Chapter 4

A six-year-old Sandra ran frantically through a dark tunnel, screaming and crying as a mysterious man chased after her. Her small legs ached with exhaustion, but she couldn’t stop... not now. She couldn’t let the man catch her.

Up ahead, a glimmer of light broke through the darkness. Instead of giving in to her fatigue, she pushed herself to run faster.

She burst out of the narrow, suffocating tunnel…only to freeze in shock at the sight before her. Lying on the grass were the bloodied bodies of her parents… and the man who had been chasing her.

She shook her parents’ bodies. “Mom, Dad… wake up.”

Her cries broke into a wail and then, once again, the world went dark. She was back inside the tunnel.

She tried to stand and run, but her feet wouldn’t move. Terror crept over her face as a bloodied teenage boy emerged from the shadows, slowly moving toward her, calling her name.

Paralyzed, she could do nothing but let out a scream so loud it carried every ounce of fear in her body.

"AAAAAAHH!"

Sandra jolted upright in bed, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. Sweat clung to her skin, dampening her forehead. She pushed herself to her feet, weak and trembling, one hand braced against the wall as she slowly made her way out of the bedroom in search of something to drink.

Her hands trembled as she flicked on every light she passed. Finally reaching the kitchen, she grabbed a glass and drank water in desperate, unbroken gulps.

She walked back and forth in the living room, trying to shake off the fear. She grabbed her phone to call Jessica but she didn’t answer.

It had been a long time since she’d last had a nightmare, which only made her anxiety grow. Was this the start of another stretch of sleepless nights filled with haunting dreams?

It was only ten in the evening. And it’s going to be hard to fall sleepy again. She’s also hesitant to return to bed, afraid the nightmare would find her again. She wanted someone to talk to, but Jessica was nowhere to be reached.

She decided to get some air instead. Pulling on a pair of rubber shoes and threw a hoodie over her sleep shirt and sweatpants. She made her way up to the rooftop, knowing that in high-end condominiums like this, there was often a beautiful view.

There, she was greeted by the sight of a large swimming pool, its waters glowing with a cascade of colors from the lights beneath its surface.

The rooftop was quiet and empty. She walked slowly across the elegant, expansive space, letting her fingers brush lightly over each plant she passed. From where she stood, she could see nearly the whole of New York. And while the darkness in her heart weighed heavy in that moment, the city’s dazzling lights seemed to sparkle all the brighter against it.

A cool breeze swept across her face, and she closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Almost instantly, a small sense of relief loosened the tightness in her chest.

When she finally tore her gaze away from the dazzling cityscape, she turned toward the elevator. But just as she was about to step inside, a faint sound caught her attention.

It came from the gym, located at the far-left end of the rooftop, just past the long swimming pool.

Curiosity tugged at her, and she made her way toward it. She peeked through the slightly open door, and when she saw no one inside, she gathered the courage to enter. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the sleek, state-of-the-art equipment.

She heard another loud thud. Her eyes shifted toward a large, enclosed room with wide glass windows.

Curious, she walked over and peered inside.

It was a basketball court, and two men were playing. Both were tall, easily over six feet, perhaps closer to seven.

The two were locked in a one-on-one match. Both played impressively, and she found herself entertained just watching them. One of them moved with incredible speed, dribbling the ball effortlessly. His dunks were flawless, his shots precise, never missing the mark. It was as if she were watching a high-level exhibition game.

As the ball moved before her eyes, it stirred a memory…her own fondness for basketball when she was younger. She became so absorbed in watching that she didn’t even realize she had already stepped inside the basketball court.

Unaware that a pair of eyes had been quietly watching them, Jerome and Justin stayed focused on their practice.

Jerome dribbled, driving hard toward the basket but Justin caught up with him. With a powerful swipe, Justin smacked the ball just as it was about to go in. The force sent it flying across the court…straight toward where Sandra was standing.

She froze for a split second, her eyes widening in alarm as the speeding ball hurtled toward her face. Panic flashed through her, but she refused to let it hit her. With a swift motion, she raised her right hand and caught the ball just inches from her face.

Jerome and Justin stared in surprise at what they had just witnessed.

For a moment, Sandra stood frozen, her arm still raised, the ball gripped firmly in her hand. Then, as reality caught up with her, embarrassment rushed in. She quickly tossed the ball back to the more skilled player and bolted out of the court.

"Who was that?" Justin asked, brows furrowed, glancing at his equally stunned friend.

"I have no idea," Jerome replied, shaking his head, still slightly dazed.

Jerome quickly sprinted out of the court to follow the woman, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Did you see her?" Justin asked eagerly when Jerome returned.

"No. Who could she be?" Jerome said, puzzled.

"Maybe she’s one of your obsessed fans," Justin suggested, then paused in thought. "But that’s impossible, the security here is too tight for anyone to just slip in. Did you get a good look at her? I couldn’t see her face. The ball blocked it."

"I didn’t see her either, bro."

The only details that stuck in Jerome’s mind were that she had been wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, stood around five-foot-six, and had a slender build.

"Maybe she was a spy sent by a rival team. She looked like she knew basketball, she caught that ball like a pro," Jerome joked, before picking up the game where they left off.