Chapter Three

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The rain hammered down like an army of relentless drums as Cassie and Ellen sprinted through the narrow streets, adrenaline coursing through their veins. The alley's darkness closed in behind them, but Cassie pushed forward, fueled by fear and confusion.

"Where do we go now?" Ellen gasped, her hair soaked and clinging to her forehead.

"I don't know!" Cassie admitted, her mind racing. The image of the man's intense gaze haunted her. "We just need to get somewhere safe."

They turned a corner, desperation driving them toward Cassie's home. As they approached the small, familiar building, Cassie felt a wave of conflicting emotions. Shouldn't she feel safe here? Yet, uncertainty coiled in her stomach.

"We can hide at your place," Ellen suggested, her voice shaky. "Your mom is home, right? She'll know what to do."

"Yes, she'll know," Cassie whispered, almost to herself, as they hurried up the porch steps. The smell of rain-soaked pavement mingled with a rich, savory aroma wafting from inside-a stark contrast to the turmoil outside.

Cassie opened the door, the warmth of the kitchen greeting them like a hug. The comforting scent of spices enveloped her, instantly reminding her of the evenings spent at the kitchen table, sharing stories and laughter with her mother.

"Mom?" Cassie called out, stepping inside, her heart pounding. "I'm home!"

"In here, sweetheart!" her mother's voice rang out cheerfully from the kitchen. The sight of her mother, vibrant and busy stirring a pot, struck Cassie like a punch to the gut.

Her mother looked up, a smile spreading across her face. "There you are! I was beginning to worry! How was your day?"

Confusion crashed over Cassie like a wave. "You're... cooking?" She could hardly grasp the normalcy of the scene. "I thought you were..."

Her mother's brow furrowed with concern. "What do you mean? I'm always cooking at this time. Is everything okay?"

Ellen exchanged a worried glance with Cassie, stepping further into the kitchen as the aroma of spices filled the air. "We had a bit of a scare," she said cautiously, her voice lowering. "There was... an incident at the café."

Cassie's mother straightened, her expression shifting from warm to worried. "What happened? Are you both okay?"

Cassie took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Some guy was looking for me. He said he knew something about you. Something important."

Her mother's face paled, the spatula in her hand clattering onto the counter. "What? Who was he?"

"I don't know!" Cassie cried, frustration bubbling up. "He said I didn't know the truth about you. He acted like I needed to hear something... urgent."

Her mother turned away, a shadow passing over her features. "I don't want you involved in this, Cassie. It's not safe. You need to forget whatever he said."

"Forget? Mom, that's not how this works!" Cassie felt a knot tightening in her stomach, the earlier warmth of the kitchen turning cold. "Why are you acting like this? Who is he? What's going on?"

As her mother hesitated, Cassie took a step forward, desperation clawing at her. "Just tell me the truth! Why would someone say those things about you? I need to know."

In that moment, her mother's facade cracked. The weariness in her eyes revealed a depth of pain and secrets she had always hidden. "Cassie, there are things from my past that you're not ready to understand. Things I've tried to protect you from."

Cassie felt a rush of emotions-betrayal, confusion, and anger all mingled into one. "Protect me? You mean lie to me? You've always told me everything, and now I find out that there are secrets?"

Before her mother could respond, the door creaked open behind them, causing both Cassie and Ellen to turn. A figure emerged from the shadows, and Cassie's breath caught in her throat.

It was the man from the café.

"Cassie," he said, his voice a low whisper filled with urgency. "We don't have much time."

"Get away from her!" her mother shouted, stepping protectively in front of Cassie.

The man raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here to help, but we need to leave-now."

"Help?" Cassie scoffed, her heart racing again. "Help with what? You're the one who caused chaos back at the café! You can't just barge in here like this!"

"Listen to me!" he urged, desperation leaking into his tone. "I know the truth about your mother, but it's not safe for you here. Jessie's coming. She knows you're here."

Cassie's heart sank. "How do you know Jessie?"

"I know more than you think," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "And I can explain everything, but we have to leave now. If Jessie finds you..."

Her mother's voice trembled as she spoke, "No. You will not take her anywhere."

Cassie felt torn, her heart racing between trust and fear. "Mom, please. I need to know what's going on. If he knows something, I can't just ignore it."

The man's gaze softened as he looked between them. "You don't have to trust me right now, but you'll have to trust that I'm trying to protect you both."

As the tension thickened in the air, the door creaked open wider, and the sound of footsteps echoed ominously outside. Cassie's breath hitched as the door trembled against the pressure.

"Time's running out," the man urged, glancing anxiously at the door.

Just then, the smell of smoke wafted into the kitchen, sharp and acrid. "Oh no!" her mother cried, rushing toward the stove as flames flickered in the pot.

"Mom!" Cassie shouted, her heart racing. "Focus!"

As her mother dealt with the stove, Cassie's instincts kicked in. She grabbed Ellen's arm and pulled her close. "We need to make a choice-now."

The man stepped closer, urgency etched on his face. "We can't stay here. If Jessie's on her way, we're running out of time."

Cassie nodded, adrenaline spiking. "Let's go!"

In a blur, they darted toward the back door, Cassie's heart pounding as she glanced back at her mother. "I'll be back! I promise!"

The man ushered them outside, rain soaking them instantly, a world of chaos swirling around them. Cassie felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down as they fled into the darkness, her mother's voice fading behind them.

As they ran, Cassie couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change forever-shrouded in secrets, danger, and the truth that awaited her in the shadows.

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To Be Continued...

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