EPISODE FOUR : THE TRUTH
1452 Words
Dawn broke cold and gray.
Elena hadn't moved from the floor. Her back pressed against the wall. Eyes locked on the door. The photograph still clutched in her stiff fingers.
Contract is signed. Elimination starts now.
The words repeated in her mind. Over and over.
She'd heard them. She hadn't imagined it. Those men. Mrs. Chen. The conversation outside.
Elimination.
Elena's phone showed 6:47 AM. Mia would wake soon.
She forced herself to stand. Her legs shook. Her whole body ached from sitting frozen all night.
She walked to the bathroom. Splashed cold water on her face.
The mirror showed a stranger. Pale. Hollow eyes. Tear-stained cheeks.
Get it together. For Mia.
She changed her clothes. Hid her bandaged hands. Tried to look normal.
Failed.
At 7:00 AM exactly, Mia cried.
Elena went through the motions. Bottle. Diaper change. Her hands moved automatically while her mind screamed warnings.
Mia reached for her. "Lena!"
"I'm here, baby."
But was she? For how much longer?
*Contract is signed. Elimination starts now.*
Elena carried Mia downstairs. The kitchen was empty.
No Mrs. Chen.
Strange. She was always here by now.
Elena prepared Mia's breakfast. Warmed her bottle. Her hands shook the entire time.
Mia ate quietly. Watching Elena with those big brown eyes.
Like she knew something was wrong.
8:30 AM.
Still no Mrs. Chen.
Elena cleaned up. Wiped Mia's face. Tried to act normal.
9:00 AM.
Then gravel crunching outside.
Elena's heart stopped.
The front door opened.
Mrs. Chen walked in. But she looked different. Tired. Her bun slightly loose. Dark circles under her eyes.
She saw Elena and stopped.
They stared at each other.
"Ms. Hayes." Mrs. Chen's voice was flat. "You're up early."
"Mia woke at seven."
Mrs. Chen set down her purse. Removed her coat slowly. "I apologize for my late arrival. There was... business to handle last night."
Business.
Elimination
Elena couldn't speak.
Mrs. Chen walked past her toward the kitchen. "I'll prepare a proper breakfast."
Elena followed, Mia on her hip.
Mrs. Chen moved around the kitchen. Cracking eggs. Slicing bread. Her movements mechanical.
The silence stretched.
"Mrs. Chen?"
"Yes?"
Elena's throat closed. Should she ask? Should she say anything?
"Is... is everything alright?"
Mrs. Chen paused. Her back to Elena. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"Last night. I heard—" Elena stopped. She shouldn't have said that.
Mrs. Chen turned around slowly. Her eyes found Elena's face. "What did you hear, Ms. Hayes?"
Elena's mouth went dry. "Nothing. I... I thought I heard a car. That's all."
"A car." Mrs. Chen's expression didn't change. "At what time?"
"I don't know. Midnight, maybe. I was half asleep."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Mrs. Chen smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.
"The master had business associates visit. They needed to discuss... personnel changes. Nothing that concerns you."
Personnel changes.
Elimination.
"Of course," Elena whispered.
Mrs. Chen turned back to the stove. "The security team has been replaced. The previous guards were... unsatisfactory. The new team arrives this afternoon."
Elena's grip on Mia loosened slightly.
Security guards? Not her?
"I see."
"The master takes security very seriously. Especially with the child." Mrs. Chen plated the eggs. Set them on the table. Her eyes locked on Elena's. "He protects what's his."
The way she said it made Elena's skin crawl.
"When does he arrive? The master?"
"This evening. 8 PM. As scheduled." Mrs. Chen walked toward the door. "I trust you'll be presentable."
"Yes."
"Good." Mrs. Chen paused. "Wear something appropriate. First impressions matter to him."
She left.
Elena stood alone in the kitchen. Mia squirmed in her arms.
8 PM. Tonight.
Less than twelve hours.
The day crawled forward.
Elena played with Mia, but her mind was elsewhere.
Building blocks. Picture books. Singing songs.
All of it felt like going through motions.
At noon, Mrs. Chen brought lunch. Set it on the table without a word.
Elena tried to eat. Couldn't.
Mia ate happily. Oblivious to the storm coming.
At 2 PM, a truck arrived.
Elena watched from the nursery window as men in uniforms unloaded equipment.
The new security team.
They moved with military precision. Installing cameras at every entrance. Every corner. Every window.
One of them looked up at Elena's window.
She jerked back.
Her heart pounded.
*They're watching. They're always watching.*
By 3 PM, the mansion felt like a fortress.
Cameras everywhere. Men patrolling the grounds. Gates reinforced.
