《Living Bread》


 Chapter One

    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t use this coupon? It only expired a day ago!¡± yelled the older woman across the register.


    Elara sighed, relieved she only had another hour left before the store would be closed, and she could go home. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I am sorry but the computer literally will not allow me to ring up an expired coupon, and that coupon expired 6 months ago,¡± she stated calmly.


    ¡°I have had no issues with using expired coupons here before and I am a loyal customer! How dare you! I demand to speak to your manager at once!¡± yelled the older woman, spit unintentionally flying out of her mouth towards Elara.


    ¡°Manager at register 6 please¡±. Elara stated on the overhead, doing her best to not show her annoyance. Elara knew the manager, Benedict, would just tell her the same thing she said.


    She had not been here very long, but since starting here compared to her previous grocery store experience, she found the customers were far more entitled than she¡¯d have expected from a small-town grocery store.


    After a few horrendously long minutes of the older woman glaring at Elara, a lean, tan younger male with a simple blue button-down shirt and jeans finally walked up to register 6.


    At the sight of him, the older woman instantly changed her demeanor. ¡°Hello ma¡¯am, what seems to be the issue?¡± he asked politely.


    ¡°Yes, so, Elara here, refuses to honor my coupon. I am a loyal customer at Living Bread, been since I was a child, and never have encountered this much disrespect from an employee! I have to say, this has so far been my worst shopping experience in all my 60 years of livin¡±. Benedict did his best, but he couldn¡¯t help his annoyance.


    ¡°I am so so sorry to hear that, may I see your coupon? I¡¯ll get this straightened out for you right away.¡± The older woman handed over the coupon for examination while Elara fidgeted with the ends of her sleeves, anxiously waiting for the confrontation to end and hoping Benedict would take her side.


    ¡°You best give me a discount on my groceries too given all this unnecessary hassle. The girl could have easily just honored my coupon from the start, without having wasted either of our times!¡± she said angrily.


    Benedict wondered if this was the same lady his brother-in-law complained about who would harass the daytime employees over expired coupons. He had not known Elara long but he had known her to be very diligent and had nothing to gain from denying the older woman her buy one get two free bags of Doritos.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, this coupon is from the Superbowl ad we had 6 months ago. We can¡¯t accept this¡±. Benedict stated after checking the date on the coupon.


    ¡°But I am a loyal customer!¡± the older woman argued.


    Benedict sighed, knowing if it had been his brother-in-law, he would have insisted on letting the woman leave with her two free bags of Doritos.


    However, though it seemed simple, it felt far too wrong to Benedict. He could not bear the thought of letting this rude, entitled customer get away with such blatant lying and disrespect towards himself and Elara.


    ¡°Loyal or not, store policy prevents me from using an expired coupon, as I am certain Elara has already stated. If you want the other two bags of Doritos, you will have to pay the full price or wait until they are on sale again.¡± He stated firmly.


    Elara looked relieved, though still anxious from the older woman glaring at her, as though it was her fault her coupon had expired, and for once she had a manager who didn¡¯t let customers walk over him.


    ¡°Well screw you all! I am never coming back here again, you are losing a valuable customer and you will regret this! I am writing a review!¡± the older woman exclaimed, leaving her cart of groceries at the register and stomping out of the store. Benedict rolled his eyes, knowing she would be back. It was the only grocery store within the town, and the next closest store being a Walmart was an hour out.


    ¡°Of Course, an hour before we close she leaves her cart of groceries over two bags of Doritos.¡± Elara mumbled grumpily to herself, running her fingers through the front of her hair.


    Given how quiet Elara usually was, Benedict was surprised to hear her openly complain about a rude customer in front of him, but also relieved. He hoped that meant she felt more comfortable around him and at the store in general.


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    Benedict had been about to respond when the guy who had waited behind the older woman spoke up ¡°Excuse me, are you finally ready to do your jobs and check my groceries out? I have got two items, TWO, and you couldn''t have had her wait aside and checked me out first? Ridiculous. ¡° He mumbled moving past the older woman¡¯s cart and placing a gallon of milk and carton of eggs on the belt.


    Benedict sighed, it had been busy all day, and due to callouts only the courtesy clerk Thomas had been given a break. He knew Elara was probably exhausted.


    ¡°Elara, I¡¯ll take care of this. Why don¡¯t you go on lunch,¡± he said. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll be back in 30.¡± Elara thanked him quietly and logged out on the register.


    As she walked away Benedict called out ¡°You haven¡¯t taken any breaks yet, right?¡± Elara shook her head no. ¡°Don¡¯t clock out then. Take your lunch paid today,¡± he said.


    Benedict knew his brother-in-law would not approve, but Elara had been one of the few employees that actually showed up to work on time, and never called out.


    It was one of the many things he found himself admiring about her. It was funny too, because though she did not know it, his brother-in-law never hired her on with the intention of her being a permanent employee, but Benedict found himself wanting to do whatever it took to ensure she would be.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    After Elara¡¯s lunch, she had been feeling much better. She usually prided herself on being able to work long periods without a break but today, she very much needed it.


    Though she did not eat, just being away from the customers, and well, everyone, was exactly what she needed. The remaining half hour of her shift went by quickly, but as usual, she and Benedict ended up staying an extra hour to get the store ready for the morning.


    Elara did not mind this though, she found herself enjoying working with Benedict and Thomas, and it was much easier to clean the store up and face when no customers were present.


    Thomas left, having his older sister Marlene pick him up. Elara had a car, but she walked given she was not terribly far, and figured she could save a bit on gas. Not to mention, compared to the city she was from, she felt a lot safer doing so. She could enjoy the night sky and the soft breeze after a long shift at work. Elara rather enjoyed it.


    ¡°You always walk home, Elara?¡± Benedict asked as they exited the store and locked the doors.


    ¡°Usually, yeah. Do you?¡± Benedict shook his head.


    ¡°Sometimes but I drove today. I could give you a ride if you wanted? No pressure tho.¡± He could have kicked himself after realizing how creepy that might¡¯ve come off. He had not talked to her an awful lot, but he wanted to.


    Usually, Elara would have said no, and most definitely would have if it was anyone else, but she really liked and admired Benedict. Not that she would ever tell him this.


    Benedict was one of the first managers true to his word, he was honest, hard-working, and did not ask others to do what he couldn¡¯t.


    Not to mention she had overheard other associates talk of him standing up for them the way he did for her today, which she highly respected him for.


    It did not help that she also found herself rather attracted to his gorgeous hazel eyes, chocolate brown hair, or the way he carried himself overall. She blushed at the realization. ¡°Yeah, that would be nice, thanks,¡± she said.


    Benedict gave her a crooked smile, which Elara found endearing. ¡°Great! I drive the silver Corolla over there. Man, the customers today were just awful. You handled them well though. You definitely keep your composure better than most for sure.¡± Benedict said, attempting to start a conversation with her as he led her to his vehicle.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know how you deal with it so well honestly. Though I guess you''re probably used to it. I kinda thought people here would¡¯ve been more polite, given it¡¯s such an isolated small town and all.¡± Elara said, getting into the passenger side. ¡°I have to, but I have never worked or lived outside of this town. Been here my whole life. What city are you from?¡± Benedict asks as he starts driving out of the parking lot.


    He of course knew she was from Denver which he memorized from her resume, but he didn¡¯t want to come off as creepy. ¡°Denver. Far from here, but as much as the customers are awful, it feels like it¡¯s so much easier to breathe out here. Even the air feels nicer. I can¡¯t imagine what it would be like growing up in such a small town my whole life¡± Elara said looking out the window.


    ¡°Oh also, um just turn left at Woodridge Drive and then right. I¡¯m just the yellow house at the cul-de-sac.¡± Benedict nodded as he turned left following her directions. ¡°I mean, I think it¡¯s nice. It helps that it''s not that small of a town at least compared to what I have heard of other small towns, though I¡¯m sure it¡¯s still nothing like Denver. What brought you out here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, just, had some family stuff come up and I needed a change of scenery. The rent here is more affordable too, and my landlord is much nicer,¡± she said, not wanting to mention her mother''s recent passing, which she had been trying hard to not think about.


    Benedict pulls up in front of the yellow house in the cul-de-sac. ¡°That¡¯s my stop, um, thanks for the ride also Benedict¡±. Elara unbuckled her seatbelt.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, gives me an excuse to talk to you more. Also you don¡¯t have to call me Benedict, you can just call me Ben,¡± he said as he got out of the car to walk her to the door.


    ¡°Well, thanks again Ben, see you tomorrow?¡± Elara asked.


    ¡°Yeah, see you tomorrow,¡± Ben said, watching her disappear inside the yellow house.


    He sighed, wishing she lived farther away so he could have stolen more time with her. As Ben returned to his car, his thoughts began to spin with ideas of how he could interact with her more.


    Maybe he could schedule their breaks together or surprise her with coffee as a reward for her hard work.


    He¡¯d had these thoughts before¡ªsmall fantasies, really¡ªbut after today, they were harder to push away. He wanted more of her.


