The neighbourhood was abuzz with shock and curiosity as people gathered outside the building, their voices hushed.
"How could something like this happen?" one woman murmured, her brow furrowed with disbelief.
The sound of sirens pierced the air as police officers patrolled the area. "It happened up there, didn't it?" a man asked, his gaze drawn to the apartment building.
Inside, Elena lay amidst a pool of blood, her lifeless mother and sister beside her.
"She's alive! One of them is alive!" a police officer shouted, rushing to Elena's aid. Swiftly, she was rushed to the hospital, her body battered, and her mind was reeling. The police investigation department came to her bedside, their questions gentle but insistent. "Where is your younger sister?" a detective asked. "Can you tell us what happened?"
Elena could only stare back, her mind reeling, unable to find the words.
Detective Lensherr leaned closer. "Do you remember the culprit's face?"
*Detective Lensherr was Liam's adopted father in his previous life.*
But Elena's memory was a blur. She had grabbed her knife, only to be struck down by the hooded figure. The last thing she recalled was the searing pain and then darkness.
Alone in the hospital, Elena wept through the night, haunted by the nightmarish events.
Liam arrived at the hospital, but Elena had already hidden and fled, sensing his presence. She escaped to retrieve her sister, and the next day, they appeared at the doorstep of Jean's sister, pleading for shelter. "Please, let us live here," Elena begged, her eyes sunken and her face pale.
Fifteen years passed, and Liam's search for Elena led him to a small town. One day, he found himself at the doorstep of the small house. As he approached the gate, a woman emerged, her brow furrowed with suspicion.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice firm.
"Oh,I am looking for someone." Liam answered.
Didn't two sisters live here,Liam asked.The older sister's name is Elena, he explained.
The woman's gaze faltered, a flicker of recognition dancing in her eyes. "I don't recognize that name," she said, her voice laced with a hint of deception. "Elena? I don't recognize that name. But two sisters did live here with their grandmother. They vanished into thin air one night as if loan sharks were after them."
The woman eyed Liam with suspicion. "By the way, who are you? Why are you..." she began, but Liam cut her off.
"Elena is someone I know very well. I've known her for a very long time," he explained, his gaze unwavering.
How was she?" He asked.
Elena has grown into a very smart, beautiful, and hardworking young woman. She happily works at a laundry company with some other women.
The sound of laughter and chatter drifted from the laundry house. A group of women emerged, one of them calling out, "Elena! That's your name, right? You should take a breather."
"I'm all done," Elena replied, her voice calm and composed.
"I heard you're a laundry plant rookie. Isn't it tough?" another woman asked.
Elena shrugged. "Geez, this is a cakewalk. I've worked all sorts of jobs, and this is nothing."
"Goodness, this is incredible," one of the women commented, impressed.
Elena quickly joined the group, discussing their work and daily lives. "Do you live in Sabretooth City?" one of the women asked.
"I do. I recently moved here,"I must have itchy feet. I move around a lot," Elena replied.
"Are you married?" another woman chimed in.
"Of course, I must look young, right? Elena replied.
Then what does your husband do? Why are you here?" one of the women asked.
Elena forced a laugh, trying to blend in. "Men are all the same, aren't they? Mine's always lounging around, eating out of house, and spending money like it's going out of style."
She rolled her eyes, playing the part of a frustrated wife, all the while hiding her true self. The other women chuckled in commiserations, and they shared their laughter.
As the day wore on, Elena's thoughts drifted to the memories she had tried to suppress. The anniversary of her mother and sister's death had arrived, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt and regret. She requested the night shift off, citing a special task at home, and her coworkers obligingly granted her leave.
She made her way to the old apartment building. The structure had been abandoned, ready for demolition.
Elena stood in the empty space, her gaze sweeping over the familiar decors. Memories of her twin sister, Jean, flooded her mind, and she felt a deep pang of regret. "I'm sorry, Jean," she whispered, the tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry for not believing you, for calling you insane. I'm sorry I couldn't remember what you said to kill Orexis."
Suddenly, a loud knocking echoed through the building, and Elena froze, her heart racing. The sound was eerily similar to the one that had haunted them that fateful night. Cautiously, she approached the door, trembling.
Liam stood on the other side of the door.
Liam strode up to the old, dilapidated building. The place had an eerie, abandoned feel, and a thick layer of dust covered the floor, hinting that someone had been here recently. Without hesitation, Liam grasped the doorknob and wrenched it open, the lock giving way with a splintering crack.
As he stepped inside, a blur of movement caught the corner of his eye. A young woman, her long hair whipping behind her, darted through a small hole in the wall and disappeared from view. Liam hurried after her, following the passage that led to a set of stairs.
Suddenly, two police officers materialized, blocking his path. "This area is off-limits," one of them said. "What are you doing here?"
Liam quickly composed himself. "Oh, right, I used to live here. I heard it's being demolished, so I stopped by." He flashed them a disarming smile.
The officers eyed him sceptically. "We've had a report of a suspicious person, and there was a theft nearby. Let's see your ID."
Liam reluctantly produced his driver's license, watching as the officers scrutinized it. Their eyes widened in surprise. "Grey Logan, born in 1960? You look much younger than that."
Liam chuckled. "I get that a lot. It's a blessing and a curse, you know."
Before the officers could respond, Liam seized the moment and bolted, leaping through an open window and disappearing into the night. In his haste, he picked up the delicate hairband that had come loose from the woman's hair.
Meanwhile, Elena hurriedly took a cab home, her heart pounding. She burst through the door, locked it behind her, and immediately called her sister, Maria. "Something weird just happened," she said, her voice trembling. "I think he's back, the one from 15 years ago. We need to get out of here, now."
Maria's response was calm but firm. "I can't come home tonight, Elena. I have an important talk with my boyfriend." She paused, then added, "We'll figure this out tomorrow, okay?"
The line went dead.
.
.
.