Maria's worry

"I'll go, just stop with that sap story again," Sam said, walking out to call Susan. Rita watched him leave, wondering, "They used to stick together. What happened between them?"

In front of Susan's house, Sam hesitated, glancing at the door with a hint of anxiety. "Why do I have to do this?" he murmured, ringing the doorbell and waiting for a response. When no one answered, Sam murmured, "Just open the door," and turned to leave.

"Who's there?" came a voice from inside the house. Sam shivered at the sound—it wasn't Susan. The voice was rough and unfamiliar.

"I'm Sam, Susan's neighbor. My mom called her for breakfast," he said, waiting for the door to open. Instead, he heard, "She is sleeping."

Sam stood there for a moment before saying, "Okay, I'll get going then." As he walked away, he felt a chill run down his spine. With a calm expression, he glanced up at the second-floor window and saw a shadowy figure behind the curtain, only their eyes visible in the darkness.

"Who was that? Is it happening again? I better meet with Maria," Sam thought.

Meanwhile, Maria freshened up, sat on her bed, and glanced at a photo of Susan on the table. She reflected on how much happier Susan once was compared to her current state.

As Maria prepared to go out for a walk, her phone rang. "Hello, Maria? It's Sam."

"Hi Sam, how have you been?" Maria replied. She and Sam had become acquainted through Susan.

"Yeah, I'm doing okay. Maria, do you think she's alright?" Sam asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Why, Did something happen?" Maria asked, her concern evident as she realized Sam was referring to Susan.

Sam hesitated before responding. "I think it's happening again."

"Sam, you need to tell me everything," Maria insisted, her tone urgent.

Sam took a deep breath.

"Today when I went to check on her, it felt like she wasn't alone. There was a rough, unfamiliar voice saying she was sleeping. I saw a shadowy figure behind the curtain on the second floor. I couldn't make out who it was, but It was watching me."

"Maria, has she been visiting the hospital recently?" Sam asked, frowning.

"I don't think so, but I'll look into it," Maria replied before ending the call.

Maria immediately began searching her phone for any recent hospital visits by Susan. She hesitated before scrolling to a number she hadn't called in a year. Knowing this person could provide answers, she took a deep breath and dialed.

After a few rings "Hi, it's Maria, Susan's friend," Maria said.

"Hi Maria, it's been a while. How's everything?" came the friendly reply.

"I'm calling about Susan. Has she been visiting the hospital recently?" Maria asked.

There was a brief pause before the voice responded with concern, "No, she hasn't. Is everything okay?"

Maria hesitated, unsure how much to disclose. "Is it her health again?" the voice asked, now tinged with worry.

"Everything is okay. She's just been feeling down for a few days. I'll call again later," Maria said before hanging up.

Determined to get to the bottom of things, Maria decided to visit Susan's house herself. She needed to see Susan face-to-face to assess the situation.

Arriving at Susan's doorstep, Maria took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, Susan opened the door, looking surprised to see Maria.

"Maria, hi," Susan greeted cautiously.

"Should I force my way in, or are you inviting me?" Maria said playfully, though her concern was evident.

As Maria entered the house, her heart sank. The once vibrant and welcoming home now appeared somber and closed off. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out the sunlight that used to illuminate Susan's living room.

"Was someone here? Sam called me this morning and said you had a guest," Maria asked casually, hoping someone was still around.

"Yes, I had a guest," Susan replied with a smile, indicating her happiness.

Maria's pulse quickened. "Who was it?"

"It was Josse," Susan said with a beaming smile.

Maria's heart skipped a beat. The mention of Josse stirred up a mix of fear and uncertainty. She struggled to maintain her composure, her mind racing with questions.

"Josse?" Maria managed to say, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay calm.

Susan nodded, unaware of Maria's turmoil. "Yes, Josse came by to visit. It was nice to see him again."

Maria forced a smile. "Okay, I'll get going," she said abruptly, her words rushed. "I just wanted to drop by."

Without waiting for Susan's response, Maria turned and quickly left the house. Her thoughts were jumbled as she hurried back to her car, needing to process what she had just heard and the implications for Susan's well-being.

As she drove away, Maria gripped the steering wheel tightly, replaying the conversation in her mind and trying to decipher Susan's demeanor and the significance of Josse's visit.

Meanwhile, Sam paced in his living room, his mind swirling with concern for Susan. He couldn't shake off the eerie feeling from earlier—the strange voice, Susan's distant demeanor. It all seemed connected somehow, but he couldn't quite piece it together.