    But then, reality crept back in. He couldn¡¯t forget what the next few months held. He had to find a replacement for Elara. Soon. Her time was running out, and she didn¡¯t even know it. His family had chosen her for a reason¡ªshe fit their criteria perfectly. And yet, with every smile, every conversation, Ben found himself more conflicted.


    He shook his head, gripping the steering wheel as he drove home. He would have to figure it out. The Cena Sacra had to go forward. But as for Elara, maybe there was a way to save her.


    He wasn¡¯t ready to let her go. Not yet.

 Chapter Two

    Elara felt very guilty for the kind of thoughts she had been having about Benedict, which had become even more invasive since he had given her a ride home a month ago.


    It did not help either that since then, she felt she had coincidentally found herself in more positions requiring her to interact with him.


    Not that she was complaining.


    For instance, recently most of her shifts when she had a break, would be when Ben was coincidentally also in the breakroom or on a break.


    She noticed most of her days working aligned with when he also would be working. He also started checking in on her far more than he used to and he complimented her frequently.


    In all honesty, Elara was not sure if it was just a coincidence or if perhaps he was indeed interested in her, but regardless she loved it.


    However, he was still her manager, and she frequently heavily debated upon how wrong it was for her to think of him the way she did, to yearn to see him again as much as she did, or to even try going out of her way more for his attention.


    This included coming in to work earlier consistently, improving the speed of scanning groceries, and even putting her hair up more or wearing jewelry to work more often.


    It was a nice distraction from her mother''s death. Not that she mourned her at all, rather, Elara was relieved the awful woman was gone. But it was a distraction from the guilt she felt at having such thoughts. She was still her mother, after all.


    Even her coworkers had begun to pick up on the change.


    ¡°You¡¯ve definitely been a lot more upbeat lately,¡± commented Thomas as he emptied the trash bin behind Elara¡¯s register.


    ¡°Oh, yeah, I guess so.¡± Elara nervously toyed with her bracelet.


    It had been much slower today than it usually was, and for the first time since Elara started at Living Bread, there was no line of customers at her register.


    Though, this may have been in part due to the terrible weather as it had also been pouring rain with heavy thunder all day.


    ¡°Well, look. I don¡¯t mean to pry, but there have been like, some rumors and whatnot.¡± Thomas mentioned.


    ¡°Rumors?¡± Elara asked concerned, she was not the most social, and especially at work really only spoke to Ben aside from the expected ¡°how are you, I¡¯m good, and you¡± conversations she had with those she directly interacted with at work.


    Elara had not even been aware of any rumors going around and was not sure if it was a good thing to be a part of any rumors floating around work.


    ¡°Are you and Ben dating? I won¡¯t tell anyone and I know it¡¯s not my business, but with how close y¡¯all have seen more recently and you¡¯ve both seemed a bit happier, people have been talking about it.¡± Thomas explained nervously.


    He knew Elara mostly kept to herself, and he rather liked her and had no intentions of crossing any boundaries with her or causing her to feel uncomfortable.


    He was however rather curious himself as to her relationship with Ben.


    Immediately Elara felt her face heat up and knew it must¡¯ve been bright red. She felt both very embarrassed and ashamed.


    Though she had not explicitly thought it until now, she would not at all mind being in a relationship with him.


    However, she was not very certain such thoughts were acceptable or such a relationship would even be allowed. Could she lose her job over her feelings for him?


    Not to mention, though she felt excited at the thought that someone like him, who she found herself looking up to as much as she admired him, would be interested in her.


    Realistically however she concluded he was likely just trying to be more friendly towards her, perhaps he wanted her to feel more socially included at work.


    It would of course be improper and unprofessional for a manager to have feelings towards one of his employees anyway, Elara thought disappointedly.


    Right as she was about to deny the rumors of them dating, Benedict came up behind her.


    ¡°What¡¯s got your face so red, Elara?¡± He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, finding her obvious embarrassment to be rather amusing.


    Thomas looked between the two of them and immediately concluded to himself that there was most definitely something going on between the two of them.


    Thomas thought of ways he could respond but ultimately was not sure he wanted to directly ask Benedict, his manager, if he was dating his fellow associate Elara and he didn¡¯t wish to cause her further embarrassment.


    Meanwhile, Elara also struggled to answer.


    ¡°H-he just asked a question.¡± Elara stumbled over her words, not wanting to give away what was asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m uh gonna go finish with the trash,¡± He said awkwardly as he pushed his cart filled with trash bags away.


    ¡°Just a simple question made your face that red? Elara, you look like a tomato.¡± Ben said, trying to restrain from laughing.


    He of course already knew what was asked, and had already been aware of the rumors circulating amongst the other employees.


    He very much wanted it to be the case, and knew she likely did too given her reaction to Thomas¡¯ question, however, he also knew he needed to remain more cautious.


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    He had yet to tell his family of her and was not sure how his brother-in-law would react to his interest in the girl.


    Especially considering the circumstances surrounding her hire.


    In response to Ben¡¯s further questioning and comment on the redness of her face, Elara felt even more embarrassed. ¡°He uh, I didn¡¯t realize I was s-so red. He just, he uh asked about a rumor¡± Elara tried to explain, unsure how to though.


    If she admitted directly what Thomas had asked, given her facial redness, she was certain he would suspect her feelings towards him if he didn¡¯t already.


    Not to mention, she worried that given the rumors, the increase in friendly attention he¡¯d been giving her could diminish which was something she also dreaded.


    If he suspected she liked him and he did not reciprocate her feelings, he may even stop talking to her altogether, not to mention Elara worried she could potentially get in trouble for having feelings for him.


    ¡°Let me guess, he asked if we were dating?¡± Ben asked, raising an eyebrow and showing off his signature smile.


    Elara couldn¡¯t help but admire the lack of symmetry of it, his dimples, and the way the left corner of his mouth went slightly higher up than the right, she found it mesmerizing and also distracting.


    ¡°Well, um, yeah that was what he asked,¡± Elara said, playing with her bracelet more aggressively than before and trying to avoid looking into Ben¡¯s beautiful blue-hazel eyes with long lashes.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Ben asked. He knew they were not officially dating, but he was certain she liked him.


    He could just ask her out normally which he had envisioned doing so many times, but on the other hand, he wanted her to admit to liking him or being interested in him first. He didn¡¯t know exactly why, but in a way, it felt more satisfying.


    ¡°Well, I um, didn¡¯t respond,¡± Elara stated, staring intensely at his shoes, admiring the cleanliness of them, despite knowing he wore them every day and that they were definitely quite worn.


    She wondered briefly how he kept them in such good condition, or if perhaps he simply had a very expensive pair of shoes that kept up better than the average shoe.


    ¡°Well, how would you like to respond to it?¡± He asked as he gently held her chin up to face him, enjoying the visible embarrassment Elara was experiencing.


    Though already red in the face, Elara could feel it somehow worsening at this.


    She wanted to answer yes, and part of her figured if he was flat-out not interested in her he would have just left it alone.


    Plus surely, grabbing her chin was not something most managers do towards their employees.


    However, she worried if she was reading him wrong.


    Elara felt she had too much at stake to answer too boldly, and thus settled on turning the question back on him.


    ¡°Well, um, how would you?¡± she asked, trying to avoid staring directly into his eyes.


    Deciding he had messed with her enough, Ben confidently responded admiring her light-brown eyes and beautiful complexion ¡°I¡¯d say yes, assuming you feel the same.¡±


    Elara¡¯s grin spread uncontrollably before she could stop it, but then doubt crept in.


    Did she hear him right? Could this be real?


    ¡°Y-yes? We can¡­ date?¡± Elara asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    If he was okay with it, surely she wouldn¡¯t get in trouble, right?


    But what if she¡¯d misheard him or¡ªworse¡ªhe was just teasing her?


    Did she even deserve this?


    Her mother, if still alive, would¡¯ve said she didn¡¯t, or that if she did it was because he was using her.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ben replied smoothly, fighting the urge to kiss her right there.


    His heart pounded, but reality snapped him back¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a movie, and they were still on the clock. He knew even being interested in her at all, was already plenty risky. Dating her even more so.


    Ben watched her fidget nervously, feeling a knot of guilt tighten in his chest. He had no right to feel this way about her, especially knowing what the next few months held. But every time he saw her smile, his resolve wavered just a little more.


    He would find a way to balance it¡ªhe had to. The Cena Sacra would go forward, just as it always had. But Elara¡­ well, he wasn¡¯t ready to let her go.


    Not yet.


    Heart racing, Elara found herself grinning ear to ear and without thinking wrapped her arms tightly around Ben excitedly. She had imagined this moment for so long, but it still felt unreal.


    Ben wanted her, too¡ªshe hadn¡¯t misread him.


    Relief flooded through her, she regretted having second-guessed his intentions so much. It was really happening. Fuck her dead mother, she did deserve this.


    For Elara, this by far, was probably the best day of her life.


    ¡°Elara! Good to see you. I need a word with you.¡± The deep voice cut through the moment like a cold wind, halting their newfound closeness.


    Ben¡¯s hand instinctively tightened around Elara, irritation flaring at the interruption. He turned, his heart sinking at the sight of the store director¡ªLevi, his brother-in-law.


