As they returned to the office, Cliff, Harrison, and Ellen were met with a surprise. Dora was still there, sitting at her desk, her eyes fixed on Ellen with a mixture of anger and hurt.
"Hey, guys," Dora said, her voice cold. "I see you're back. How was your trip to Ellen's apartment?"
Cliff hesitated, sensing the tension in the air. "It was... horrific," he said. "We found a message on the wall, written in blood. It said 'I will kill you soon'." Dora's eyes narrowed. "That's nice," she said. "But I think I know who might have written that message."
Ellen's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about, Dora?" she asked. Dora stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. "I'm talking about you, Ellen," she said. "You're the one who's been terrorizing me, aren't you?"
Cliff's eyes were wide with shock. "Dora, what are you talking about?" he asked. Dora took a step closer to Ellen, her voice low and menacing. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Ellen," she said. "You're the one who's been sending me threatening messages, who's been following me. And last night, you attacked me in my way to my house." Ellen's face was white with shock. "That's not true!" she exclaimed. "I didn't do any of those things!"
Dora's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Don't lie to me, Ellen," she said. "I know it was you. And I'm going to make sure that everyone else knows it too."
Cliff stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Dora. "Dora, listen to me," he said. "I don't know what's going on here, but I do know that Ellen is not capable of doing the things you're accusing her of."
Dora's eyes flashed with anger. "You're just defending her because you're sleeping with her!" she exclaimed. The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the three people in the room. Cliff's face was red with anger, while Ellen's face was white with shock. Dora's eyes were blazing with anger and hurt. The air in the office was electric with tension as Ellen and Dora faced off against each other. Their voices were raised, their words hanging in the air like a challenge.
"How dare you!" Ellen spat, her eyes blazing with anger. "You have no right to accuse me of such things!"
"I have every right!" Dora shot back, her voice venomous. "You're the one who's been terrorizing me, Ellen. You're the one who's been sending me threatening messages and following me!"
The room suddenly became silent again, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two women. Cliff and Harrison exchanged a worried glance, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. "Okay, that's enough!" Cliff stepped forward, his voice firm but calm. "Let's not forget ourselves here. We're all adults, and we need to act like it."
But Ellen and Dora were beyond reason. They were in the grip of their emotions, their anger and hurt boiling over like a pot left unattended.
"No, Cliff, you don't understand!" Ellen exclaimed, her voice rising. "She's been accusing me of all sorts of things, and I won't stand for it!"
"I'm just telling the truth!" Dora shot back, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're the one who's been lying and manipulating everyone!" The room was in chaos now, the staff gathered around the two women, their faces shocked and worried. Cliff and Harrison tried to intervene, but Ellen and Dora were beyond listening.
"Enough!" Cliff thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "This is not a playground, and we're not children! We need to act like professionals and respect each other!" But his words fell on deaf ears. Ellen and Dora were too far gone, their anger and hurt consuming them like a fire. And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two women. Ellen and Dora stood there, their eyes locked in a fierce stare, their faces twisted in anger and hurt. The room was tense, the air thick with emotion.
And then, in an instant, it was over. Ellen turned and walked away, leaving Dora standing alone in the middle of the room. The staff breathed a collective sigh of relief as the tension in the room dissipated. Cliff and Harrison exchanged a worried glance, their eyes fixed on the two women.
"Well, that was fun," Harrison said, his voice dry.
Cliff shook his head. "Not exactly the kind of excitement we need around here."
The staff nodded in agreement, their faces somber. They knew that the tension between Ellen and Dora was far from over. Dora stormed into her office, slamming the door behind her. She was still fuming from her confrontation with Ellen, her mind racing with anger and hurt. She paced back and forth across the room, trying to calm herself down, but it was no use. She was too far gone. Just as she was starting to feel like she was going to explode, her phone rang. She picked it up, her voice sharp. "Hello?"
"Dora, it's Mr. Benson from next door," a friendly voice said. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." Dora's anger momentarily faltered. "No, Mr. Benson, it's fine. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could speak with you when you get home from work this evening," Mr. Benson said. "I have something important I need to discuss with you."
Dora's curiosity was piqued. "What is it, Mr. Benson? You're starting to worry me."
"I'd rather not discuss it over the phone," Mr. Benson said. "Let's just say it's about something that's been going on in the neighborhood. I think you should know about it." Dora's mind was racing. What could Mr. Benson possibly want to talk to her about? She wasn't aware of anything going on in the neighborhood that would concern her. "Okay, Mr. Benson," she said. "I'll come over as soon as I get home from work." "Thank you, Dora," Mr. Benson said. "I appreciate it. I'll see you then."
Dora hung up the phone, her mind whirling slowly. What could Mr. Benson want to talk to her about? And why did he sound so serious? She tried to focus on her work, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She was distracted and on edge, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Finally, the day drew to a close, and Dora was able to leave the office. She drove home, her heart pounding with anticipation. What was Mr. Benson going to tell her?
As she pulled into her driveway, she saw Mr. Benson waiting for her on his porch. He looked serious and concerned, and Dora's heart sank.
"Mr. Benson, what's going on?" she asked, getting out of her car.
"Come inside, Dora," Mr. Benson said, leading her into his house. "I think you should sit down for this." Dora entered Benson's cozy parlour, her eyes scanning the room with admiration. The soft glow of the lamp cast a warm ambiance, and the sweet scent of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air. She felt a bit tired from the day's events, but she managed to muster up a smile as she sat down on the plush couch. Benson followed her in, carrying a bottle of wine and a glass cup. "Dora, I'm so glad you could make it," he said, setting the wine down on the coffee table. "I know you've had a long day, but I promise this will be worth your while."
