CRIMSON DEVOTION

Five years had passed since Emily fled her old life, bringing her daughter, Molly, into the world. Molly was the embodiment of everything Emily loved—bright, cheerful, with an inquisitive mind that charmed everyone around her. Her laughter was a balm for Emily's soul, a constant reminder of why she had to keep moving forward. Naming her daughter "Molly" had been a tribute to the only person who had once stood fiercely by her side—Morgan. It was a secret Emily kept close to her heart, a silent homage to the woman who had loved her in the shadows.

Molly thrived at school, winning over her teachers and classmates alike with her intelligence and playful spirit. She loved playing with her stuffed bunny, Evy, and was the kind of child who could light up a room with her smile. Her mind was sharp beyond her years, and she often left her teachers in awe with her observations and wit. Emily had built a quiet life here, doing her best to create a safe, nurturing environment for Molly, free from the dark memories of her past.

Though moving forward was difficult, Pierre had been her anchor. Her neighbor had seamlessly slipped into their lives, becoming not just her friend but also a father figure to Molly. He had a quiet strength and a gentle heart, qualities that brought a sense of peace Emily hadn't known in years. Slowly, she found herself opening up to him, allowing herself to imagine a life where she didn't have to look over her shoulder.

One day, as Emily picked up Molly from school, she spotted her daughter racing towards her, her little face lit up with joy. Molly leaped into her arms, chattering about her day, recounting her latest art project and how she had helped her teacher organize the classroom. As they walked home, Molly's voice took on a new level of excitement as she mentioned, "Oh, Mommy, I made a new friend today!"

Emily smiled, listening as Molly continued. "Her name is Morgan! She's so nice and funny, and she even knows how to play hopscotch!"

The name hit Emily like a thunderbolt. Her smile faltered, and her pulse quickened. Morgan? She struggled to keep her voice steady, forcing herself to ask casually, "Oh, honey… Morgan? Is she a new student?"

Molly nodded enthusiastically, but then tilted her head. "Well… I don't see her in class, but she's there sometimes at recess! She said she's my special friend, and that she knows how to keep secrets." Molly giggled, clearly thrilled by this mysterious new friendship.

Emily's heart pounded in her chest, every instinct screaming that something was wrong. Morgan had been her secret, her protector, her shadow… could it really be just a coincidence? She glanced around, her eyes searching the quiet street, every shadow seeming to hold a hidden threat. But no one was watching, no figure lurking in the distance.

That night, after tucking Molly into bed, Emily sat at her kitchen table, a sense of dread curling in her stomach. She told herself that it was all in her mind—that "Morgan" was just a name, and this was just a child's imaginary friend. But the memories kept clawing at her, a whisper from the past that refused to let her go. She felt Pierre's comforting hand on her shoulder, and she forced a smile, grateful for his steady presence.

---

The next day, Emily couldn't resist her curiosity. She went to Molly's school early, intending to talk to the teachers. When she mentioned Molly's friend Morgan, one teacher gave a puzzled smile and said, "Oh, I haven't seen anyone named Morgan, but Molly is a creative child. Maybe she's just invented a new friend."

The words should have been comforting, yet Emily couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was at play. As she walked out of the school, a familiar scent drifted past her—a perfume she hadn't smelled in years, one she'd associated with safety and fear all at once. She spun around, but the hallway was empty.

That night, as she lay in bed, she could have sworn she heard a faint whisper in her ear. "For Molly…"

Was Morgan truly gone? Or had the shadow she thought she'd left behind found its way back into her life, hiding once again in the corners of her world?

Emily's only hope now was to keep Molly safe, whatever the cost.

Over the next few days, Emily tried to dismiss her concerns, telling herself it was only her imagination playing tricks on her. Yet, a nagging unease gnawed at her, and she began noticing oddities she couldn't ignore. Small things would go missing in her apartment—a pair of keys, a picture of Molly, a bracelet Pierre had gifted her. Each time, she brushed it off as forgetfulness, trying to convince herself she was simply stressed.

One evening, while preparing dinner, she heard Molly giggling alone in her room. Emily peeked in, expecting to find her daughter playing with her toys, but instead, Molly was sitting by the window, speaking in hushed tones as if in conversation.

"Molly?" Emily called softly, her voice tight.

Molly looked up with an innocent smile. "Oh, hi, Mommy! Morgan's teaching me a game. She said it's one you used to play when you were little."

A chill ran down Emily's spine. How could Molly know? She forced a smile, hiding the panic twisting in her gut. "That sounds… fun, sweetheart."

---

That night, unable to shake the feeling of being watched, Emily found herself lying awake, her mind racing through memories she'd buried long ago. She thought of the moments she had shared with Morgan, the secrets they had kept, and the ways Morgan had protected her—often by crossing lines Emily hadn't dared to imagine. And now, it seemed as though those shadows from her past were resurfacing, creeping into her daughter's life.

The next morning, Emily walked Molly to school herself, scanning the faces of other parents, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She stayed longer than usual, watching from her car, but saw no one suspicious. As she drove away, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching her from a distance.

