The Devil In Disguise

Morning Secrets

The early morning light filtered softly through the windows as Gianina sat alone at the dining room table, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of hot apple cider. She hadn't slept at all. The events of the previous night had played over and over in her mind, each detail more vivid than the last. She reached up, her fingers grazing the silver locket that hung around her neck—a gift from him, the masked figure. It felt heavy against her chest, a reminder that she hadn't imagined the encounter, that the whole night hadn't been some twisted dream.

The house was silent, everyone else still asleep as she sat there, lost in thought. She could still feel the ghost of his touch, the way his hands had lingered as he'd clasped the necklace around her neck, his words echoing in her mind. "You're mine, GG... You'll understand soon enough." She shivered, taking a long sip from her mug, trying to steady herself.

Footsteps sounded from the stairwell, and she quickly dropped her hand from the locket, forcing herself to appear casual. Mary shuffled into the kitchen, looking bleary-eyed and half-awake as she poured herself a bowl of cereal and sat down across from Gianina.

"Morning, GG," she murmured through a yawn.

"Morning," Gianina replied, offering her a small smile. She tried to act normal, but she could feel her heartbeat quickening, the weight of the locket tugging at her every time she moved.

More footsteps followed, and Cal appeared next, his gaze falling on Gianina immediately. He came up behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders as he leaned down to press a light kiss on the top of her head.

"Good morning," he murmured softly.

Her breath caught. His touch felt too familiar, too much like the way the masked figure's hands had lingered the night before. She tensed, the memory so vivid it was almost like reliving it. Cal's hands slid from her shoulders, and he walked over to Mary, placing a quick kiss on her head, but his attention lingered a beat longer on Gianina as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Does he know? she wondered, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. His face was unreadable, his gaze lingering on her only for a moment before he took a seat across the table.

Rufus appeared next, stretching as he made his way to the table. Mary poured him a bowl of cereal, flashing him a warm smile as he leaned down to kiss her good morning. Gianina watched them, feeling a pang of envy at their effortless connection, their easy affection. She wondered if they noticed anything unusual about her, if the locket drew as much attention as it felt like it did.

Finally, Marcus joined them, his hair tousled from sleep as he walked over to her and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispered, sliding into the chair beside her and draping his arm around her shoulders.

"Morning," she replied, managing a small smile. His presence was comforting, grounding her amid the chaos swirling in her mind.

Marcus reached for the cereal box, tugging it over from Rufus with a teasing grin. "Gotta claim this before you finish it all, man."

Rufus rolled his eyes, muttering something playful under his breath as he continued eating, and the table filled with laughter as they exchanged lighthearted banter. Gianina let out a quiet breath, grateful for the momentary distraction, though she couldn't shake the feeling of Cal's gaze on her, the way he seemed to be studying her every movement.

As the laughter died down, Marcus glanced at her, his eyes drifting to the silver chain around her neck. His brow furrowed slightly, and he reached out, his fingers brushing against the locket. "What's this?" he asked, his voice curious but cautious.

Gianina's heart skipped a beat, panic flaring within her. She'd almost forgotten the locket's presence, how obvious it must look against her shirt. She felt everyone's attention shift to her, and she swallowed, forcing herself to meet Marcus's gaze.

"It's... it was a gift," she said slowly, her voice steadying as she continued. "I... I was told to wear it."

Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand lingering on the locket as he studied her face. "Who gave it to you?" he asked, his tone gentle but probing.

She hesitated, a dozen explanations flashing through her mind, none of them convincing. She looked down, her fingers clutching her mug as she tried to keep her voice steady. "I... don't know exactly who gave it to me," she admitted, choosing her words carefully. "It just... appeared."

Across the table, Cal was watching her intently, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place. He sipped his coffee, his gaze never leaving her, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

"You don't know who gave it to you?" Marcus asked, his brow furrowing deeper. "But you're wearing it?"

Gianina managed a nod, her heart racing as she clutched the edge of her mug. "It... felt important," she said, barely above a whisper. "Like something I needed to keep close."

Cal's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, and he set down his coffee mug, leaning back in his chair as he studied her. "Seems like someone's got a secret admirer," he remarked, his tone light but with an edge that sent a chill down her spine. "Interesting taste, too."

Mary looked at Gianina, her eyes wide with curiosity. "GG, you didn't mention a secret admirer," she teased. "Who's the mystery man?"

Gianina forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing like that," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "It's just... just a strange gift, I guess."

She could feel Cal's gaze still fixed on her, his expression unreadable as he took another sip of his coffee. She glanced over at him, her stomach twisting as he gave her a slight nod, almost as if to say he understood more than he was letting on.

Rufus broke the tension with a laugh, nudging Marcus as he held out the cereal box. "Careful, Marcus, looks like you've got competition for GG's attention."

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head as he gave Gianina a playful look. "Guess I'll have to up my game," he said, though she could see the flicker of concern in his eyes.

She managed a smile, but her heart was still racing, the weight of the locket pressing against her chest like a lead weight. She could still feel Cal's gaze on her, watching her every move with a sharp, calculating expression that made her stomach twist. She felt as though he knew more than he was letting on, as though he'd guessed the truth behind the gift she'd been told to wear.

The group's laughter and conversation filled the room, but Gianina felt detached, as if she were watching it all from a distance. She glanced down at the locket again, her fingers brushing over the cool surface as Marcus's hand found hers under the table, giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze.

"You sure you're okay?" he murmured softly, his voice laced with concern. "You seem... distracted."

She nodded quickly, managing a smile as she leaned into him. "Yeah, just... just didn't sleep well," she replied, forcing herself to sound casual. But even as she said the words, the memory of the killer's voice echoed in her mind.

"You're mine, GG. This story only ends one way."

Across the table, Cal's gaze lingered on her, his eyes filled with a dark, knowing gleam that made her skin crawl. She looked away, gripping Marcus's hand tightly as she tried to ignore the feeling of dread that settled over her.

The morning went on, the group falling back into their usual banter, but Gianina couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, that her secret was no longer entirely hers. And as Cal watched her from across the table, his gaze filled with unspoken secrets, she realized that this was only the beginning. The gift she'd been told to wear was more than just a locket; it was a mark, a reminder that no matter where she went, the masked figure would be watching her... waiting.