    Levi, with his slight paunch, thinning blonde hair, and ever-present small brown glasses perched over sharp green eyes, rarely stayed past 6 p.m. Yet, of all days, he had chosen tonight to linger.


    Ben stifled a groan. Of course, it had to be Levi. And of course, he had to witness this. His confession, the one thing he hadn¡¯t yet explained to Levi, interrupted before he could sway his opinion of Elara.


    Ben¡¯s brows drew together, anxiety creeping in. What if Levi was about to write her up? The thought gnawed at him, and before he could stop himself, Ben spoke up, his voice edged with desperation.


    ¡°Can¡¯t this wait? She was just about to go on break. She¡¯s¡­ not feeling well today. I was checking in on her.¡±


    Levi¡¯s brow arched. Elara had looked fine moments ago. His gaze sharpened on the way they stood so close, the redness in her cheeks, the awkward fiddling with her bracelet. It hit him like a punch to the gut¡ªBen was in far deeper than he¡¯d realized.


    There wasn¡¯t much time before the Cena Sacra, but maybe¡­ maybe he could protect Ben from this. He wasn¡¯t going to lose him over a girl, not when there were other options. Levi would help Ben navigate this, even if it meant bending the rules they¡¯d sworn to follow.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok Ben, I don¡¯t mind speaking with him before my break.¡± Elara said, unsure if she was in trouble or not, but figuring if she was she¡¯d rather get it over with now than later. Ben furrowed his brow worried for what Levi wanted.


    He begrudgingly nodded as he watched Elara walk away with Levi. He guiltily noted that he quite liked her rear-end in the jeans she wore, and felt his face heat up at the sinful thought.


    Fortunately for Ben, given the rain having recently turned more into a sprinkle, there was now a line of customers forming at the register, distracting him from his thoughts.

 Chapter Three

    Elara walked into the manager¡¯s office, her heart racing. How much had he heard? Was she going to get in trouble for her feelings toward Ben? She hated the fact that she couldn¡¯t read Levi¡¯s expression.


    "Please, take a seat, Elara. I promise you''re not in trouble," Levi said, gesturing to the cheap, stackable office chair, hard-backed and uncomfortably small. He closed the door behind her with a soft click, and the chair gave a faint squeak as she sat down.


    Her stomach twisted as she glanced around the office, noting its spotless, almost sterile neatness¡ªevery item perfectly in place, not a speck of dust in sight. The orderliness of the room made her uneasy, mirroring the precision with which Levi seemed to carry himself.


    To add to her discomfort, Levi usually kept his distance. Unlike Ben, she wasn¡¯t used to being alone with Levi¡ªor, rather, around him much at all.


    Originally, this meeting was going to be a routine check-up. That was standard practice for certain employees, especially the ones that were carefully chosen for the family¡¯s more... particular needs.


    Levi¡¯s usual protocol involved ensuring the employee was still introverted, still distant from the other staff, and ideally, isolated. Forming strong friendships could complicate the family¡¯s plans, especially with the Cena Sacra approaching.


    This check-in usually involved a casual drug test and a conversation about their well-being, making it seem like management cared.


    Nothing too alarming, nothing that would raise suspicion.


    But now, things were different. Ben¡¯s sudden interest in Elara was a wrinkle Levi hadn''t anticipated. He felt himself caught between two instincts: protect the ritual at all costs or indulge his brother-in-law¡¯s desires.


    Levi sat at his pristine, light-gray desk, the spotless surface offering him a faint sense of relief as he tried to appear at ease. Beneath his calm exterior, though, his mind raced with thoughts of how to ensure she was right for Ben¡ªand for the family''s ways.


    She needed to be more than just malleable; she had to be completely trustworthy and willing to conform to their... unique practices. The last thing Levi wanted was to go through the trouble of replacing her, only for Ben to lose interest or for her to resist what was expected.


    "So, I just wanted to ask you a few questions," Levi said as he sat back in his chair, his tone light, but his gaze intense.


    Elara swallowed, doing her best to keep her hands still in her lap. "Of course."


    Elara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of what to expect from this meeting. Despite Levi¡¯s assurance, the tension in the room was palpable.


    "Before we begin,"Levi started, leaning back in his chair, "I want to say you''re doing well here at Living Bread. But I also wanted to see how you''re settling in. It¡¯s not easy being the new person in such a close-knit town."


    Elara hesitated, feeling the weight of the question. Was this really about her performance, or was there something more? She thought about the recent days when she had noticed little things, like how Ben and Levi both seemed to watch her just a little too closely.


    ¡°I¡­ I think I¡¯m adjusting well," she said, though she wasn¡¯t sure how true that was. She had been feeling increasingly isolated and uncertain of herself lately, but she wasn¡¯t about to admit that.


    Levi smiled, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Good, good. We¡¯re glad to have you here. Ben speaks highly of you.¡±


    Elara felt a nervous flutter in her chest at the mention of Ben. Did Levi know about their feelings for each other? Was that why she was here?


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you and Ben have gotten close,¡± Levi continued, his tone casual but with an undercurrent Elara couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°It¡¯s good to have people you can trust, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    There it was¡ªthe subtle insinuation. Elara nodded, unsure of what to say.


    Levi leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. ¡°I just want to make sure you know that we look out for our own here. We¡¯re like family. And families¡­ well, they take care of each other.¡±


    Elara felt the weight of his words sink in, but something about the way he said ¡°family¡± made her stomach turn. She forced a smile, trying to mask her growing unease.


    ¡°Um, are you sure I¡¯m not in trouble? Is our closeness... a problem?¡± she asked, her voice small, as she fidgeted nervously with the cross necklace her mother had given her before her mental health declined.


    The thought of getting written up terrified her. She was new to the town, new to the store, and had only recently started to build any sort of financial stability. Her mind raced. Had she been too forward with Ben? Maybe her mother had been right all along¡ªshe wasn¡¯t worth anyone¡¯s time. Maybe Ben didn¡¯t like her after all, and this was all just a way to get rid of her.


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    ¡°Of course not. Like I said, we¡¯re like family. We take care of each other. Never forget that.¡±Levi¡¯s tone was calm, almost too calm. ¡°Now, tell me, what do you think of Ben?¡±


    Elara¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. She felt the heat rise to her face. She knew it. She¡¯d known all along that her feelings were inappropriate, that she¡¯d crossed a line. Panic surged through her, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out the truth.


    ¡°T-truthfully, I¡¯ve admired him since I started working here. He¡¯s such a hard worker, really kind, and¡­ well, handsome¡ªoh, I didn¡¯t mean to say that. I just¡ªhe made the first move, so I thought maybe it was okay. It¡¯s just a local store, right? I really, really like him... please, don¡¯t write me up,¡± she stammered, her voice shaky with desperation.


    She felt a rush of shame. Why hadn¡¯t she lied? Now she was going to lose everything. How would she pay rent? There were no other grocery stores in town, and she didn¡¯t have any other job experience.


    Levi watched her closely, taking in her anxious fidgeting, her clear desperation to follow the rules. Honesty. Fear. Rule follower. He nodded to himself. Maybe she was worth it after all. But he wasn¡¯t ready to commit to that conclusion just yet. There were still a few more questions he needed to ask. And then, of course, there was the drug test. She would never be accepted into their family if she had a history of heavy drinking or drug use. Purity was everything.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elara. We¡¯re just having a conversation. Let¡¯s talk more about how you¡¯re adjusting to our... way of life here.¡±Levi smiled again, this time with a hint of something darker.


    Elara¡¯s breathing slowed as she tried her best to calm herself. Despite his assurances, something about Levi¡¯s tone kept her on edge.


    She had completed her interview over the phone, and rarely ever saw Levi in person, so perhaps her unease stemmed from that¡ªthe strangeness of finally facing him directly. Even during the interview, he had an air of authority, his voice as sharp as though he were interrogating her for a crime she hadn¡¯t committed. Now, sitting in his office, that feeling intensified.


    He¡¯d reassured her several times that she wasn¡¯t in trouble, which helped to steady her nerves. But she couldn¡¯t fully shake her anxiety, especially with the way his questions seemed to linger on the air, unspoken implications tugging at her thoughts.


    At least, she figured, if her relationship with Ben was a problem, Levi would have said something sooner, right? The relief at that thought washed over her¡ªher imagination had run wild again. Her job wasn¡¯t in jeopardy, Ben did like her, and she wasn¡¯t about to be written up. She needed to stop assuming the worst.


    She recalled hearing from Thomas that Levi and Ben were related, though they didn¡¯t look much alike. Maybe this was Levi¡¯s way of looking out for Ben? Maybe he was just trying to get to know her because he knew Ben liked her?


    ¡°Have you made any close friends here in Redwood Haven? How do you find the people in town so far?¡± Levi interrupted her thoughts, his voice cutting through her mental spiral.


    ¡°I guess so,¡± Elara replied, trying to keep her tone light. ¡°My landlord¡¯s nice, and there¡¯s Thomas and Ben, and Paula, one of the other checkers.¡± She tried to push aside her unease. It was a simple enough question¡ªwhy should it bother her? Surely he just wanted to know if she was adjusting to the town. Nothing sinister about that.


