Shadows of the Past

As the days slowly slipped by after the funeral, El found herself ensnared in a delicate dance between the oppressive weight of her grief and the persistent push to keep moving forward. The loss of her beloved grandmother, Mrs. Shaw, left a gaping hole in her heart that no amount of support from her father, Simmy, or even Pip could fully mend. Despite their comforting presence, the absence of her grandmother cast a lingering shadow over her life. El had naturally inherited her grandmother's house, a poignant legacy intended to remain within her daughter's family.

One quiet evening, El found herself alone in her grandmother's old study, a place steeped in memories and the faint, comforting scent of lavender that Mrs. Shaw had always adored. Surrounded by boxes brimming with her grandmother's belongings, El hoped that sorting through them might bring a measure of closure. She gently opened one of the boxes, her heart heavy with nostalgia, and discovered a stack of old letters neatly tied with a faded ribbon.

Her curiosity stirred, El untied the ribbon with trembling fingers and began to read. The letters were from a man named David, sent sporadically over the years from a correctional facility. Only one of the dozen letters had been opened. As El's eyes scanned the pages, realisation dawned on her—the sender was indeed who she feared it might be. Her hands shook as she clutched the first letter, her emotions a tumultuous mix of sorrow, curiosity, and a desperate longing for answers.

My Dearest,

How is life treating you? I wonder if you're thriving, while I endure this cold, desolate place. It's lonely here, so different from the day we first met in that church. It felt like fate, a blessing in disguise. You never knew, but when I professed my love for you, it was sincere. Yet, my heart was truly captivated by your daughter from the moment I saw her. It was her that drove my desire to have you in my life. Marrying you was the means to an end, but fate cut our relationship short.

Now that you've divorced me, I hope you're enjoying your newfound freedom, maybe even searching for your runaway daughter. I want you to find peace and happiness. Because only then will my satisfaction be complete when I finally shatter both your lives, making every moment a living nightmare.

When the time is right, I'll be in touch.

David

El felt a sharp pang in her heart as she read the letter, her hands trembling with terror at the sinister implications hidden within the words. Each line she deciphered seemed to tighten the grip of fear around her chest. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of dread and sorrow, imagining the remorse and horror Mrs. Shaw must have endured with each unopened letter. The weight of the unknown must have been unbearable, leaving her grandmother genuinely petrified to confront the contents of those sealed envelopes.

Nobody knew what had become of David after his imprisonment—neither El, her father, nor her grandmother. These letters were the only fragile link to that monstrous figure, the only clue to his shadowy fate. El's mind raced with possibilities: she could destroy the letters, consigning their secrets to the flames and living the rest of her life in the fear of the unknown, or she could continue reading, unearthing the past to understand the full extent of the darkness that had haunted her family.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she held the letters, the fragile paper trembling in her grasp. The room seemed to close in around her, the familiar scent of lavender now a bittersweet reminder of her grandmother's bravery and anguish. El took a deep breath, steeling herself against the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. With a mixture of resolve and trepidation, she made her choice.

***

"Carl, my boy. I want Philip to come home," Mr. Carter's voice was gruff, his words carrying the weight of an unspoken urgency as Carl stepped into his father's study.

Carl hesitated, his brow furrowing in concern. "Father, you know how he reacts whenever this topic comes up. If you give him some time..."

Mr. Carter slammed his hand down on the table, the sound reverberating through the room and cutting Carl off mid-sentence. "Time is what we don't have! The Baltzar Group is already attacking us, one hit after another. The recent car bombing was their warning. I don't care what you do, but I want my son safe in this house. You have one day."

The command was as clear as it was impossible. Carl could only nod, knowing that failure was not an option. Despite being next in line for succession, his father's wrath was a force he dared not provoke.

Leaving the room, Carl immediately tried reaching Pip, but each call went unanswered. Panic crept in; he knew his father's order had an expiration date. Desperation gnawed at him as he tried again and again, to no avail.

Meanwhile, Pip was deliberately avoiding Carl's calls. He knew that many missed calls meant Carl would soon appear in person, so he left his house, seeking solace elsewhere. It had been a few days since he last saw El, her somber expression still haunting his thoughts. He needed an excuse to see her, and concern for her seemed valid enough. He arrived at her place and knocked on the door.

