
There was no response.
Her heart pounded as she backed away from the door, her mind racing through worst-case scenarios.
Another knock, louder this time.
Ella’s breath caught as she heard Ethan’s voice call out from outside, urgency lacing his tone.
“Ella, open the door! It’s me!”
She hesitated, her hand hovering over the lock.
“Ella, please!” Ethan’s voice was sharper now. “It’s not safe out here!”
Summoning her courage, Ella unlocked the door and pulled it open. Ethan stepped inside quickly, his expression grim.
“They’re gone,” he said, locking the door behind him. “But this isn’t over.”
Ella swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the table. “What do we do now?”
Ethan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We stay alert. I’ll call the police in the morning and file a report. For now, we’re safe inside.”
Ella nodded, though the tension in her chest refused to ease. As Ethan settled back on the couch, she sat beside him, her fear outweighing her pride.
For the first time in years, she felt like she wasn’t facing the darkness alone.