Dora raised an eyebrow as Benson poured her a glass of wine. "Thank you, Mr. Benson," she said, taking a small sip. The wine was rich and full-bodied, but Dora's mind was elsewhere. She was eager to know why Benson had summoned her to his house.
Benson sat down in the armchair across from her, his eyes serious. "Dora, I've been noticing some strange occurrences at your house," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "I've seen strange noises and movements, like something is lurking in your house." Dora's eyes narrowed, her interest piqued. "What kind of movements?" she asked, leaning forward.
Benson hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. "I've seen shadowy figures lurking around your windows at midnight," he said. "And I've heard strange growls and snarls. I fear that the monster that's been terrorizing the city might be living in your house." Dora's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing with possibilities. "That's impossible," she exclaimed. "I would have noticed something!" But Benson's expression remained serious. "I'm telling you, Dora, I've seen some strange things. And I'm worried about your safety. That's why I invited you here tonight, to warn you about the possibility of a monster living in your house." Dora felt a chill run down her spine as Benson's words hung in the air. She didn't know what to believe, but she knew one thing - she was going to get to the bottom of it.
Dora stormed into her house, her mind racing with anger and worry. She couldn't believe what Benson had just told her - that a monster might be living in her house! She felt a shiver run down her spine as she thought about it, but she was determined to prove him wrong. She began to search her house, room by room, her heart pounding in her chest. She checked every nook and cranny, every closet and cupboard, except her small store outside, but she found nothing out of the ordinary. No signs of a monster, no strange noises or movements. As she searched, her anger grew. How dare Benson suggest such a thing? Didn't he know her? Didn't he know she wouldn't let some monster take over her house?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dora was convinced that she was safe. She had searched every inch of her house, and there was no sign of anything unusual. She let out a sigh of relief and tried to calm down. But as she stood there, her mind began to wander. What if Benson had seen something? What if there was something she had missed? No, she told herself firmly. Benson was just being paranoid. There was nothing to worry about. With that, Dora went to bed, her mind still racing with thoughts and emotions. She was determined to forget about the whole thing and move on. But as she lay there, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She kept thinking about Benson's words, and the fear that had crept into her heart.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Dora fell asleep, her dreams filled with images of monsters and shadows. But even in her sleep, she knew that she would never forget the fear that Benson had instilled in her. And she knew that she would always wonder - what if?. Dora woke up with a start, her heart racing as she looked around her room in confusion. Something was off. The furniture was rearranged, and the curtains were open, letting in a flood of early morning light. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was still dreaming, but when she opened them again, everything was still out of place. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, her mind racing with questions. Who could have done this? And why? She looked around the room again, trying to take in every detail. That's when she saw it. On her dresser, her perfume and jewelry were arranged in a neat little display. It was as if someone had been in her room, going through her things. Dora's heart was pounding as she made her way to the dining room. She had to know if this was some kind of prank, or if something more sinister was going on. As she entered the room, she was met with a sight that made her blood run cold. On the table, a breakfast feast was laid out. Eggs, bacon, toast, and juice. It was as if someone had been expecting her. But what really caught her attention was the message scrawled on the wall. "I miss you." Dora felt like she had been punched in the gut. Who could have done this? And what did they mean by "I miss you"? She thought back to Benson's warnings, and a chill ran down her spine. Could it be true? Was there really something living in her house? She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling herself it was just a prank. But deep down, she knew it was more than that. Someone had been in her house, watching her, waiting for her. Dora's mind was racing with questions and fears. She didn't know what to do, or who to turn to. All she knew was that she had to get out of there, and fast. She grabbed her phone and keys, and ran out of the house, not stopping until she was safely outside. Dora eventually returned to her house, her heart still racing with fear and uncertainty. She couldn't shake off the feeling that someone had been watching her, waiting for her. She quickly rushed to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the sense of unease that had settled over her.As she stood under the warm water, she couldn't help but think about the strange occurrences that had been happening in her house. The rearranged furniture, the prepared breakfast, the message on the wall. It was all so surreal, so terrifying. She hurried through her bath, her mind racing with thoughts of who could have done this. Was it a burglar? A stalker? Or something even more sinister? As she got dressed and ready for work, Dora couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see someone lurking in her house.. Finally, she grabbed her bag and ran out of the house, desperate to escape the sense of fear that had taken over her. She didn't stop until she was safely inside her car, speeding away from the house as fast as she could.
As she drove to work, Dora's mind was a jumble of emotions. Fear, anxiety, uncertainty. She didn't know what was going on, or who was behind it. All she knew was that she had to get away from it, and fast. She arrived at work in a daze, her colleagues noticing the look of fear in her eyes. "Dora, what's wrong?" one of them asked, but Dora just shook her head, unable to explain. Throughout the day, Dora couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept wandering back to the strange occurrences in her house, and the fear that had taken over her. She knew she had to do something, but she didn't know what. As the day drew to a close, Dora knew she had to face her fears head-on. She couldn't keep running away from it. She had to find out who was behind it, and put an end to it once and for all. But as she drove home, she couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled over her. What would she find when she got home? As Dora pulled into her driveway, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Her house looked exactly the way she had left it that morning, with no signs of any further disturbances. She breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that maybe the strange occurrences were just a one-time thing.