ZIP IT DOWN

Monday morning dawned bright and early, and Eliza felt refreshed after a relaxing weekend. She had taken Jake's advice to heart, spending her days lounging in her pajamas, reading books, and watching old movies. The break had done her good, and she felt rejuvenated as she got ready for another week at The Daily Grind.

As she showered and dressed, the warm water and soft music helped to calm her nerves. She made herself a simple breakfast of oatmeal and toast.

As Eliza sat eating her oatmeal and toast, her mind drifted to thoughts of her parents. She couldn't help but question why they had left her so soon, feeling a heavy weight of loneliness and heartache settle in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she tried to make sense of her grief.

She sat there, lost in her thoughts, feeling the ache of loss gnaw at her soul. The emptiness inside her seemed to grow with each passing moment, a gaping hole that no amount of toast or oatmeal could fill. The absence of her parents loomed over her like a dark cloud, suffocating her with its overwhelming sadness.

And then, as if to mirror her inner turmoil, a sudden gunshot pierced the air. The sound jolted her out of her reverie, sending a shiver down her spine. Her heart raced in her chest as she looked out the window, only to see chaos unfolding before her eyes.

Children and families that were once playing and laughing now ran in a frenzy, their faces contorted with fear and panic. The once peaceful scene had transformed into a scene of terror, with the echoes of gunshots ringing in the air like a haunting melody. The world around her seemed to crumble, mirroring the shattered pieces of her own broken heart.

Eliza's mind went numb as she recognized the gun. It was the same type of gun that had taken her father's life. The same gun that had haunted her dreams for years. And now, it was being wielded by a young man who looked eerily familiar.

As she watched, frozen in fear, the young man's face contorted in anger. He was shouting at a young woman, who cowered in fear. Eliza's heart sank as she realized that the woman was Emily, a regular customer at The Daily Grind.

The young man's words cut through the air, "You'll never leave me, Emily! You'll never be free!" Eliza felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that the young man was threatening to kill Emily.

Eliza's eyes welled up with tears as she felt a wave of fear and memories wash over her. She was transported back to the day her father died, the sound of the gunshots, the feeling of helplessness. She felt like she was reliving the nightmare all over again.

As she stood there, frozen in fear, Eliza knew she had to do something. She couldn't just stand by and watch as Emily's life was threatened. But what could she do? She was just one person, and the young man had a gun.

Eliza's mind was racing as she tried to think of a way to intervene. She knew she couldn't just rush out there and try to take the gun away from the young man. That would be suicidal.

As she stood there, frozen in fear, Eliza's eyes scanned the scene outside. She saw the young man, his face twisted in anger, holding the gun to Emily's head. She saw the fear in Emily's eyes, the tears streaming down her face.

And then, Eliza saw something that made her heart skip a beat. She saw a police car, parked just a block away. The officers were getting out of the car, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

Eliza's heart leapt with hope. Maybe, just maybe, the police would arrive in time to save Emily. She watched, her eyes glued to the scene, as the officers cautiously approached the young man.

"Drop the gun!" one of the officers shouted. "Let her go!"

The young man's face contorted in rage, and for a moment, Eliza thought he was going to pull the trigger. But then, something seemed to snap inside him, and he slowly lowered the gun.

The police officers rushed forward, surrounding the young man and Emily. Eliza watched, her heart still racing, as they carefully took the gun away from the young man and led him away in handcuffs.

As the scene unfolded, Eliza felt a wave of relief wash over her. Emily was safe. The police had arrived just in time.

But as she turned away from the window, Eliza's eyes fell on something that made her heart skip a beat. A piece of paper, left behind by the young man. A piece of paper with a name on it. A name that made Eliza's blood run cold.

The name was "Ryder". Ryder, the son of the man who had killed Eliza's father.

Eliza's eyes widened as she stared at the piece of paper. Ryder. The name echoed in her mind, bringing back memories of the pain and suffering she had endured. The son of the man who had taken her father's life was now standing outside her window, threatening to take another life.

Eliza felt a wave of emotions wash over her. Fear, anger, sadness, and a deep sense of unease. She didn't know what to do or how to process what was happening.

As she stood there, frozen in shock, Eliza heard a knock at the door. It was a soft, gentle knock, but it made her jump. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be, before slowly making her way to the door.

She opened it to find a police officer standing outside. He was a tall, imposing figure with a kind face and a gentle smile.

"Eliza, I'm Officer Jenkins," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I'm here to talk to you about what happened outside. Are you okay?"

Eliza nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. "Y-yes, I'm fine," she stuttered.

