Collision of Past and Present
Audrey woke with a start, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't immediately name. Sunlight filtered gently through the lace curtains, but the warmth it usually brought felt muted. She lay still, listening—to the creak of the old house, the soft hum of life outside, to her own breathing.
Something was wrong.
She pressed a hand to her chest. You're safe, she told herself. You're in Rosewood. Still, the unease clung to her like a shadow that refused to lift.
Downstairs, the familiar sounds of Mrs. Edith moving about the kitchen offered some comfort. Audrey dressed quickly and joined her at the table, where the scent of tea and warm bread filled the air.
"You look like someone who didn't sleep very well," Mrs. Edith observed gently, placing a cup of tea in front of her.
Audrey managed a small smile. "I slept… just not peacefully."
Mrs. Edith nodded knowingly. "New beginnings stir old fears. They don't disappear overnight."
Audrey sipped the tea, letting the warmth seep in. "Sometimes I feel like my past is trying to catch up to me."
"Then it's good you're not alone here," Mrs. Edith said softly, squeezing her hand.
Later, Audrey decided to step out for a quick walk. Alex appeared at her doorstep almost immediately.
"You really think you're going alone?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"I—well, I thought—" Audrey stammered, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
"Come on," Alex said lightly, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "We'll go together. I just don't like leaving people alone who shouldn't be."
The streets of Rosewood were quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. They walked side by side, Alex subtly positioning himself closer to her, always between her and the road. Audrey noticed, but instead of unease, she felt comforted.
"You're very alert today," she said lightly.
Alex shrugged. "Habit."
They arrived at the café on the corner. Inside, the warm smell of coffee and baked pastries was calming. Audrey ordered a drink while Alex kept a careful eye on the street outside, scanning for anything unusual.
"You really are… watchful," she whispered.
Alex smiled faintly. "Sometimes it's necessary."
She tilted her head. "Necessary… for what?"
He didn't answer, only offered a small reassuring smile. Audrey felt a flutter in her chest, sensing there was more to him than he let on.
Meanwhile, miles away, Brian had arrived in Rosewood. He paced in a cheap motel room, maps and photos spread across the bed.
Alison's phone calls and messages came in frantically.
"Brian, please! Stop. This is dangerous. Don't go looking for her!"
Brian ignored them. "I own her," he muttered. "She can't escape me."
Alison sank onto the couch, guilt and fear twisting her stomach. She never truly loved Brian—she only wanted to hurt Audrey. But now she realized the obsession she had unleashed was spiraling out of control, and there was nothing she could do.
Audrey returned home in the early evening. The cozy smell of dinner made her chest relax slightly. Mrs. Edith hummed softly as she placed a pot of soup on the table.
"You look lighter today," she said, setting a bowl in front of Audrey.
"I think I am," Audrey admitted. "Being here… having people who care—it helps."
"And that young man helps too," Mrs. Edith said knowingly.
Audrey blushed. "Alex? We're just friends."
"For now," Mrs. Edith said gently, smiling.
Later, after dinner, Audrey prepared to go upstairs when she noticed a flicker of movement across the street. A shadow lingered near the edge of the property, unmoving, but unmistakably there.
Alex's gaze followed hers instantly. His body shifted, subtly moving to place himself between her and the window.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
"I… I think someone is outside," Audrey admitted, shivering slightly.
Alex's jaw tightened. "Stay inside for now. I'll make sure everything is fine."
Audrey nodded, her trust in him absolute, even as unease crept into her chest.
Across the street, Brian paused, eyes locked on the house. He noted every detail—the upstairs window, the soft glow of lights, the quiet streets. He whispered under his breath, "So this is where you ran to."
Inside, Alex's hand hovered near the door, senses alert. You're close, he thought. And you won't get past me.
Audrey lay awake that night, unaware of how close her past had come. But for the first time in weeks, she wasn't alone—an
d she felt the faintest flicker of hope.