Dark Romance Chronicles: Secrets We Keep

The New York summer heat weighed heavily on Alisha Romonoff's shoulders as she stepped into the apartment building.

She wore a tight sundress that clung to her curves, regretting the choice as beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. Her excitement at starting a new life in the city kept her going, and she pushed open the entrance with a determined smile.

As she walked through the lobby, Alisha caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored walls. Her striking blue eyes shone with anticipation, and her long, dark hair framed her heart-shaped face in loose waves. Despite the heat, Alisha's makeup was flawless.

Alisha's mind raced with thoughts of the past and the secrets she had left behind. She was determined to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of fashion design, no matter what it took.

A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her of her privileged upbringing and the family she had left behind, but Alisha pushed those thoughts aside. She had to focus on the present and her future, even if it meant leaving her old life behind.

Alisha felt relief wash over her as she entered the lobby. "Don't let this shitty decor dampen your spirits," she told herself, determined to stay positive.

She had waited years for this moment and was excited to pursue her passion for fashion.

As she waited for the elevator, she whispered, "I hope my roommates aren't annoying. It would be a drag to deal with that on top of everything else."

Excitement filled Alisha as the elevator ascended to the fifth floor. The New York heat persisted, soaking her with sweat. She walked down the dingy hallway, observing the peeling paint and worn carpeting. The building was clean but lacked a welcoming feel.

She knocked on the door and was greeted by a short girl with bangs. The girl smiled widely and extended her hand. "Hey! I'm Maria, your new roommate," she said in an informal but friendly tone. "Come on in."

Alisha sized up Maria, taking in her messy hair and casual outfit. "Hmm, not exactly the most stylish roommate," she thought, but kept her thoughts to herself.

As Alisha made her way into the apartment, her eyes scanned the ground for any potential hazards. But she wasn't quick enough to dodge the stray sandal lying on the floor, and she stumbled, letting out a startled "woooahh!"

Maria flinched at the sound and quickly rushed to her side, asking in Spanish, "¿Estás bien?, I mean are you ok!" Alisha nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. 

Looking around the apartment, Alisha noted the cluttered shelves and mismatched furniture. "This place needs some serious style," she thought. But she kept her opinions to herself, not wanting to come off as rude or snobbish.

Alisha couldn't help but feel relieved as Maria directed her to her room, which was small but at least tidied.

As Maria offered to help her with unpacking, Alisha felt a small sense of gratitude.

"So, where are you from?" Maria asked with a friendly tone.

"I'm from a small town in Montana. I moved here to pursue my dreams of becoming a fashion designer," Alisha replied.

"Wow, that's exciting!" Maria exclaimed. "New York can be tough, but it's also full of opportunities. I'm sure you'll do great."

  Maria couldn't help but gossip. "By the way, watch out for Ashley, the on you are going to share room with, she's gorgeous but a total nightmare. I caught her trying to steal my clothes once. And Julia, she's too good to be true. Who voluntarily lives with roommates when they have a high-profile job like hers?"

Alisha raised her eyebrows, surprised by Maria's candor. She wondered if Maria was just being overly protective, or if there was something more to the story. "Thanks for the heads-up," Alisha said, trying to hide her unease.

Alisha smiled politely, not wanting to get involved in any drama. "Well, I'll reserve judgment until I meet everyone. I'm just excited to start this new chapter in my life," she said, hoping to change the subject.

Maria seemed to take the hint and gave Alisha a warm smile. "I'm so glad you're here, Alisha. I have a feeling we're going to be great roommates," she said, hugging Alisha tightly, and went outside of the room.

After unpacking for hours, Alisha finally emerged from her room to see Maria covered in flour. "What's going on?" Alisha asked, trying to suppress a laugh.

Maria explained that she was making a cake for Alisha, which Alisha found a bit odd. "I appreciate the gesture, but I hope this doesn't become a regular thing," she thought to herself.

As they were chatting, a woman in a purple suit walked in. Alisha couldn't help but notice her curly brown hair and attractive appearance. "Wow, she's gorgeous," Alisha thought to herself.

the woman walked in, while cracking her neck, she was looking visibly tired. She glanced at Alisha, and they exchanged smiles.