    ¡°Good to hear.¡± Levi smiled, though his eyes remained sharp. ¡°We don¡¯t get many newcomers from the city. It¡¯s always interesting when someone from outside joins our little community.¡± He paused. ¡°I noticed you wear a cross necklace. Are you religious? Do you attend church regularly?¡±


    Elara shifted uncomfortably. ¡°No, not really. I used to as a kid, but¡­ there were some family issues. The necklace was my mom¡¯s.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes flicked to the cross, and something in his expression changed, though Elara couldn¡¯t quite place it. ¡°How do you feel about forgiveness and redemption? Do you believe people can truly cleanse themselves of past mistakes?¡±


    Elara blinked at the sudden shift in the conversation. The question caught her off guard, though she wasn¡¯t entirely sure why. Maybe it was the way he asked, his voice low and deliberate, like the question was about something much deeper than it seemed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she answered slowly, trying to gauge what kind of response he was looking for. ¡°I suppose it depends on the person, and if they¡¯re willing to change.¡±


    Levi nodded thoughtfully, as if weighing her words. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said, his voice almost a murmur. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªsome people seek redemption, but not everyone has the strength to achieve it.¡±


    The air in the room seemed to grow heavier with his words, and Elara couldn¡¯t help but feel that there was something more to his line of questioning than he was letting on.


    "Why don¡¯t you come over for a family dinner, Friday night?" Levi asked suddenly, his voice breaking the tension.


    Elara blinked, surprised by the invitation. "Oh, I work Friday..." she began, uncertain about how to respond. The idea of meeting his family already felt overwhelming.


    "We can arrange for you to get off earlier," Levi interrupted smoothly. "Ben can take you to our place and bring you home afterward."


    Elara hesitated. "I¡¯d love to, but are you sure?" she said, trying to gauge if this was a normal invitation for employees or due to her recent closeness with Ben.


    "It¡¯s no bother to us," Levi assured her. "We¡¯re looking forward to it. My wife, especially, is eager to meet you, given how highly Benedict speaks of you."


    Elara smiled weakly, still feeling the lingering unease. "I guess... if you''re sure it¡¯s not a problem. Thank you."


    Levi nodded. "Of course. We¡¯ll see you Friday."


    Elara stood, feeling the stiffness in her legs, which ached to be stretched. A weight had largely lifted from her chest, yet an unsettled tension lingered, and she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint why.


    As she walked out of the office, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was more than just a family dinner. She hoped Ben¡¯s family wasn¡¯t as intimidating as Levi. Ben had been nothing but kind, disciplined, and reliable¡ªsurely his family couldn¡¯t be that different... right?


    Just as she reached the door, Levi¡¯s voice followed her. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Elara. We¡¯re like family¡ªwe take care of each other. As long as you¡¯re here, you don¡¯t have anything to worry about.¡±


    The words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. Elara quickened her pace as she left the office, trying to shake the creeping unease that had settled in her chest.

 Chapter Four

    Elara hurried into her yellow house, the early evening light still soft outside, a rare calm after a surprisingly easy shift despite having stayed late. Elara was tired from working an unusually early shift and wasn¡¯t used to being off this early in the evening. If she¡¯d been more prepared, she would¡¯ve brought a change of clothes to work, but now, at least, she could get ready much easier than she was trying to get ready at a busy bathroom stall.


    She slipped into a blue dress she hadn¡¯t worn in years, surprised that it still fit as well as it did. After a quick braid and a touch of mascara, she rushed back out to Ben¡¯s waiting Corolla, feeling a flutter of nerves at meeting his family.


    As she slid into the passenger seat, Ben glanced over with a smile. "You look beautiful," he said softly, and it was true. To Ben, especially with her wearing that dress, she looked absolutely stunning and the blue sat well against her pale olive skin and braided chestnut brown hair.


    Elara''s heart skipped, warmth filling her chest.


    A compliment from Ben meant everything to her. ¡°You ready?¡± he asked as he started the engine.


    She nodded, trying to hide her growing anxiety. The fact that they were heading to dinner with Ben''s family so early in their relationship made her uneasy in a way she couldn¡¯t quite place. Why were they so eager to meet her?


    Ben was relieved that Levi¡¯s questioning hadn¡¯t scared her away. He knew Elara hadn¡¯t done anything wrong¡ªit wasn¡¯t like they had strict rules about manager-associate relationships. His parents had met that way, after all. But with Elara, it was different. Her staying meant they¡¯d need to find a replacement for her in three months, and Ben wasn¡¯t sure if Levi would fully support him on this yet.


    ¡°So, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve realized by now, my family¡¯s a bit¡­ weird,¡± Ben began. ¡°We come from a very strict and traditional branch of Christianity called Foedus Sacri Epuli¡ªF.S.E. for short. Though, my brother-in-law Levi and my sister Esther aren¡¯t big fans of the abbreviation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it,¡± Elara said, her curiosity piqued. ¡°How does it differ from, say, Protestantism or Catholicism?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ we believe Christianity got some things wrong¡ªmisinterpreted a few key texts,¡± Ben explained cautiously. ¡°But we still go to church every Sunday. Purity is really important to us¡­ and it¡¯s very traditional.¡± He paused, hesitating. ¡°Strict, even.¡±


    Elara considered this. ¡°Is there anything I should be worried about for dinner? Any questions I should be prepared for? Any obvious topics to avoid,¡± She fiddled with her bracelet nervously, her thoughts drifting back to Levi¡¯s earlier interrogation.


    The last question he asked her on redemption, still made her uneasy.


    Ben reached over and gently placed a hand on hers, stilling her fidgeting. ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine. Esther¡¯s great¡ªyou¡¯ll love her. She¡¯s outgoing and kind. And I¡¯ll be there the whole time, I promise.¡±


    Still, Ben bit his lip, his own anxieties rising.


    He loved Elara and believed she could fit into the family, but he knew tonight was a test. Levi could change his mind about her at any moment. And if this dinner didn¡¯t go well¡­ Ben didn¡¯t want to think about it.


    ¡ª-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Upon entering, Elara took a moment to admire the decor. The house had a minimalist yet cozy vibe, which somehow made it feel both slightly eerie and comforting at the same time. There were very few photos on the walls, and the ones she did notice featured Benedict¡¯s large family, all posed stiffly, without a single smile among them. Scattered throughout the home were religious scriptures written in Latin¡ªat least Elara assumed they were religious, considering how devout Ben¡¯s family seemed to be.


    The house smelled absolutely delicious to Elara, though she wasn¡¯t sure if it truly smelled that good or if she was just starving. Her last meal had been a hastily made bowl of chicken ramen and a hotdog from the night before, so her stomach grumbled in anticipation of something more substantial.


    She found it strange how little Benedict had spoken about his family, especially since they seemed so close. Perhaps it was due to his strict religious upbringing, Elara thought. Then again, maybe that was just the norm for large families. She wouldn¡¯t know¡ªElara had never really had much of a family herself. The only things she knew about close families were what she saw on TV or read about in books.


    "It¡¯s so nice to finally meet you! I¡¯ve heard great things about you from both my husband and Ben," a woman who looked very similar to Benedict¡ªjust a bit older and with softer features¡ªsaid with a bright smile as she entered the room, her long purple dress flowing gracefully behind her.


    She greeted Elara with a warm hug that was tighter than expected. The woman didn¡¯t look strong enough for such an embrace, but Elara knew appearances could be deceiving. After all, many adored her own mother, not knowing what kind of person she really was behind closed doors. Sometimes, Elara found herself wondering if things would¡¯ve been different had her father stayed when she was a child.


    Other times, she wondered if it was her fault that he left.


    "Thank you for having me," Elara replied, feeling a bit self-conscious, especially in comparison to how dressed-up Esther¡ªBen¡¯s sister, she presumed¡ªlooked. She hoped her more casual outfit wouldn¡¯t leave a bad impression. Ben had told her she looked beautiful earlier, which helped ease her anxiety. He would have told her if she was underdressed¡­ at least, she hoped so.


    "We¡¯re practically family now," Esther added as she placed glasses of water in front of them. "Fridays are important for us, especially family meals with Ben. Since I moved out, I¡¯ve missed not seeing him as much. He¡¯s always been my favorite sibling."


    Ben felt a flush of pride at the comment. He held his sister in high regard, and her words meant a lot to him. Elara was about to ask more, given the oddness of the way Esther had phrased it, specifically the family part, but Esther turned her attention to Ben.


    "How¡¯s Mother? Has her condition improved?" Esther asked as she sat down.


    Ben shifted uncomfortably. "She¡¯s¡­ doing okay. It¡¯s getting worse, but Dad says it¡¯s just part of aging. Nothing to worry about," he replied, his tone dismissive.


    Elara glanced at Ben, concerned. He hadn¡¯t mentioned his mother much before, and now she wondered if things were worse than he was letting on. She couldn¡¯t help but compare it to her own complicated relationship with her late mother. ¡°Worse? What do you mean?¡±


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    Ben hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "She¡¯s been forgetting things¡­ more than usual. My older brother, Phineas, says it¡¯s normal, but it¡¯s hard to watch." His discomfort was clear, and though he tried to brush it off, Elara sensed there was more beneath the surface.


