Secrets In The Shadow

Zara fumbled with the strap of her bag as she entered the house, the echoes of her mother's argument with Greg still replaying in her head. Something wasn't adding up. Clara had always been fiercely protective of her father's memory, but her reaction to Greg earlier seemed… personal.

"Mom, do you have a minute?" Zara called out, dropping her bag by the door.

"In the kitchen, sweetheart!" Clara's voice carried a forced brightness.

Zara paused, watching her mother's figure as she prepared dinner. There was an uncharacteristic stiffness to her movements. Was it guilt? Or something deeper? Zara couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Clara was hiding something.

At school, Jake was waiting by Zara's locker, his sketchbook tucked under one arm.

"Hey," he said, offering her a lopsided grin. His green eyes sparkled with a mix of nervousness and determination.

"Hey," Zara replied, her thoughts still clouded with the morning's events.

Jake hesitated, then held out a small piece of paper. "I, uh… I drew this for you."

Curious, Zara unfolded it to reveal a beautifully detailed sketch of her standing by her locker, looking lost in thought. She glanced up at Jake, who was now scratching the back of his neck.

"It's not great or anything, but I figured… you've been kind of distant lately, and—"

"It's beautiful," Zara interrupted, her lips curving into a soft smile. For a moment, the tension in her chest eased.

But peace was fleeting.

"Wow, is this where the 'cool kids' hang out?" a voice interrupted.

They both turned to see a girl standing a few feet away, her wavy brown hair cascading over one shoulder. Her uniform was immaculate, but there was something off about her presence—an unsettling confidence that made Zara's skin prickle.

"I'm Lila," the girl said, extending a hand to Zara. "You're Zara, right? I've heard a lot about you."

"From who?" Zara asked, suspicious.

Lila tilted her head, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Oh, you know… people. Your family seems fascinating. Especially your father. Was he always interested in history?"

The question hit Zara like a slap. "Excuse me?"

Jake stepped closer, his protective instincts kicking in. "What's your deal?"

Lila just smirked and walked away, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

That evening, Zara couldn't shake the unease. The pieces weren't fitting together, and Greg was smack in the middle of the puzzle.

When Greg arrived, she decided to confront him.

"Why were you and Mom arguing earlier?" Zara demanded, blocking his path.

Greg hesitated, his face flickering with an emotion she couldn't quite place. "It's… complicated, Zara. Your mom and I are working through some things."

"Like what?" she pressed.

Before he could answer, Clara appeared. "Greg, you should go." Her tone was sharp, her expression unreadable.

Zara watched as Greg gave a curt nod and left, but not before exchanging a glance with Clara that made Zara's stomach twist.

Determined to get answers, Zara grabbed her jacket and slipped out the back door. She crouched low behind a hedge as Greg got into his car and drove off.

Her pulse raced as she followed on foot, keeping to the shadows. She didn't expect him to stop in a secluded alley downtown.

From her hiding spot, she saw another figure step out of the darkness. Walsh.

Zara's breath hitched.

"You're cutting it close," Walsh said, his voice low but urgent. "She's starting to suspect."

"I'm doing my best," Greg snapped. "But it's not easy when Clara's constantly on edge."

Walsh glanced around, his gaze almost landing on Zara's hiding spot. "We need to move faster. The clock's ticking."

Zara's heart thundered in her chest. What clock? What were they planning?