Chapter 4 Echoes of the past.

The door closed behind Alexander with a click, but Daniela couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong somewhere. The quietness that followed was unnecessarily odd, filling the room with suffocating silence.

She stood by the window,her fingers pressed to the cool glass, her breath heaving heavily as she watched Alexander black car disappear into the night. The streets were empty and the glow of streetlights cast long shadows across the road. Yet, inside her chest, her heart was sounding loudly- out of rhythm. Something about this night felt wrong,as if the weight of the past had just shifted. The key chain that had glinted in the moonlight near the gate kept flashing in her mind. She couldn't help but replay the moment it had caught her eye, as if it had been waiting there for her to find it. Her heart sank as memories she had long buried began to surface.A time where everything had seemed so much simpler , and she didn't have to live in constant fear of the past catching up with her. As everywhere was quiet, the weight of what the key chain represented refused to leave her mind. Who could it be?she wondered. Who knew a lot about her to leave this here? She had left all her past behind - the heartache, betrayal, and all that made her sad. So why was this piece of the past suddenly reappearing?And why now after all these years? The idea that someone from her past was watching her and still intruding in her New life, was too much to bear for her.

The soft patter of footsteps pulled her from her dangling thoughts. Noah had been unusually quiet since Alexander had left. She turned around slowly, watching him as he sat cross legged on the floor, distracted playing with his toys. He had barely spoken a word since Alexander left and she wondered what the problem was. She approached Noah quietly,her gaze drifting to his toy cars scattered around him. He had his favourite car in his hand, the one he called his "Fastest car", and was pretending it was racing across the room. He didn't seem to notice his mother's unease, too carried away in his game to care about the tension hanging in the air. Daniela couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong . Someone was out there, watching. The longer she stood in the silence of the room, the more she felt a subtle presence monitoring her. She glanced over the window again, her mind filled with doubt . The feeling that someone with dark intentions was watching her refused to leave her.Could it be her own mind playing tricks on her?Or was she truly being monitored?

A noise , soft yet distinct, caught her attention. It came from outside the gate, barely audible over the hum of the night. Behold it was a rustling sound, a shift in the shadows.A chill ran down her spine. Could it be Alexander returning? Maybe he had probably forgotten something.or maybe it was someone else that was at the gate. She stood frozen for a moment. Unable to move. Fear gripped her body as it was caught between fear and disbelief . She couldn't explain why but her instincts but her instincts kept on dawning on her

that she was not alone. Slowly,cautiously, she moved toward the door, her step almost imperceptible against the wooden floor . Each footsteps felt heavier than the last, each one weighted with uncertainty. She reached for the door handle,her fingers trembling. Her breath was almost as if she was about to faint.

With a final breath,she opened the door. The night air rushed in, cool biting her skin as she stepped outside . There was nothing at first- no movement, no fingers in the corner. The only sound was the wind rustling through the trees.

As Daniela was about to turn back and close the door, something on the ground caught her eye. A small basket sat just beyond the threshold, bathed in the faint glow of the porch light. Her pulse quickened. The basket was wrapped in clear cellophane, tied neatly with a red ribbon.

It hadn't been there earlier.

Her breath hitched as her eyes darted to the street beyond the gate. Shadows stretched long and still under the streetlights, and the night remained eerily silent. No footsteps, no engine rumbling-just the quiet hum of the wind.

She hesitated before stepping outside, her fingers tightening on the doorframe. The basket looked harmless, even thoughtful. But who would leave such a thing at this hour? And why?

With cautious steps, Daniela approached the basket. It wasn't large, but it was heavy enough when she lifted it. She held it at arm's length as she carried it back inside, her mind racing with questions.

Placing it carefully on the kitchen table, she noticed a small tag tied to the ribbon. Her stomach churned as she read the neat, deliberate script.

For Noah.

The simplicity of the message sent a shiver down her spine. She tore her gaze from the tag and focused on the contents of the basket. Slowly, she untied the ribbon and peeled back the cellophane, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Inside was an assortment of baked goods-cookies, cupcakes, and small pastries, each one intricately decorated and perfectly arranged. They looked fresh, the aroma sweet and inviting. But there was something off about the whole thing.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for one of the cookies, hesitating as doubt filled her mind. Who would send these? And how could she trust them?

A soft patter of footsteps startled her. Daniela turned to see Noah rubbing his sleepy eyes as he wandered into the kitchen. His face lit up when he saw the basket.

"Wow! Cookies!" he exclaimed, his little hand reaching for one.

"No, wait!" Daniela's voice came out sharper than she intended, and Noah froze, his wide eyes staring at her in confusion.

"Mommy?" he asked, his voice small.

She knelt down, gently taking his hand away from the basket. "These aren't safe, sweetheart. We don't know where they came from."

"But they're for me," he insisted, pointing at the tag.

Daniela's chest tightened. Who would know enough about them to leave a gift specifically for her son? And why something so personal and tempting?

The thought made her stomach churn. She glanced back at the basket, its perfect arrangement now feeling sinister, like bait in a trap. Daniela stood abruptly, her hands shaking as she grabbed the basket and carried it to the trash bin outside.

"Noah, go back to bed," she said, her voice firm as she opened the lid of the trash bin and tossed the basket inside. The sound of it landing with a thud felt strangely satisfying.

"But, Mommy-" Noah started, his lower lip trembling.

"No arguments, Noah," she interrupted. "We can't take chances with something like this. It could be dangerous."

Noah sulked but obeyed, shuffling back toward his room with a disappointed sigh. Daniela leaned against the counter, exhaling deeply as she tried to steady herself.

But the unease wouldn't leave her.

She walked back to the window and peered outside again. The faint rustling she had heard earlier now felt louder in her mind, like a haunting echo. And then she saw it-a figure, barely visible, slipping away into the shadows.

Her breath caught. Whoever had left the basket hadn't gone far.

They were still out there, watching.