    Before she could ask more, Levi entered the room, and the atmosphere shifted abruptly.


    "Welcome, Elara," Levi said with a nod as he took his seat. "This is my wife, Esther, and our daughters, Agatha and Naomi."


    "Nice to meet you," Elara offered with a smile, noting the two identical blonde girls who were staring at her with wide, curious eyes.


    "Uncle Ben talks about you a lot," one of them said.


    "Are you guys getting married? Mama says that¡¯s what dating is for," the other added innocently.


    Elara blushed, unsure how to respond, but Ben quickly answered. "Perhaps eventually," he said, smiling reassuringly at her. In his mind, it wasn¡¯t a matter of if, but when. He was sure of it¡ªespecially if tonight went well.


    As the small talk continued, Elara¡¯s thoughts returned to Ben¡¯s mother. She still wanted to ask more, but Levi¡¯s next words brought a new tension to the room.


    "So, Elara, we have a family tradition that may seem a bit odd at first, but it¡¯s important to us," Levi began, his tone shifting to something more formal. "Ben has probably told you about our focus on purity."


    Elara shifted slightly in her seat, her earlier anxiety creeping back. "He mentioned your beliefs briefly," she replied cautiously. Ben placed a hand over her knee under the table, a small gesture that did little to ease the growing knot in her chest.


    Levi nodded approvingly. "Good. Purity is everything to us. We believe that anyone can be saved, but they must walk the path of purity." His gaze sharpened. "Part of that path requires ensuring the body remains untainted by substances like drugs. So, we¡¯d like you to take a drug test."


    Elara blinked, surprised. "A drug test?" she repeated, feeling her stomach twist with unease. She had already taken one for her job at Living Bread¡ªwas this really necessary?


    "It¡¯s a religious thing," Levi explained, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I know you already took one for work, but this is more personal. It¡¯s part of our tradition, especially for newcomers. This is for us. For the family."


    Elara hesitated, glancing at Ben for reassurance. He gave her a small nod and squeezed the knee his hand was holding, his face calm but betraying the tension beneath. He needed her to agree¡ªit was vital.


    Levi¡¯s smile widened, but his eyes remained cold, calculating. There was a pause¡ªa beat too long¡ªas if he was waiting for her to challenge him. For a moment, the room felt colder, the weight of the family''s gaze heavy on her shoulders. Was this really a tradition, or something more?


    "If it¡¯s important to you, I¡¯m happy to do it," Elara said, hoping she was giving the right answer. Inside, her nerves buzzed with uncertainty. Was this really normal for them? She didn¡¯t want to offend anyone, especially not Ben¡¯s family.


    "Wonderful," Esther chimed in, her smile warm again. "Let¡¯s eat."


    Finally, Esther and the girls brought out the food, and the rich, savory aroma filled the room. Elara¡¯s eyes fell on the plates¡ªmashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, homemade bread, and an unfamiliar dark meat.


    Elara felt Esther¡¯s hand clasp around hers, holding it as firmly as she had hugged her earlier. Ben did the same with her other hand, his touch offering some comfort in the unfamiliar and strange environment. As everyone bowed their heads for prayer, Elara stared down at the plate in front of her, uncertain whether she should close her eyes¡ªshe hadn''t prayed before a meal in a very long time.


    Levi''s voice was steady and rhythmic, as if he had spoken the words more times than he could count, enunciating each syllable deliberately, as though they carried a deeper meaning that Elara had yet to grasp.


    ¡°Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. And may this food purify us, allowing us to be as you intended, in your son''s liking, who died to show us the truth. Amen.¡±


    A heavy silence followed the prayer, thick and suffocating, stretching longer than Elara expected.


    The prayer had felt far more structured than anything she remembered from her own experiences, almost more akin to that of a mantra or a creed.


    Ben gave her hand a quick squeeze before releasing it and starting to eat without hesitation. Elara followed suit, though her hand wavered as she picked up her fork.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked, her voice soft as she gestured toward the meat.


    Esther smiled pleasantly. "It¡¯s a special plant-based protein. Our faith teaches us not to eat animal meat, so we¡¯ve developed this substitute. It gives us all the nutrients we need to keep us pure."


    Elara nodded, though she was still confused. The plant-based meat substitution had an almost overpowering aroma, too intense for something that was supposedly a simple meat substitute. Still, not wanting to seem rude, she took a small bite.


    The texture was smooth but dense, the flavor deep and unfamiliar, yet oddly satisfying. Almost addictive.


    "Good, isn¡¯t it?" Esther asked, watching her closely.


    "Yeah," Elara replied between bites, surprised at how flavorful it was. It tasted better than regular meat¡ªso much so that she wondered how they managed to make a plant-based substitute this good.


    She could easily see herself giving up meat if it all tasted like this.


    As she finished her plate, Elara noticed the way Levi, Esther, and Ben were watching her. Had she eaten too fast? Was there something she had missed about their customs? Her mind buzzed with doubts, but she pushed them aside, determined not to spoil the evening.


    "We¡¯re glad you enjoyed it," Esther said warmly. "It¡¯s a special part of our tradition. It brings us closer to purity."


    "Mama means it makes us more like Jesus," one of the girls added with innocent enthusiasm.


    "Hush, Naomi," Esther scolded gently. "We don¡¯t want to overwhelm her."


    Levi leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Elara. "Welcome to the family," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling sense of finality.


    Relief flooded through Ben at Levi''s nod¡ªit seemed like approval. But Ben knew better than to fully relax. His brother-in-law¡¯s support was never a sure thing¡ªone wrong move, one hint of doubt, and everything could unravel. He had to ensure Elara stayed in Levi¡¯s good graces. More than that, Levi¡¯s approval would be crucial in swaying any unease his parents might still have about her. Especially considering her original purpose.


    Elara¡¯s heart fluttered. A family. The word filled her with warmth, something she hadn¡¯t felt in so long. For years, she had longed for this¡ªa place where she was welcomed, where people cared about her. Ben¡¯s family seemed to accept her, and for a moment, hope surged through her chest. It felt like she had finally found the place she belonged.


    But as quickly as the excitement came, it was tempered by a familiar knot of doubt, one that was harder to push away than she¡¯d like to admit. Levi¡¯s cold, intense stare stayed with her, like he was weighing her every word, every movement. It wasn¡¯t just Levi¡ªEsther, too, had been watching her closely, and not in the way most people watched a guest. It was more¡­ deliberate.


    Maybe it¡¯s just their way, she told herself. Ben wouldn¡¯t put her in a bad situation¡ªhe¡¯d been so good to her, better than anyone else. This is your chance, she reminded herself. Your chance at something good, something real.


    But deep down, she couldn¡¯t shake the unease. A voice in the back of her mind whispered warnings, the kind she was used to silencing. She was used to doubting her instincts, brushing off the red flags¡ªespecially when things were going well. She¡¯d convinced herself before that her doubts were just anxiety.


    Still, Levi¡¯s unsettling gaze and the eerie intensity from Esther were hard to ignore. They made her feel like she was being evaluated, not welcomed.


    "Thank you," Elara smiled, trying to shake off the oddness of the moment. She wanted to believe she¡¯d found a family here, even if their ways were a bit¡­ different.


    But despite her smile, the unease lingered, gnawing at the edge of her relief, reminding her that trust didn¡¯t come easy, especially not after everything she¡¯d been through.

 Chapter Five

    Elara sat in the dimly lit room, the air heavier than it should have been. A small, sterile needle lay on the table next to a vial, its gleaming metal catching the faint light from a nearby desk lamp. The faint smell of old wood mixed with something herbal filled the room, making it feel more like a ritual than a test. Phineas, Ben¡¯s older brother, stood beside her, his expression cold and detached as he prepared the instruments. Levi lingered just outside the door, a silent shadow too close for comfort. Ben sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee as if to offer comfort, but his grip was firm¡ªpossessive.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a simple test, Elara,¡± Ben whispered softly, his voice filled with reassurance. ¡°Nothing to worry about. It¡¯s part of our tradition. It¡¯ll be over quickly.¡±


    Elara forced a nervous smile, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. She really didn¡¯t like needles, and frankly, this wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d expected when they¡¯d asked her to take another drug test. The one at the office had been a simple Q-tip swab. Surely, Ben trusted her enough to know this was unnecessary? They hadn¡¯t been together long, but he knew her¡ªknew she would never even consider using drugs.


    It¡¯s for their religious beliefs. It¡¯s not a big deal, she thought, trying to calm her anxiety and steady her jittery legs. Ben¡¯s grip tightened on her knee. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be alright,¡± he reassured her again, his voice soothing but firm. Elara tried to focus on Ben, taking in his handsome features, the golden tan of his skin though dimmed in the poor lighting, the beauty within his blue-hazel eyes and long lashes. This at least partially helped calm her nerves. Plus, she trusted Ben.


