e the feeling that something was wrong somewhere. The quietness that fol

ed in the moonlight near the gate kept flashing in her mind. She couldn't help but replay the moment it had caught her eye, as if it had been waiting there for her to find it. Her heart sank as memories she had long buried began to surface.A time where everything had seemed so much simpler , and she didn't have to live in constant fear of the past catching up with her. As everywhere was quiet, the weight of what the

drifting to his toy cars scattered around him. He had his favourite car in his hand, the one he called his "Fastest car", and was pretending it was racing across the room. He didn't seem to notice his mother's unease, too carried away in his game to care about the tension hanging in the air. Daniela couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong . Some

s.A chill ran down her spine. Could it be Alexander returning? Maybe he had probably forgotten something.or maybe it was someone else that was at the gate. She stood frozen for

nst the wooden floor . Each footsteps felt heavier than the last, each one weighted with uncertainty. Sh

her skin as she stepped outside . There was nothing at first- no movement, no

A small basket sat just beyond the threshold, bathed in the faint glow of the porch light. H

been the

stretched long and still under the streetlights, and the night remained eer

g on the doorframe. The basket looked harmless, even thought

, but it was heavy enough when she lifted it. She held it at arm's

ticed a small tag tied to the ribbon. Her stomach

No

the tag and focused on the contents of the basket. Slowly, she untied the ribbon

, each one intricately decorated and perfectly arranged. They looked fresh, t

e cookies, hesitating as doubt filled her mind. W

d to see Noah rubbing his sleepy eyes as he wandered i

claimed, his little h

rper than she intended, and Noah froze,

asked, his

from the basket. "These aren't safe, sweet

e," he insisted, p

about them to leave a gift specifically for her

rrangement now feeling sinister, like bait in a trap. Daniela stood abruptly, her

ed the lid of the trash bin and tossed the basket inside. Th

h started, his lo

. "We can't take chances with somethi

with a disappointed sigh. Daniela leaned against the

ase wouldn'

she had heard earlier now felt louder in her mind, like a haunting echo. An

oever had left the ba

ill out ther