Elena felt trapped.
More trapped than before.
At 5 PM, Mrs. Chen knocked on the nursery door.
"Ms. Hayes. Start preparing. The master will be here in three hours."
"I understand."
Mrs. Chen's eyes traveled over Elena. "You look terrible. Fix yourself."
She left.
Elena looked in the mirror.
Mrs. Chen was right. She looked terrible.
Pale. Dark circles. Exhausted.
She had to pull herself together.
6:00 PM.
Elena gave Mia her dinner. Mac and cheese. Mia's favorite.
"Yummy!" Mia clapped.
"Slow down, baby."
But Mia was happy. Smiling. Laughing.
Elena's chest ached.
What happens after tonight? What happens to us?
6:30 PM.
Bath time. Elena filled the tub. Helped Mia splash and play.
The little girl giggled. Poured water over Elena's hands.
For a moment, Elena forgot.
Forgot the photograph. The contract. The men last night.
Just her and Mia. Safe. Happy.
But it couldn't last.
7:00 PM.
Elena dressed Mia in star pajamas. Brushed her dark curls.
"Story, Lena?"
"Not tonight, baby. You need to sleep early."
"Why?"
Elena's throat tightened. "Because someone very important is coming."
"Who?"
Elena stroked Mia's hair. "Your daddy."
Mia's face scrunched up. Confused. "Daddy?"
Like she'd forgotten the word.
Elena's chest ached. "He's been away. But he's coming home tonight."
Mia stared at her. Then put her thumb in her mouth.
Elena sang the lullaby. Rocked her gently.
Mia fell asleep in her arms.
Elena laid her in the crib. Tucked the blanket around her.
Stood watching her breathe.
I won't let anything happen to you. No matter what happens tonight.
7:30 PM.
Elena went to her room.
Changed into her black pants. White blouse. The only professional clothes she had.
Brushed her hair. Applied light makeup to hide the dark circles.
Stared at her reflection.
You can do this. Just get through tonight.
Her phone buzzed.
Email from Prestige Staffing:
Final reminder: Employer arrives 8:00 PM. Be punctual. Be professional. Do not disappoint.
Elena's hands shook.
She shoved her phone in her pocket.
Pulled out the photograph one last time.
Half her face. One eye.
ELIMINATE HER IF HE DOESN'T DO THE NEEDFUL.
Who was this man? Why did he have her photo?
Why did he hire her?
Elena shoved it back under her mattress.
7:50 PM.
A knock on her door.
"Ms. Hayes. It's time."
Mrs. Chen.
Elena opened the door.
Mrs. Chen's eyes traveled over her. Nodded once. "You'll do. Follow me."
They walked downstairs.
Every light was on. Everything sparkled. Polished. Perfect.
Like a stage.
Mrs. Chen led her to the main entrance. The grand foyer with marble floors and crystal chandeliers.
"You'll wait here. When he arrives, greet him professionally. Answer his questions honestly."
"I understand."
Mrs. Chen studied her for a long moment. "He's not what you expect, Ms. Hayes. Remember that."
What did that mean?
But Mrs. Chen walked away before Elena could ask.
Elena stood alone in the foyer.
The grandfather clock ticked. Loud. Echoing.
7:56 PM.
7:57 PM.
7:58 PM.
Headlights swept across the windows.
A car pulled up. Black. Sleek. Silent.
The engine cut off.
Elena's heart pounded so hard she thought it might break through her ribs.
A car door opened. Closed.
Footsteps on gravel. Getting closer.
Heavy. Deliberate.
She forced herself to breathe. Stand straight. Look professional.
The front door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Tall. Dark suit. Broad shoulders. Expensive watch. Polished shoes.
He looked down, adjusting his cufflinks.
Elena's breath stopped.
Those hands.
She knew those hands.
No.
No.
He looked up.
His briefcase hit the floor.
The crash exploded through the foyer.
He staggered back. His shoulder slammed into the doorframe. His hand shot out grabbed it knuckles White
His chest jerked. Once. Twice. Like he couldn't pull in air.
Elena's hand flew to the wall. Her nails scraped against wallpaper.
"No." Barely sound. His throat worked. "No."
Her knees buckled. She caught herself against the entry table. It scraped across marble.
He took a step forward.
Stopped.
His whole body shook. His hand reached toward her. Stopped midair. Fell. Reached again. Dropped.
"Elena?"
Her name.
That voice.
That voice.
The room tilted.
Her vision went black at the edges.
Her legs gave out.
She dropped.
He lunged forward.
His arms caught her before she hit the floor.
"Elena!"
But she was already gone.
Darkness swallowed everything.
- Writer