    Even within this moment, Elara didn¡¯t think there was anything she wouldn¡¯t do for him. No one had been there for her like he had been, and she greatly admired his work ethic, his demeanor, the way he stood up for himself, how well put together he was, she truly believed she lucked out.


    Had her mother been alive still, she¡¯d have accused Elara of making him up, or claimed someone like him deserved better than Elara. She grimaced at the thought, thinking of her mother, though unintentional, only brought her more anxiety.


    Phineas wasn¡¯t sure what to think of Elara, but he trusted Levi and Esther¡¯s judgment more than his own. He hated keeping his doubts to himself. It felt wrong, but Ben had insisted they needed more time¡ªto get her to conform before introducing her to their parents. They needed to find her replacement before the Cena Sacra, and before she could be presented to the family.


    Phineas started pulling on gloves, his motions slow and deliberate. Though unsure about Elara, he took a quiet pleasure in her visible discomfort. It wasn¡¯t personal, but seeing someone squirm like this filled him with a subtle thrill he couldn¡¯t quite explain. When he was younger, he used to feel ashamed about those thoughts, but their father had assured him it was normal.


    Elara watched anxiously as Phineas prepared the needle, bracing herself for the sharp sting. Unintentionally, she gripped Ben¡¯s arm tighter, seeking comfort in his presence. She was relieved to be at Levi¡¯s house instead of a doctor¡¯s office or at work, which had been her first assumption. This house had an eerie feel, but at least her anxiety wasn¡¯t as bad as it could have been.


    Still, Phineas was taking his time, and her nerves began to creep back. She wished he would just get it over with already. Something about him made her uneasy. He¡¯d been polite enough when they met, but there was something¡­ off. She couldn¡¯t place it, but her gut told her to be wary.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a simple test, Elara,¡± Ben whispered next to her, his hand resting on her knee. The warmth of his touch should have comforted her, but instead, it felt heavy. His grip tightened as Phineas finally approached with the needle. ¡°It¡¯s for your own good. You trust me, right?¡±


    Phineas finally grabbed her arm, his touch surprisingly gentle. Elara squeezed her eyes shut, clinging to Ben as the needle pierced her skin. The pinch wasn¡¯t as bad as she¡¯d anticipated, but the discomfort lingered.


    ¡°See, that wasn¡¯t so bad, right?¡± Ben asked as he took his hand off her knee and placed his arm around her, giving her a half hug. He wanted to kiss her badly, but he knew Levi and Phineas would strongly disapprove of him doing such a thing before marriage.


    ¡°I thought it was going to hurt more honestly¡± Elara said relieved, though feeling rather queasy seeing her blood in a vial, and knowing it was her blood. She was starting to feel a tad light-headed. Though Levi was not in the room, his presence made her uncomfortable, especially since the family dinner. Ben assured Elara that was just how Levi was, but even Esther made her feel uneasy.


    Though given their closeness, she dared not mention this to Ben.


    At least so far, Phineas seemed a bit more normal, more like Ben, but not nearly as charming. Elara presumed he must do this alot, which would make sense. Ben had mentioned to her that he was a doctor and a priest for their church, which amazed Elara. She figured it must¡¯ve taken quite a bit of ambition for the amount of schooling that would take, at least she assumed. Elara wasn¡¯t sure what their process looked like for one becoming a priest. She made a mental note to ask.


    ¡®It was nice meeting you, Elara. I hope you and Ben have a good rest of your day off.¡± Phineas finally removed the gloves, turning to clean up the supplies. He didn¡¯t say much, just gave her a brief nod before leaving the room. Ben remained by her side.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay with this,¡± Ben murmured, his fingers still lingering on her knee. ¡°It¡¯s just part of what we believe in. Purity. Trust. You trust me, right?¡±


    Elara hesitated. Her heart said yes, but the knot in her stomach told her otherwise. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied. She meant it, but she couldn¡¯t help but wonder more about their religion, and about his family. Elara hoped this was as odd as it got. She loved Ben, and she knew he couldn¡¯t choose his family, but she decided she would do everything she could to steer clear of Levi going forward, so long as she could help it.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    So far, the date Ben had taken Elara on had been absolutely wonderful, despite how small the town was. After the unsettling drug test, Ben suggested they stop by Living Bread to pick up ingredients for dinner. The store felt like a safe, familiar place for Ben, but Elara wasn¡¯t sure she could handle it. Her nerves were still raw from the test, and now she was walking into a store during the busiest part of the day, filled with her day-shift coworkers.


    As they walked down the fruit aisle, Elara glanced toward a male coworker wearing a black hat with the ¡®Living Bread¡¯ logo, stocking dark red apples at the end of the row. Before she could offer a wave, Ben leaned in, his tone light but purposeful. ¡°We¡¯re on a date, Elara. Let¡¯s focus on us, okay?¡±


    The words were gentle, but a flicker of concern washed over her. Had she done something wrong? Was she not supposed to wave to those she knew on a date? Trying to push down her confusion, she forced a smile.


    As they pushed their cart through the brightly lit aisles, Elara couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit anxious. It wasn¡¯t just the crowd; it was the sudden attention. She wasn¡¯t used to seeing her coworkers outside of her night shifts, and it felt as though every pair of eyes was on her and Ben. The tension in her chest tightened as she tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone.


    While Elara¡¯s mind buzzed with worries about what they were thinking, Ben seemed completely at ease, moving from aisle to aisle with the practiced confidence of someone who knew the store like the back of his hand. His mind was focused on the task at hand¡ªbuying food for them both. As he grabbed vegetables and tofu, he paused, looking at her with a serious expression.


    ¡°Ramen and hotdogs aren¡¯t enough for you,¡± Ben said, dropping tofu into the cart without even asking. ¡°I¡¯m your boyfriend now. I¡¯m making sure you eat properly.¡±


    Elara blinked, not entirely sure how to respond. The way he had taken control of the grocery list, of their evening, felt both comforting and... slightly overwhelming. She tried to push the feeling down, smiling weakly.


    At the checkout line, she recognized Diane, an older blonde, bubbly coworker who worked the day shift, standing near the registers. Diane¡¯s green eyes lit up when she saw Elara and Ben together.


    ¡°Well, well, look who it is!¡± Diane exclaimed, walking over with a knowing grin. ¡°So, the rumors are true? You two are an item now?¡±


    Elara blushed, her hand instinctively gripping the grocery cart tighter. She hadn¡¯t been prepared for this kind of attention, but before she could answer, Ben stepped in smoothly, wrapping his arm around her waist.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ben said, his voice low but confident. ¡°Elara and I are together now.¡±


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    Diane¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Good for you, Elara. Ben¡¯s a keeper. I used to have him as my manager back when he worked the day shift. Everyone here liked him. Quiet, hard-working, and always looked out for us. You¡¯re in good hands.¡±


    Elara felt her heart race, the combination of Ben¡¯s possessive arm around her and Diane¡¯s casual praise making her feel oddly off-balance. But Ben didn¡¯t seem to notice. He smiled at Diane, thanked her, and then took over paying for the groceries, his expression unreadable as he swiped his card.


    As they left the store and stepped into the late afternoon sunlight, Elara¡¯s mind was still spinning from the encounter with Diane. The street was quieter than she expected, the usual sounds of the small town feeling distant. Ben was walking slightly ahead of her, the grocery bags in his hands, as though he had already planned out the next steps of their evening.


    The moment they arrived at Elara¡¯s yellow house, Mrs. Whitmore, her landlord, was outside tending to her garden. Her silver hair glistened in the fading sun as she looked up with a warm smile, recognizing the two immediately.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t my favorite tenant and one of my favorite students,¡± Mrs. Whitmore said, her voice full of playful warmth.


    Ben smiled back, though there was a hint of something darker behind his eyes. ¡°Mrs. Whitmore,¡± he greeted, setting the bags down inside the house. ¡°I¡¯m sure you remember me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I do!¡± Mrs. Whitmore laughed, her hands resting on her hips. ¡°You were always the most well-behaved in class. I had all your brothers in school too, but you... you were different. I knew you¡¯d turn out well.¡±


    Elara glanced between them, surprised by how easily Mrs. Whitmore spoke of Ben¡¯s past. He had never mentioned much about his childhood to her, though she hadn¡¯t asked either. Mrs. Whitmore gave her a wink.


    ¡°And you, Elara, have been an absolute delight. Responsible, quiet¡ªnever a peep of trouble from you. I¡¯m happy to see you two together.¡± She smiled, eyes twinkling. ¡°Ben¡¯s always been quite the catch.¡±


    Elara¡¯s cheeks flushed at the compliment. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Whitmore,¡± she said, her voice soft.


    Mrs. Whitmore patted Ben¡¯s arm. ¡°You two take care now. And Ben, don¡¯t be a stranger. Come visit more often, will you?¡±


    As Mrs. Whitmore walked off, Ben turned to Elara with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be coming over more often, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    They carried the groceries inside, the weight of the day settling over Elara¡¯s shoulders. She had expected the grocery trip to be stressful, but it was the quiet of the house that truly unsettled her now. Everything felt... too calm.