"Pip, is it?" Simmy greeted him with a surprised look.

"Hello, is El around? I was in the area and thought I'd check up on her," Pip explained.

"Yeah, come in," Simmy invited him in and directed him towards Mrs. Shaw's room.

When Pip walked into the room, he found El with tears streaming down her face, sobbing over some photographs. His heart ached at the sight, and without thinking, he pulled her into a tight embrace. El startled, quickly wiped her tears, and packed the letters and photos away in a box.

"Are you okay, El?" Pip asked gently, lifting her face to meet her eyes.

She continued to wipe away her tears, taking deep breaths to compose herself. "Yeah, sorry about that. I was sorting through Grandma's things and got carried away."

"Come on, let's catch a break," Pip suggested, hoping to help clear her mind. He noticed the photographs she had hidden, feeling an uneasy suspicion grow within him.

El managed a smile as Pip took her hand, drawing comforting circles on her palm with his thumb. They walked together, Pip adjusting his pace to match hers.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered softly.

"It was nothing, just some family pictures. I got emotional, that's all," she dismissed the topic quickly. It was clear she didn't want to delve into it, so he didn't press further.

They made their way to a convenience store at the end of the street, picking up snacks and drinks. Throughout their errand, El remained distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Pip could sense the heaviness in her silence but chose not to intrude.

As they approached the gate to El's house, a voice called out from behind a nearby tree, "Pip!"

"Oh shit!" Pip cursed under his breath as he recognised the voice.

They turned to see Carl emerging from the shadows. El was taken aback by the intrusion.

"What the fuck are you doing here? How do you know I was here?" Pip's anger flared, his voice rising.

"I guessed," Carl replied, his tone stern. "We need you back home now. I'm here to take you." His eyes briefly flicked to El, noting her puffy red eyes. Concern etched itself on his face, and his fists clenched involuntarily, the urge to protect her almost overwhelming.

"Hell no! I'm not going anywhere with you," Pip retorted, nudging El to go inside. But El stood her ground, her gaze locked on Carl. Despite the tension between the brothers, she sensed something deeper in Carl's demeanour.

"How do you know this place?" she asked Carl directly.

Carl's hesitation spoke volumes, confirming El's suspicions. The truth crystallised in her mind. "So you were that shadow," she whispered, a mix of anger and realisation washing over her.

El's heart raced as she pieced together the truth. Carl had been watching over her, keeping an eye on Pip, perhaps even protecting her. She recalled the fleeting glimpses of a shadowy figure during her most vulnerable moments, the inexplicable sense of being watched, and the sudden appearance of help when she needed it most. It was Carl all along.

"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of gratitude and confusion.

Carl's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly regained his composure. "El, I can explain…"

But before he could finish, Pip stepped in front of El protectively. "I don't want to hear any of it, Carl. Get lost."

Carl's face hardened, but he didn't move. "This isn't just about me, Pip. It's about all of us. The family is in danger. Dad's orders were clear."

Pip's eyes flashed with a mixture of defiance and confusion. "Why now? Why does he suddenly care?"

"The Baltzar Group," Carl replied, his voice low. "They've escalated their attacks. Dad wants you safe."

El, still processing the revelation about Carl's shadowing, felt a surge of conflicting emotions. The sense of danger was real, but so was the betrayal. She looked at Pip, seeing the same turmoil in his eyes.

"I am not going anywhere with you or near that man. I will be safe as long as you all keep away from me," Pip declared, his voice resolute.

Carl could have taken him by force; he was prepared for that. But seeing El gripping Pip's hand tightly, he realized she needed Pip's presence more than anything right now. The raw vulnerability in her eyes stopped him in his tracks. Carl sighed, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him.

"Alright, Pip. You win this round," Carl conceded reluctantly. "But I'll be back tomorrow, and we'll talk again. This isn't over."

Pip nodded curtly, knowing the conversation was far from finished. Carl turned to leave, casting one last concerned glance at El before disappearing down the street.

*****