Suddenly, a glass shattered, making everyone flinch. Julia looked towards the kitchen and saw Maria making an actual mess of it. She exclaimed, "Maria!" Maria looked guilty and said, "Oh hey, Julia!" As she turned around, the whole pot came crashing down, and Maria barely escaped getting burned.

"Oh shit!" Julia exclaimed, "Are you okay?" Alisha also looked worried and went to check on Maria, who thankfully wasn't hurt. Julia surveyed the mess and was clearly annoyed.

In a low voice, she asked, "Hey, are you the new roommate?" Alisha nodded and introduced herself as Alisha Romanoff.

Julia pulled a smile and said, "Welcome, Alisha. Can you take her to the sofa? I'll clean it up." Alisha looked at her in surprise; Julia had just arrived and was obviously tired.

Maria, kept apologizing, while Julia, in her calm and collected voice, assured her that everything was okay.

Julia finished cleaning up the kitchen and joined Alisha and Maria at the table. Alisha, wanting to break the ice, asked, "So, where's Ashley?"

Julia responded, "Oh, she's still at work."

Maria added, "Yeah, she's some kind of IT specialist. She only texts me when she's off work."

Alisha nodded, impressed. "That's cool. What do you guys usually do for dinner?"

Julia suggested, "We usually take turns cooking, but since we're all tired tonight, let's order some delivery?"

Maria jumped in, "Ooh, I know a great pizza place from where we can order!"

Alisha rolled her eyes internally at Maria's eagerness but kept up her polite façade. "Sure, pizza sounds good."

After 30 minutes pizza arrived, and all three roommates started eating together on the dining table.

Maria launched into a story about a conversation she had with a friend. "And then I told him, 'I can't believe you actually said that!' And he just looked at me like I was crazy!"

Alisha tried to nod and smile politely, but her mind was elsewhere. Julia picked up her phone and took a call while eating, leaving Alisha to suffer through Maria's long-winded stories.

After a while, Julia finished her call and tried to redirect the conversation to Alisha. "So, Alisha, If you need any kind of help or any question you can ask me."

Alisha was relieved to have a chance to speak. "Oh, I sure will, thanks for asking."

Maria interrupted. "Hey, can we talk about something more fun? Like, have you guys seen the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy?"

Alisha sighed inwardly, knowing that the conversation would soon return to Maria's endless stories.

As the three of them were chatting, a phone call interrupted their conversation. Alisha's phone rang, and she hesitated before answering. Maria looked over, curious, and asked, "Who is it?"

Alisha shook her head. "I don't know. I've been getting these weird calls all morning."

Maria leaned in. "Put it on speaker. If it's some creep, we'll handle it."

Alisha hit the speaker button and answered the call. At first, there was only silence on the other end, but then a voice came through. It was deep and grim, and it sent shivers down Alisha's spine. "I will find you both, Alisha." the voice said.

Alisha's face turned pale as she recognized the voice. Fear gripped her heart, and she suddenly ended the call.

Julia noticed Alisha's distress and asked, "Are you okay?"

Alisha shook her head, unable to speak. Maria put a hand on her shoulder, offering comfort.

The three of them sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Then, without a word, they retreated to their respective rooms. Alisha's mind was racing, and she couldn't shake the feeling of danger that lingered in the air.

As Alisha lay in bed, her mind couldn't help but feel nervous about the call she received earlier in the day. It was from an unknown number, but she could hear breathing, his words that he will find them both.

Alisha had a strange feeling that made her uneasy, "What if it was him?" Suddenly, a creaking noise made her sit up straight. She strained to make out the source of the noise as a figure appeared in the doorway.

Her heart leaped into her throat, convinced it was an intruder. The figure stepped closer, and Alisha couldn't make out who it was in the dark.

Frozen in place, Alisha held her breath, waiting for the person to make a move. The silence in the room was deafening, and fear and confusion filled her mind.

She wanted to scream but was too scared to move. Alisha had no idea what to do next, praying that whoever it was wouldn't harm her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for the stranger to make a move.