Unknown Pregnancy
Episode 2
Sandra settled into her aunt’s house, which was much larger and more comfortable than the small home she had shared with her mother. Her aunt, true to her word, had given her a room of her own. It was a cozy space with a soft bed, a small desk for studying, and a window that overlooked the garden. However, the room’s next to Mark’s room made her uneasy.
Aunt Lydia’s husband, Mr. Thompson, was often away on business trips, leaving the house mostly to Sandra, her aunt, and Mark. Sandra soon noticed that Mr. Thompson was a frequent traveler, rarely spending more than a few days at home before he was off again. “He’s always been like this,” Aunt Lydia had explained one evening over dinner. “Business keeps him busy, but he sends his love.”
Mark, on the other hand, was almost always around. He was polite enough, greeting her with a nod or a small smile whenever they crossed paths, but something about his presence unsettled her. She often caught him staring at her from across the room, his gaze staring longer than it should.
One evening, as Sandra was arranging her textbooks on the desk, she noticed Mark standing in the hallway, his eyes fixed on her through the open door. She pretended not to see him and continued with her work, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. There was something about his gaze that made her feel vulnerable, like she was being watched too closely.
At dinner that night, Sandra couldn’t help but feel Mark’s eyes on her as she ate. It was as if he was studying her every move, and it made her increasingly uncomfortable. “Aunt Lydia,” she began cautiously, “how long will Mark be staying here?”
Aunt Lydia looked up from her plate, surprised by the question. “Oh, Mark? He’ll be with us for quite a long time, I think. His mother is my very close friend. Why do you ask?”
“No reason, really,” Sandra replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Just curious.”
But as the days passed, Sandra’s discomfort grew. Every time she walked down the hallway or entered a room, she felt Mark’s presence, as if he were always lurking nearby. She tried to focus on her studies, but the uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away. She found herself avoiding the common areas of the house, preferring to stay in her room with the door closed.
One afternoon, as Sandra was reading on her bed, she heard a soft knock on her door. “Come in,” she called, expecting it to be Aunt Lydia. But it was Mark, standing in the doorway with that same intense look in his eyes.
Sandra quickly grew adapted to the rhythms of her new home. Aunt Lydia and her best friend, Mrs. Allen, who was also Mark’s mother, were inseparable. They would often go out together for shopping, luncheons, or just to catch up on life. Their laughter would echo through the house as they prepared to leave, leaving Sandra alone with Mark more often than she liked.
“Sandra, we’re heading out for a bit,” Aunt Lydia called one afternoon as she grabbed her purse. Mrs. Allen stood by the door, smiling warmly at Sandra. “We won’t be long. If you need anything, Mark’s here.”
Sandra forced a smile. “Okay, Aunt Lydia. Have fun.” But inside, her heart sank. Being left alone with Mark always made her uneasy. There was something about the way he watched her, like a predator waiting for the right moment.
As soon as they left, the house fell silent, except for the ticking of the clock in the hallway. Sandra decided to take a long bath to relax and try to shake off the creeping sense of dread. She gathered her clothes and a towel and headed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
The warm water was soothing, and for a moment, Sandra allowed herself to relax. She let the water run over her, washing away the tension that had been building up inside her. But just as she was rinsing the shampoo from her hair, she heard a voice outside the bathroom door.
“Come out quick, I’m waiting for you,” Mark said, his tone low but sounded dead serious and dreadful.
To Be Continued
