Beneath The Mask

Chapter 2: Back to the past

"Abigail! Abby!"

Olivia’s voice snapped her out of her daze as she waved a hand in front of her face.

"Olivia?" Abigail blinked, her mind foggy, struggling to focus. She touched her head, confused and disoriented.

"We're late for class! You’re acting so spaced out. Are you okay?" Olivia asked, concerned.

Abigail abruptly stood up and bolted out of the room, her thoughts racing. Suddenly, tears spilled down her cheeks—she couldn’t control it.

"Abigail, wait! What’s going on?"

Olivia chased after her, confused.

"We have classes. What’s wrong with you?"

But Abigail didn’t seem to hear her. She muttered under her breath, "Where’s my daughter? Emily must be worried…"

Her voice was laced with panic as she frantically searched around the room.

"Daughter? Abigail, what are you talking about?" Olivia asked, completely lost.

"Where am I? This place… why does everything look so familiar?"

Abigail turned, scanning the surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.

Olivia furrowed her brows. "It’s 2014, Abigail. June 1st, to be exact. Why are you acting like this?"

"2014?" Abigail repeated, her voice trembling. "No… no, no, no. This can’t be happening."

She stumbled backward, her mind reeling. I was pushed off that cliff by Raymond, she thought, panic swelling inside her. I died. How… how am I back here?

"Olivia, can you go to class without me?" Abigail asked, forcing a calm tone. "I'm not feeling well. I think I need some rest."

Olivia’s eyes softened. "Maybe it’s just cramps or something. You’ve been off today. Take care, okay? I’ll let the professor know."

As Olivia left for class, Abigail sank onto the couch, her heart pounding in her chest. What’s wrong with me? Was it all a dream?

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to make sense of everything.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the news blaring from the television in the background.

"The CEO of Pourl is now engaged to Alisa, the daughter of Williams Enterprises."

Abigail’s eyes widened in shock as the words sank in.

"Hubery?"

She knew him all too well. He was her friend and neighbor from 2024. What was he doing in the news in 2014, engaged to someone else?

"No… this isn’t real," she whispered, trembling. "How can this be happening?"

Her mind raced with questions—none of which made sense.

Grabbing a pen and paper from the coffee table, she began scribbling down everything she remembered.

"I need to figure this out."

She muttered, "Raymond… he mentioned something about Annabella. They were getting married. And they wanted me out of the way… why?"

She paused, the realization hitting her like a wave.

"They were trying to kill me."