Gotham

Hidden shadows and unspoken promises

I awoke to a silence so profound that, for a moment, I wondered if I had transcended into a dream. The absence of the New York chaos was startling, and it was only the soft chirping of birds outside the window that grounded me, reminding me where I was. Mystic. Aleksey's home. The memories of the previous evening flickered back: the warmth of his presence beside me, the flicker of the television casting soft shadows as we watched a movie, and the quiet contentment of drifting into sleep in a bed that wasn't mine, but one I was beginning to feel at home in.

The bed was enveloping, softer than I had expected, its warmth still clinging to me as I stretched languidly beneath the smooth sheets. A pale golden light streamed through the curtains, soft and gentle, as if even the sun in this place understood the need for peace. For a brief moment, I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind still tangled between sleep and wakefulness, my senses slowly reacquainting themselves with the world around me.

With a sigh, I rose from the bed, feeling the coolness of the wooden floor against my bare feet. The room around me was simple, yet elegant, every piece of furniture chosen with care. It was a reflection of Aleksey–minimalist but with an underlying depth, like someone who carries their history quietly but meaningfully. A large painting hung on one wall, abstract yet somehow evoking a feeling of the sea, and in the far corner, a well-worn chair sat beneath a tall reading lamp, inviting as though it had been the site of many quiet, contemplative nights.

I wandered to the window, parting the soft curtains, and the world beyond revealed itself in all its tranquil beauty. The garden below was alive with the colors of spring–roses, lavender, and other blooms I couldn't name–but their scent, even from behind glass, seemed to rise up and meet me. Beyond that, the landscape stretched into the rolling hills that cradled the town of Mystic, a place that, until now, had felt so foreign but was quickly transforming into something much more intimate.

After a quick shower, I felt more awake, more grounded. Yet, as I dried my hair, the quietness of the house settled into me. The bed was empty beside me, and though I had grown used to mornings of solitude, something about today felt different. Aleksey wasn't here. There was no note, no sound of movement in the other rooms. I wrapped the towel around myself and went to the door. Perhaps he was in the kitchen, making coffee–or at least that's what I hoped as I wandered the hallway in search of him.

But the house was still, too still, as though it had been holding its breath.

I passed a large closet, the door slightly ajar, its shadows spilling out into the dim light of the hallway. Something inside caught my eye. A dark space, almost like an opening–something that shouldn't have been there. I paused, curiosity tugging at me. It was the kind of curiosity you knew you shouldn't indulge, the kind that left you exposed, vulnerable to whatever you might uncover. Yet, I found myself stepping closer.

The air around me seemed to grow colder as I approached the closet. I hesitated for a moment, staring into the darkness that seemed to stretch endlessly behind the rows of neatly hung shirts. I wasn't sure what I expected to find–a storage room, perhaps, or some forgotten part of the house. But there was something off about the way the shadows played in the space. It was too deep, too dark.

My hand hovered over the edge of the opening, my heart quickening in a way that had nothing to do with the morning chill. I pressed my palm against the hidden door, pushing gently, and it gave way just slightly, enough for me to glimpse more of the darkness within.

And then–

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Rose."

I jumped, spinning around so fast that my breath caught in my throat. Aleksey stood in the doorway behind me, his expression unreadable, though a slight smile played on his lips. Relief washed over me, followed by a wave of embarrassment. I had been caught, like a child caught snooping in places she had no business being.