---

That night, while Emily was getting ready for bed, she found a small, worn photograph lying on her pillow. It was a picture she hadn't seen in years—one of her and Morgan, taken long before everything had gone wrong. She hadn't kept any photos of Morgan, yet here it was, a silent message that seemed to taunt her. Her hands trembled as she stared at it, wondering how it had ended up in her room.

In a panic, Emily called Pierre, her voice shaking. "Pierre, I think someone's been in my apartment. I don't feel safe here… not anymore."

Pierre was at her door within minutes, wrapping her in a comforting embrace. "I'm here, Emily. Whatever's going on, we'll face it together."

As they sat together on the couch, Emily confessed everything about her past, the connection with Morgan, and the terrifying notion that her daughter's new "friend" might be more than an imaginary companion.

Pierre listened quietly, his face a mix of concern and determination. "Maybe… maybe we need to get to the bottom of this. Let's see if we can find anything about this 'Morgan' Molly's been talking to."

They decided to set up a small camera in Molly's room that night, hoping it would capture anything unusual. Emily was hesitant, feeling as though she were crossing a line, but her need to protect Molly outweighed any reservations.

The next morning, as Emily reviewed the footage, her heart pounded. There was nothing but silence at first, but around midnight, a shadow appeared by the window, faint and almost transparent. It lingered there for a moment before disappearing, leaving only Molly's quiet breathing in its wake.

Emily's blood ran cold. Whatever it was, it seemed as though it was only the beginning of Morgan's haunting return.

The afternoon was peaceful, with children laughing and parents chatting as they waited for school dismissal. Emily watched as Molly burst from the school doors, running toward her with a wide grin. But before Emily could call out, Molly raised her hands to her ears and counted down, her eyes alight with excitement.

"Three… two… aaannd… one!"

A thunderous explosion ripped through the school, sending shards of glass, debris, and flames into the air. Screams pierced the chaos as people stumbled, some clutching injuries, others frantically searching for loved ones. Emily's heart raced as she instinctively pulled Molly close, shielding her from the smoke and chaos.

"Molly! Stay with me!" she shouted over the noise, but her daughter just giggled, her laughter disturbingly cheerful amid the devastation.

In the haze, a figure emerged, draped entirely in black, moving with a calm that made Emily's blood turn cold. The figure stopped just a few steps away, their face partially obscured, but Emily knew that posture, that dark presence.

It was Morgan.

Emily tightened her grip on Molly, instinctively stepping back as her heart pounded. "Stay away from us!" she shouted, the fear and desperation evident in her voice.

Morgan's mouth curved into a dark smile, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Oh, Emily," she drawled, her voice as chilling as ever. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm just here for Molly."

At the sound of her name, Molly's eyes lit up, and before Emily could react, Molly broke free from her grasp, running straight into Morgan's waiting arms. "Molly, no!" Emily screamed, reaching out, but it was too late.

Molly wrapped her arms around Morgan, her laughter merging with Morgan's sinister chuckle. "Morgan taught me the countdown game, Mommy!" she exclaimed, looking back at Emily with innocent joy.

Emily's heart sank as she saw the bond between them. She felt the ground shift beneath her, a sinking realization that whatever connection Morgan had formed with Molly went deeper than she'd ever anticipated.

Morgan held Molly close, her gaze fixed on Emily with a mixture of triumph and something darker. "She's very special, Emily," she said softly. "I'm only giving her the attention she deserves."

Desperate, Emily took a shaky step forward. "Please, Morgan… don't hurt her. Whatever you want, take it out on me, but let her go."

Morgan's expression softened, almost pitying. "Hurt her? Why would I ever do that? She's the only one who truly understands me."

Emily's voice cracked. "She's just a child!"

Morgan tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming. "And yet she sees the world with so much more clarity than you ever did. Maybe you should be thanking me, Emily. I'm just helping her reach her full potential."

Emily's hands trembled as she searched for the right words, the strength to pull her daughter back. But as Morgan's shadow loomed closer, she felt her resolve weaken. She had to get her daughter back—she couldn't let Morgan take her away into that darkness.

As the distant sound of sirens pierced the air, Morgan's grin softened. She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Molly's forehead before looking at Emily, her eyes glinting with dark amusement.

"Time for me to go," Morgan murmured, her voice low but deliberate, a promise lingering in her tone. "But don't worry, Emily. I'll be seeing you later."

She gently nudged Molly back toward Emily, who quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her close with a mixture of relief and trepidation. Emily's heart pounded as she clutched Molly, who simply looked up at Morgan with a wide smile, unaware of the fear coursing through her mother.

Morgan took a few steps back, her gaze fixed on Emily, a faint smirk playing at her lips. "Take care of her, Emily," she said, her tone almost mocking. "I'd hate for anything to happen before our next… reunion."

With a casual wave of her gloved hand, Morgan turned, disappearing into the smoky shadows just as the police sirens drew closer. Emily's hands trembled as she held onto Molly, her mind racing with questions and fear. The explosion, Morgan's chilling presence, and her cryptic goodbye weighed heavily on her, leaving her terrified of what would come next.

As the first responders arrived and guided her and Molly to safety, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that Morgan's shadow still lingered, watching… waiting. She knew, deep down, that this was far from over.