Officer Jenkins nodded sympathetically. "Okay, good. Can I come in and talk to you for a bit?"

Eliza hesitated for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. As he entered, she couldn't help but notice the way he looked around the room, taking in every detail. It was a habit she had seen before in police officers, a way of gathering information and piecing together the puzzle.

As Officer Jenkins sat down, Eliza felt a sense of unease wash over her. She didn't know what to expect or what he was going to ask her. But she knew she had to be brave and face whatever was coming her way.

"So, Eliza, can you tell me what you saw?" Officer Jenkins asked, his eyes kind and gentle.

Eliza took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. "I was getting ready for work when I heard the gunshots," she began. "I looked out the window and saw... saw Ryder. He was holding a gun to Emily's head."

Officer Jenkins nodded sympathetically. "I see. And did you recognize Ryder? Had you seen him before?"

Eliza nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Yes, I recognized him. He's the son of... of the man who killed my father."

Officer Jenkins's expression turned somber. "I'm so sorry, Eliza. I had no idea."

Eliza shook her head, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's not your fault. I just... I never thought I'd see him again. Especially not like that."

Officer Jenkins nodded understandingly. "I can imagine. Well, we're going to do everything we can to make sure Ryder faces justice for his actions. And we'll also make sure that Emily is safe and protected."

Eliza felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Officer Jenkins smiled kindly. "You're welcome, Eliza. We're here to help. Now, I just need to ask you a few more questions, okay?"

Eliza shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. "No," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to get involved. I don't want to say anything."

Officer Jenkins looked at her with concern. "Eliza, I understand that you're scared, but it's important that we get your statement. Ryder is a dangerous person, and we need to make sure that he's held accountable for his actions."

Eliza shook her head again, more firmly this time. "No, I won't say anything. I don't want to be a part of this. I just want to forget that it ever happened."

Officer Jenkins sighed, his expression understanding. "Okay, Eliza. I understand. But please, if you change your mind or if you remember anything else, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you."

Eliza nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was glad that the officer was leaving, and she was determined to put the whole ordeal behind her.

As Officer Jenkins stood up to leave, Eliza walked him to the door. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Officer Jenkins smiled kindly. "You're welcome, Eliza. Take care of yourself, okay?"

Eliza nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the officer. She watched as he walked back to his car, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

But as she turned to go back inside, Eliza couldn't shake off the feeling of fear that had settled in her stomach. She knew that Ryder was still out there, and she couldn't help but wonder if he would come after her next.

As soon as Officer Jenkins drove away, Eliza felt the tears she had been holding back begin to fall. She walked over to the couch and collapsed onto it, burying her face in a pillow and letting out a sob.

She cried for what felt like hours, releasing all the emotions she had been bottling up since the incident. She thought about Ryder and his gun, and how he had threatened to kill Emily. She thought about her father and how he had been taken from her. And she thought about how scared and vulnerable she felt.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eliza's tears began to subside. She got up from the couch and walked over to the bathroom, where she splashed some cold water on her face. She patted her face dry with a small towel and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

She looked at herself in the mirror and saw a pale, tear-stained face staring back at her. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, reminding herself that she had to go to work.

Eliza took one last look at herself in the mirror, then turned and walked out of the bathroom. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, trying to put the events of the morning behind her. As she reached for the door handle, she glanced at her wristwatch and her heart sank. She was running extremely late. Her shift at The Daily Grind was supposed to start at 7:30 am, but the time now read 9:09 am.

Eliza's anxiety spiked as she rummaged through her bag for her phone. Her eyes widened as she saw that Jake had called her over 15 times, but she had missed all the calls. A wave of panic washed over her as she wondered what could be wrong. Was Jake okay? Did something happen at the coffee shop?

She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the long day ahead. As she stepped out into the winter morning, the cold air hit her like a slap in the face. She shivered, wrapping her coat tighter around her. Her mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. What if Joe, her wicked manager, was already at the coffee shop? He didn't like her already, not since she had turned down his proposal. She had been dreading the day he would take his revenge.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," she muttered to herself, her heart racing with fear. "Please don't let Joe be there. Please don't let him fire me." She quickened her pace, her boots crunching on the snow-covered sidewalk. As she turned the corner onto Main Street, she saw the familiar sign of The Daily Grind in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered what awaited her inside.

"Jake needs help," she whispered to herself, a sense of determination rising up within her. "I have to be strong. I have to face whatever is waiting for me." With a deep breath, Eliza steeled herself and pushed open the door to The Daily Grind, ready to face whatever the day had in store for her.