Morning came with a pale sky that looked tired, as if the sun had not slept at all. I stood by the window, trying to calm my thoughts, but my heart beat too fast. The fog had not lifted from our little street. It lay thick and heavy, covering the ground like it wished to hide something. I kept staring out the window even though there was nothing to see. No people. No cars. Not even a dog running about. Only gray mist that moved slowly like cold breath.
I heard footsteps behind me and I turned quickly. Aliana was walking down the stairs with her schoolbag. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, but when she reached the bottom stair, she stopped and looked at me with a puzzled face.
Mama, are you alright She sounded worried.
I nodded at her and forced a smile. I am fine darling. Eat quickly so you will not be late.
She sat at the table and began to eat her breakfast. I tried to act normal, but my hands shook as I poured her some juice. When she lifted her head to thank me, her face looked smaller than usual. Or maybe my fear made her look smaller. I felt a strange ache in my chest.
Mama I had another dream last night. Her voice dropped and her spoon stayed still in the bowl.
My breath caught. What did you see this time
She hesitated as if scared to say the words. Then she whispered, I heard someone calling me again. I could not see him at first. I only saw a long hall with shiny floors. It looked like a place I know but I have never been there. Then I heard the voice again. He said my name in a slow way. I did not like how it sounded.
I gripped the table. My fingers felt weak. A part of me wished she had dreamed about sunshine or flowers or something sweet. But her dreams were touching the places I feared most.
Did you see his face I asked quietly.
She shook her head. He stayed far away. But he walked closer each time. It felt like he wanted me to follow him.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But I stayed still and kept my voice steady. Dreams cannot hurt you. They are only pictures in your mind.
She did not look convinced. She only nodded slowly and continued eating.
Later she stood and kissed my cheek. I watched her walk out the door and vanish into the fog. She did not look back.
Once she was gone, I leaned on the door and closed my eyes. The house felt too empty. The fog seemed thicker. I told myself to breathe but each breath shook.
I tried to clean the room, fold clothes, do anything that kept my hands busy. But my thoughts kept running back to the dream she had described. Every detail sounded like the mansion I had escaped. The large halls. The shiny floor. The dark corners. The calling voice.
Luca.
I shivered. I pushed the name away but it stayed in my mind like a stain.
I went to the kitchen to warm some water. The kettle hissed softly. I held the cup close to my chest and walked toward the window again. That was when I saw it.
A shape in the fog.
I froze. The shape grew clearer as it moved closer. A tall figure. A coat that hung down to the knees. A round hat that covered most of the face. The man stopped right in front of my gate and looked up at the house. He did not try to hide. He stood still for a long time, as if studying the walls. Studying me.
My blood turned cold. I stepped back slowly so he would not see me through the window. My breath felt stuck. I told myself to run to the door and lock it again even though it was already locked. My legs did not move.
He turned away. His coat brushed the fog as he walked down the road. I waited until his shape vanished completely. Then I hurried to the gate. My hands shook as I pulled it open.
There on the ground lay something small and shiny.
I bent and lifted it. It was a silver pendant. The shape of a lion. I knew that lion. I knew it very well. It was the symbol carved above the front door of the Moretti mansion. The same symbol printed on their books. The same symbol on the ring Luca wore on his finger the day I ran from him.
My hands grew numb. I tried to breathe but my chest would not rise. I clutched the pendant tighter and felt a sharp sting in my palm. That pain was the only thing keeping me from falling right there on the path.
No. No. No. They cannot be here. They cannot be here again.
I ran inside and slammed the door shut. I leaned against it and slid slowly to the floor. My arms wrapped around myself as if I needed to hold every piece of me together before I broke apart.
The pendant glinted in my hand. The mark of the Morettis. Luca always wore this exact one. It meant power. It meant ownership. It meant danger.
And now it was on my gate.
I felt trapped inside my own skin. My head pulsed like it was full of thunder. My sight blurred around the edges. I crawled to the table, grabbed a cloth and wrapped the pendant so I would not have to touch the cold metal anymore.
The room spun a little when I stood. I gripped the table for support. My breathing turned shallow. A strange ringing sound filled my ears.
I stepped back. My vision flickered. My legs weakened like water. I tried to stay standing but my knees buckled. My hand reached for a chair but missed.
The last thing I saw before darkness swept over me was the wrapped pendant slipping from my fingers and falling to the floor.
After that everything went quiet.
I felt myself drifting in a soft darkness that did not hurt but felt too empty. I tried to open my eyes but they felt too heavy. I tried to speak but no sound came out. I felt a warm light somewhere above me. I reached for it but it slipped away.
Then I heard a faint voice calling my name. Not the voice from my memories. Not Luca. This voice sounded gentle and worried.
Stella. Wake up please.
My eyes opened slowly. The room looked blurry. I blinked until the shapes made sense. Daniel knelt beside me with a frightened look on his face. His hands held my shoulders as if he was scared I would disappear.
Thank goodness you are awake he breathed out. I found you on the floor. What happened
My head throbbed. I tried to sit up but dizziness rushed over me. Daniel held my arm so I would not fall again.
What time is it I whispered.
He looked toward the window. It is almost noon.
Noon. That meant I had been unconscious for a long time.
I stayed quiet as I tried to remember everything. The fog. The man. The pendant.
My chest tightened again.
Daniel watched me closely. You look very pale. Tell me what happened. Please.
I swallowed hard. My voice trembled. Someone was at the gate.
His face changed. Who
I shook my head slowly as fear crept back into me. I do not know. But he left something.
I reached for the cloth on the floor. Daniel picked it up and unwrapped it. When he saw the pendant, his face drained of color.
Where did you get this His voice sounded strange. Not loud yet full of something sharp.
He left it at the gate I whispered.
Daniel stared at it for a long moment. His jaw tightened. I saw fear in his eyes. Fear he tried to hide but could not.
This is not good he said in a low voice. This is very bad Stella.
I already knew that. I felt it in my bones.
He helped me sit on a chair. I held the cup of water he brought but my hands would not stay still. I felt like the whole world had shifted under me.
Daniel knelt again and gently held my hand.
Listen to me Stella. If this pendant is here then someone from that family has found you. We need to decide how to protect you and the child. Right now.
The child. My child. My heart thudded hard.
Aliana.
The world felt as if it had tilted to one side. Fear poured into my chest, thick and strong. I held the cup tighter but tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
They cannot have her Daniel. They cannot have her.
He nodded firmly and squeezed my hand.
Then we will make sure they never do.
His words sounded brave. But outside the window the fog moved again. Slow. Cold. Watching.
And I knew this was only the beginning.