    Ben moved into the kitchen, unpacking the bags with a kind of efficiency that made Elara feel like an outsider in her own home. As he took charge, chopping vegetables with precision and grace, Elara watched from the side, unsure of where to step in.


    ¡°You¡¯re really good at this,¡± she commented, trying to lighten the atmosphere.


    Ben didn¡¯t look up from the chopping board. ¡°Appreciate it. I picked up some skills from my mom before her illness, and working late means I¡¯ve been cooking for myself more often.¡±


    His words, though casual, carried a weight she couldn¡¯t quite place. There was something possessive in the way he moved, something almost... obsessive in how carefully he prepared the meal.


    As they sat down to eat, the vegetarian spaghetti smelled incredible. The tofu sausage, browned to perfection, made Elara¡¯s mouth water, but as she stared at the plate in front of her, a wave of sadness hit her like a punch to the gut.


    This had been her father¡¯s favorite dish. The one they used to make together before everything fell apart. She hadn¡¯t even realized it when they were at the store, but now, seeing the meal laid out in front of her, those memories came flooding back.


    Her father¡¯s harsh words echoed in her mind. He had always blamed her, hadn¡¯t he? Blamed her for everything that went wrong. The arguments about her being a burden, the way he made her feel small, worthless. She hadn¡¯t touched spaghetti since he left, and now, sitting here with Ben, it felt like she was betraying herself by eating it.


    Her throat tightened, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She didn¡¯t want to cry¡ªnot now, not in front of Ben¡ªbut the emotions were too strong to suppress.


    ¡°Elara?¡± Ben¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and concerned. He reached across the table, his fingers lightly brushing hers. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I do something?¡±


    Elara wiped her eyes quickly, shaking her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not you. It¡¯s just... complicated. This was my dad¡¯s favorite food. We used to make it together, but after he left... I haven¡¯t had it since.¡±


    Ben¡¯s expression hardened, though he kept his voice soft. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    But he did know. He had found an old Facebook account belonging to her mother, hidden among years of disuse. He had scrolled through every post, every photo, piecing together the fragments of Elara¡¯s life before she ever had the chance to tell him herself. He had chosen this meal deliberately, thinking it would bring them closer, thinking it would make her trust him more. But now, she was crying.


    Not that he didn¡¯t anticipate her crying, he¡¯d seen the photos from her mothers facebook account of the father-daughter duo cooking spaghetti in their small but cozy looking kitchen. Ben knew her father had left her. However, while his initial plan was to use this as a way to comfort her and have her open up to him more, seeing her crying in person, at the moment, he wasn¡¯t sure how to proceed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ben said, though the words felt hollow to him. He forced a smile, his fingers tightening just slightly around hers. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡±


    Elara nodded, sniffling. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You didn¡¯t know.¡±


    Ben¡¯s jaw clenched, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He had planned this, gone over every detail in his mind countless times, but seeing her cry still twisted something inside him. He hated it.


    Not because the plan hadn¡¯t worked¡ªbecause it had¡ªbut because he wasn¡¯t prepared for how her tears would affect him.


    He felt guilt.


    ¡°Do you want me to make something else?¡± he asked, his voice tighter now, a little more insistent than he intended.


    ¡°No,¡± Elara replied, her voice small. ¡°You made this for me, and I do love spaghetti. I just didn¡¯t expect it to bring up so many memories. I¡¯m so sorry for crying.¡± She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.


    Ben watched her closely as she picked up her fork, his eyes narrowing slightly. She didn¡¯t know how much he had done for her, how much he had sacrificed to make sure this night was perfect.


    Technically, everything had gone to plan, but he felt pangs of guilt. She had no idea how meticulously he had orchestrated this moment. If it weren¡¯t for him, she wouldn¡¯t be crying right now. Her tears were his fault.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine, really,¡± Ben reassured, his voice softening. ¡°You have nothing to apologize for. Are you sure you¡¯re okay with eating the spaghetti?¡±


    Rather than verbally answering Ben, Elara placed a bite of the spaghetti in her mouth. Her eyes lit up as the flavors danced on her tongue¡ªit tasted better than any spaghetti she¡¯d ever had. ¡°Mmm, Ben, this is amazing! Thank you!¡± she said, not waiting to finish chewing before digging in for another bite. The initial wave of bad memories began to fade, replaced with the comfort of something new, something better.


    Still, one thing tugged at her thoughts¡ªthe tofu. As good as it was, it didn¡¯t compare to the plant-based meat she¡¯d eaten at Levi¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it, craving it ever since that night. It was strange, almost unsettling, how much it lingered in her mind. This spaghetti was phenomenal, but that meat substitute was unforgettable.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is my favorite food again,¡± she added, a genuine smile spreading across her face. ¡°Now I can enjoy it, thinking of you instead.¡± Her tone was lighter, more at ease. ¡°But next time, you have to help me make it. I have to learn this recipe. It¡¯s so good.¡±


    Ben smiled, this time a real, unguarded smile. Relief and satisfaction washed over him. The plan had worked after all¡ªbetter than he¡¯d hoped. He still felt regret for making her cry, but, in the end, it seems it worked out, and seeing how much she loved his cooking filled him with joy.


    Within his family, though it was not a religious belief, it was very looked down upon for a man to cook. It was seen as the woman¡¯s job, but Ben had a passion for it, and he briefly imagined a future with the two of them, cooking together. His father never did this with his mother.


    ¡°You think you could also show me how to make the plant-based meat we had at Levi¡¯s?¡± Elara asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been craving it since.¡±


    Ben¡¯s smile widened, though his thoughts quickly shifted. That plant-based meat wasn¡¯t something she could just make. He knew exactly why it had left such an impression on her, but for now, he simply nodded, his expression warm. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can work something out.¡±


    After they finished eating, the rain had started falling heavily. Ben slipped out to his car, running through the downpour to retrieve a carefully wrapped brown package he had picked out just for her. The spaghetti had been planned to open her up emotionally, but this¡ªthis gift¡ªwas different. This was meant to bring her joy. He¡¯d learned from hours of scouring her family¡¯s social media accounts that Elara had once been passionate about drawing, a passion that seemed to fade after her father left.


    So, he bought her a high-quality sketchbook and a set of professional sketching pencils, excited to see her reaction. Unlike the meal, this wasn¡¯t about vulnerability¡ªthis was about making her happy.


    ¡°This is for you too, Elara,¡± Ben said as he stepped back inside, soaked from the rain. ¡°A gift from my family.¡± He handed her the rectangular box wrapped in brown paper. ¡°You struck me as the creative type, and I thought you might like this.¡±


    Elara, having finished washing the dishes while Ben was outside, accepted the package with giddy excitement, wondering what it could be. They sat down together on the vibrant green couch in her small living room, the rain pattering softly against the windows.


    As she tore open the paper, her breath caught when she saw the sketchbook. Conflicting emotions swirled in her chest. On one hand, she was thrilled. She had always loved to draw, but after her father left, it was something she¡¯d lost. Her mother had never approved of her hobby, calling it a waste of time¡ªsomething Ben somehow knew all too well. He could relate, which made the gift feel more intimate, something he would later reveal to Elara when the time felt right. But there was also a nagging unease she couldn¡¯t shake. How did Ben know she liked drawing? And how had he known to make her favorite childhood food, spaghetti?


    Elara brushed the thoughts aside, trying to dismiss them as overthinking. Ben was kind, handsome, hardworking¡ªthere was no way he could have known those things about her past. It had to be a coincidence, right? She was thrilled¡ªbut also unnerved. How did Ben know about her love for drawing? And why did the gift feel so perfectly tailored to a part of her past she''d never mentioned?


    Still, as she gazed down at the sketchbook, a smile crept across her face. The unease faded into the background as they cuddled up on the couch and began talking for hours about art and drawing, bonding over their shared love for creativity. For now, the warmth of his attention and the thoughtful gift outweighed the small, unsettled feeling lingering in the back of her mind.

 Chapter Six

    Elara swung her small chubby legs under the table. For some odd reason, she had been certain they should¡¯ve been longer, that her feet should reach the floor. She couldn¡¯t place why, but something felt out of place. Everything was familiar, yet wrong. She didn¡¯t really know how she got here or what happened before. All she knew was that she was hungry and it was time to eat. Still, she felt afraid, though she couldn¡¯t figure out why.


    Then she heard a familiar deep, feminine, maternal voice.


    ¡°Why do you have your shoes on at the table again? You know how much it upsets your father.¡±


    That was it¡ªthe source of her fear. Elara couldn¡¯t recall why this woman, who she was certain was her mother, scared her so much. Mothers were supposed to be kind, weren¡¯t they? The woman didn¡¯t sound angry, just scolding. And Elara knew she was right. Her father would be furious if he saw her shoes on at the table.


    Rather than putting them away, Elara shook off her bright pink Crocs, watching as they bounced onto the floor. She looked up at her mother¡ªyoung and beautiful, with skin as pale as a white lily, sparkling ocean-blue eyes, and perfectly curled blonde straw-colored hair. Elara glanced down for a second, then back up. Suddenly, her mother¡¯s face looked dull, the brightness in her eyes fading.


