Episode 32: The Shadow That Won’t Leave
795 Words
The First Time She Feels Him Again
Claire lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Ryan’s breathing was soft beside her.
The room was silent.
Safe.
Her body felt warm.
Wrapped in Ryan’s arms.
She should feel okay.
She should feel free.
But instead—
She felt wrong.
Her skin tingled.
Her breath shook.
Something was watching her.
She could feel it.
And then—
A whisper.
Soft.
Husky.
Familiar.
"Did you miss me?"
Claire’s lungs stalled.
No.
No, this wasn’t happening.
This wasn’t real.
Ethan was gone.
Wasn’t he?
But then—
A touch.
Light.
Slow.
Fingers tracing over her waist.
Claire’s body went rigid.
Her pulse hammered.
No.
No, it wasn’t real.
It wasn’t.
But then—
His breath ghosted over her neck.
"You still feel me, don’t you?"
Claire’s heart pounded.
Because the worst part?
She did.
Ryan Starts to Notice Something Is Wrong
Ryan watched Claire.
She was different.
Distant.
Like she was still somewhere else.
His fingers curled into a fist.
"Claire," he murmured.
She barely looked at him.
Didn’t respond.
Ryan exhaled.
"You’re safe now," he said softly.
Her hands curled into fists.
Because wasn’t that the problem?
She didn’t feel safe.
She didn’t feel anything at all.
The First Time Ethan Takes Control Again
Claire stood in front of the bathroom mirror.
Her breath shaky.
Her heartbeat uneven.
She turned on the sink.
Splashed cold water on her face.
Took a deep breath.
And when she looked up—
She froze.
Because in the mirror—
Her reflection was wrong.
Her own face stared back.
But her eyes—
Her eyes were black.
Like they weren’t hers anymore.
Like something was inside her.
Her stomach twisted.
And then—
Her reflection smiled.
A slow.
Dark.
Familiar smirk.
And then—
A voice.
"I told you, sweetheart."
"You’ll never be free of me."
Claire’s breath stalled.
Her fingers dug into the sink.
No.
No, it wasn’t real.
It wasn’t.
She closed her eyes.
Counted to three.
When she opened them again—
Her reflection was normal.
Her own face.
Her own eyes.
Her own mind.
Right?
Then why did it feel like something was still watching her?
Why did she still feel Ethan’s presence wrapping around her?
And the most terrifying part?
Why did it still feel good?
Ryan Notices She’s Slipping Again
The next morning, Claire sat at the kitchen table.
Her coffee was untouched.
Ryan’s voice was careful.
"You barely slept again."
Claire’s fingers tightened on the mug.
"I’m fine."
Ryan frowned.
"You’re lying."
Her stomach twisted.
Because he was right.
She wasn’t fine.
She wasn’t okay.
She still felt Ethan.
Still heard him.
Still wanted him.
Ryan’s jaw locked.
"He’s gone, Claire."
She swallowed.
"I know."
But was that true?
Or was Ethan still inside her?
Still waiting?
And the worst part?
What if she didn’t want him to leave?
The Reflection That Lies
Claire stood in front of the mirror.
She took a deep breath.
She needed to calm down.
This was just grief.
Just trauma.
It would fade.
She turned on the sink.
Splashed cold water on her face.
Took another breath.
And when she looked up—
She froze.
Because in the mirror—
Her reflection was wrong.
Her own face stared back.
But her eyes—
Her eyes were black.
Like they weren’t hers anymore.
Like something was still inside her.
Her stomach twisted.
And then—
Her reflection smiled.
A slow.
Dark.
Familiar smirk.
And then—
A voice.
"I told you, sweetheart."
"You’ll never be free of me."
Claire’s breath stalled.
Her fingers dug into the sink.
No.
No, it wasn’t real.
It wasn’t.
She closed her eyes.
Counted to three.
When she opened them again—
Her reflection was normal.
Her own face.
Her own eyes.
Her own mind.
Right?
Then why did it feel like something was still watching her?
Why did she still feel Ethan’s presence wrapping around her?
And the most terrifying part?
Why did it still feel good?
The Final Realization—He’s Not Gone At All
Claire sat on the edge of the bed.
Her hands shaking.
Her breathing ragged.
She pressed her fingers to her temples.
Tried to silence the thoughts.
Tried to block him out.
But then—
A whisper.
Soft.
Seductive.
"You can’t run from me, sweetheart."
Claire’s lungs stalled.
"I’m still inside you."
Her pulse pounded.
"I will always be inside you."
Claire squeezed her eyes shut.
No.
No, this wasn’t real.
She had beaten him.
Hadn’t she?
But then—
Fingers brushed down her spine.
She jerked forward.
Her eyes snapped open.
She was alone.
And yet—
She still felt him.
And the worst part?
Some dark, broken part of her wanted him to stay.
(To Be Continued…)
- Writer
