Chapter 1

I was walking through the dark space. I didn't know where or when I was, but I was in a place where there were no people. I didn’t know where I was going, or if I even had a destination—until I heard someone calling me, my name.

“Eli.”

I looked around and saw no one.

“Eli.”

I heard it again—that soft voice calling me.

“Eli.”

As I walked through the darkness, the voice grew closer and clearer, and suddenly, I could see a light.

I don’t know what came over me, but I suddenly started running toward the light like a child overjoyed to see their parents.

I ran until I reached the light, and when I opened my eyes, I was in a room.

“This looks familiar,” I said to myself as I looked around. My mind was still trying to process everything when someone called me again.

“Eli.” I turned toward the voice—and tears welled up in my eyes when I saw who it was.

“Eli?” she asked with concern as she approached me.

“Baby, are you okay? What’s wrong?” she asked again and again.

I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t believe I was seeing this person again—the one I thought I had lost forever.

“Mommy,” I said as I hugged her tightly.

God, if this is a dream, please don’t wake me up.

“El, what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy that you got invited to your friend’s birthday party?” she asked.

“Birthday party…?” I asked in confusion.

“Yes, don’t you remember? The whole class was invited this year. You were excited just minutes ago,” she said.

Still confused, I looked around the room again.

**December 10, 2013**

“Rowan’s birthday party…”

“Yes, baby. Rowan’s birthday party,” she said.

I was hesitant to go. I didn’t want to go.

“Mommy, can I just stay here instead? I’ll help you around the house,” I said.

“Aww, that’s so sweet of you, baby. But you can go have fun, mommy will be okay,” she answered with a smile.

I kept staring at the calendar. I needed a plan.

I want to save her.

I want to save my mom.

I looked at my mom again, and suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew from somewhere. I turned toward where it might have come from, and when I turned back to look at my mom—the place had changed.

People were everywhere. Police surrounded our house.

I felt a heaviness in my chest when I saw my mom’s body.

She’s dead.

Someone killed her and I wasn’t there to save her.

I didn’t know what to do. Then I suddenly heard a voice.

“Elise.”

“Elise.”

“Ms. Elise.”

“Ms.”

I opened my eyes and realized—it was all just a dream. Me hugging my mom was just a dream.

I groaned before sitting up and asking the maid what time it was.

“It’s already 6:40, Ma’am,” she replied.

I took a deep breath and sighed.

“Oh, and Ma’am, Sir Damian said he’ll be home soon and wants you at the office before 7:30. Your medicine is also on your bedside table,” she added.

I looked at the table and saw the tablets and a glass of water.

“Okay, prepare my breakfast. I’ll be done in a few minutes,” I told her.

She immediately left my room.

I took the medicine from the table and then went into the bathroom to shower.

“Damian is such a pain—those medicines are all pain in the ***,” I muttered in irritation.

After showering and getting dressed, I went downstairs to eat.

Food, tea, and a newspaper were on the table.

“Did Damian leave any other instructions?” I asked the maid while reading the paper.

“None, Ma’am. He just said not to be late,” she replied.

I didn’t respond and just continued eating.

After breakfast, I headed straight to my car to drive to the police station where I work. Just a few minutes into the drive, my adoptive father (Damian Reyes) called me.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Elise. Are you on your way to the office?”

“Yes, I’m on my way,” I replied briefly.

“Good. I’m on my way too, but I’m stuck in traffic.”

“I’ll meet you there then.” I hung up immediately since I was still driving.

When I arrived at the office, my team greeted me.

“Good morning, Elise,” said Theo.

“Morning.”

“Good morning, Captain. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” Nia asked.

“Nightmare,” I answered briefly.

“Good morning, Captain,” greeted Riley and Kenji as they handed me coffee.

“What’s this for? A bribe?” I asked.

“We got you your favorite,” they said with a smile.

The last to greet me was Ava, who had just come out of the office.

“Oh, Captain! Glad you’re here. Sir Damian is already here and looking for you,” she said.

“Is he mad?” I asked.

“Well—” she was about to answer when Damian suddenly came out of his office looking for me.

“Is Elise here already?” he asked loudly.

“I just got here, sir,” I replied as I approached his office.

“I said don’t be late,” he said.

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