    Her skin, once glowing, had turned sickly pale, tinged with yellow under the warm lighting. Her once-shining hair became frail and unbrushed. Elara¡¯s heart tightened with a sense of wrongness she couldn¡¯t quite understand. Her mother¡¯s brow furrowed as she placed her hands on her hips, the dark blue low-rise jeans revealing messily applied glittery pink nail polish¡ªElara¡¯s doing¡ªnow chipped and faded. Her mother¡¯s youthful appearance was slipping away, replaced by a woman Elara was all too familiar with, though she couldn¡¯t place why.


    ¡°Elara, darling, where do your shoes go when they¡¯re not on your feet?¡±


    Elara could sense her mother¡¯s growing impatience, and guilt settled over her like a heavy fog. It was the same guilt she always felt, though she could never quite place why. She slid off the stool, moving to retrieve her shoes. As she placed the Crocs back by the front door, where the chestnut-brown metal shoe rack stood, her mind swirled with anxious thoughts. This was why her parents fought so much. If only Elara were better, if only she listened, maybe her mother would still love her. Maybe her father wouldn¡¯t have left. Maybe her mother wouldn¡¯t be dead.


    But her mother wasn¡¯t dead. She had just seen her¡ªalive, right there. Plus, Mothers always loved their children, didn¡¯t they? That was the rule. Elara knew that. She wondered where such thoughts had come from.


    She tried to hurry back to the table, but her legs felt heavier with every step, like she was pushing through quicksand. The smell of something delicious¡ªa familiar herby scent¡ªfilled the air. It was a dish she recognized, but she couldn¡¯t recall her mother ever making it. Did her mother even cook? Her memories felt distant, fuzzy.


    As she approached the table, the dark chestnut color of the wood matched the shoe rack, contrasting sharply with the red-tinted floor. Elara¡¯s anticipation grew¡ªshe was looking forward to the meal.


    Her father was there, though she hadn¡¯t seen him sit down. He sat at the head of the table, shirtless, his slightly rounded stomach hanging over the waistband of the faded navy blue basketball shorts he always wore when he wasn¡¯t working. His face, rough with a stubble the same color as Elara¡¯s brunette hair, was twisted into a scowl. They looked alike¡ªsame olive skin, same brown eyes¡ªbut his eyes¡­ they were hard, cold, filled with contempt. The sight of him sent a shiver through her.


    He scared her, far more than her mother did.


    Elara tried to push away the fear and focus on the food now placed in front of her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s say grace!¡± her mother said as she sat down next to her father, folding her hands and bowing her head.


    ¡°Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. And may this food purify us, allowing us to be as you intended, in your son''s liking, who died to show us the truth. Amen.¡±


    The prayer was different. It didn¡¯t feel right. The words, familiar yet wrong, twisted uncomfortably in her mind like a song sung out of tune. But the smell of the food in front of her overwhelmed her senses, clouding her thoughts. She couldn¡¯t focus on why the prayer felt off¡ªher gaze dropped down to the table.


    There, on her plate, sat an unfamiliar dark meat¡ªyet she knew it. She had eaten this before, and she loved it. Nothing compared to the way its rich, savory taste danced across her tongue. She remembered how it made her feel¡ªsatisfied, almost addicted. Her mouth watered as Elara picked up her fork, ready to take a bite.


    Suddenly, Elara¡¯s breath caught as her mother¡¯s head slumped forward, face-planting into her plate with a wet, heavy thud that echoed in her ears. A bright, ruby-red liquid spilled out, flooding the table and mixing with the food, transforming the meal into a grotesque display. The blood, thick and viscous, as dark and red as ripe cherries, crawled across the table like something alive, staining everything in its path.


    Elara¡¯s heart raced, her stomach lurching as she stared in horror. She wanted to scream, but the sound seemed trapped in her throat, suffocated by fear. Before she could react, her father¡¯s figure grew larger, towering over her. His face twisted with rage, his eyes wild, his voice booming as it filled the room.


    ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done! You ungrateful, pathetic bitch! You drove me away!"¡± he shouted, his voice reverberating with the same cruel tone she had heard so many times before.


    His hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head back with brutal force. The sharp sting in her scalp was instant, so vivid it left her breathless. He dragged her forward, her body reacting to the pain, and forced her to look at her mother¡¯s lifeless form, face still buried in the plate. Blood soaked through the tablecloth, a thick, dark stain spreading like ink.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks as his words cut into her like knives.


    ¡°You did this! Are you happy now? Happy that she¡¯s gone? Happy with your new family?¡± he snarled, his breath hot and foul against her skin, making her stomach churn.


    His grip on her hair tightened, yanking her head closer to her mother¡¯s body, until her nose was almost touching the blood-streaked table. The metallic scent of the blood, mixed with the smell of the dark meat, filled her nostrils, making her want to gag.


    ¡°Is this what you wanted?¡± he hissed, his voice dripping with venom, each word laced with hatred.


    Elara sobbed, her body trembling under the weight of his fury, his face mere inches from hers, his breath suffocating her. The world around her seemed to blur, the blood spreading across the table, swallowing everything in its path.


    ¡ª---------------------------------------


    Elara shot up in bed, heart pounding so fast she thought it might burst from her chest. She blinked rapidly, trying to shake the vivid, terrifying images from her mind¡ªher father¡¯s harsh voice, her mother¡¯s lifeless body, and the blood.


    So much blood.


    It had felt disturbingly real. Her skin felt clammy, her breath shallow and erratic. Slowly, her surroundings came into focus. It was just a dream. Just a dream.


    She swallowed hard, attempting to steady her breathing. Her hands trembled as she wiped her damp eyes. The remnants of the nightmare clung to her like a suffocating blanket, refusing to let go.


    Elara pulled her pale yellow blanket tighter around her shoulders, seeking comfort in its warmth. What was that? The vividness of the dream haunted her, and although she had never experienced dreams like this before, they had been coming more frequently this past week. She inhaled shakily, trying to ease the anxiety gnawing at her insides.


    Was it the spaghetti that triggered this?


    Her thoughts drifted back to the drug test¡ªthe discomfort of Phineas¡¯ deliberate slowness, the strange, ritualistic feel to it all. Ever since that night, something had felt off. She couldn¡¯t quite place it, but her mind had been spiraling, her anxiety festering like a growing sickness she couldn¡¯t shake.


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    She hadn¡¯t talked to Ben about it much, mostly due to lack of seeing him since the incident. Only cried that first night he made it for her, but ever since then, her thoughts kept returning to her father. She hated thinking about him, about the way cooking had been their only real connection. The rest of her memories containing her father had been filled with anger and instability.


    Elara buried her face in the blanket, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over again. She didn¡¯t have time for this. Her mother had fallen apart after her father left, and Elara had been the one to pick up the pieces. She¡¯d kept their lives together while trying to survive high school, while her mother¡¯s bitterness toward her father¡ªtoward her¡ªstewed.


    BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.


    The shrill sound of her alarm cut through her thoughts. Elara scrambled to find her phone, silencing the noise that snapped her back to reality. 2:15 PM. She groaned, realizing she had slept through her earlier alarms. No time for her usual routine now.


    With a heavy sigh, she swung her legs out of bed, the weight of the dream still lingering over her. Truthfully, Elara wanted to call off, but she knew that giving in would only let her anxieties win. I can¡¯t let it control me, she reminded herself, quickly changing into her black long-sleeve blouse and jeans, skipping makeup entirely.  Normally, she liked to look nice for Ben, still eager to impress him and not wanting him to find her unattractive.


    But surely, he¡¯d prefer her makeup-free over being late to work.


    ¡ª-------------------------------


    Elara¡¯s stomach growled as she finally sat down in the breakroom after what felt like a never-ending four hours. The customers had been kinder than usual, but the day still left her drained, unease lingering from her unsettling dream. She exhaled in relief, grateful for the break.


    In front of her sat a small bowl of diced watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, and grapes. Ben had been sweet enough to grab it for her before her break¡ªanother thoughtful gesture among many over the past week. His kindness was comforting, but his recent distance left her feeling uneasy. He had been tied up in mysterious meetings, and despite finishing at the same time, he always rushed off for ¡°family reasons.¡± Elara couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something deeper was going on.


    Maybe it was because of her breakdown at dinner, or the blood test that still weighed heavily on her mind, especially given its strangeness. She thought it was an odd thing to be asked of her, but she trusted Ben and wanted to be open-minded to his and his families beliefs. The test had seemed impossible to fail, especially since she didn¡¯t drink¡ªtoo afraid of becoming like her mother, whose addiction had consumed her life. Looking back, Elara recalled how strange Phineas had been, almost deliberately slow despite her presumably obvious discomfort.


    Her eyes drifted to the small note attached to the fruit: ¡°For my lovely Elara, just a little sweetness to brighten your day.¡± Her lips curled into a small smile. Ben always knew how to make her feel special, and the simple gesture filled her with warmth, even if it didn¡¯t fully ease her growing worries.


    Ben had promised her that, once these manager meetings were over, he would spend more time with her. That promise helped a little, though she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of curiosity about the details he kept vague.


    She popped a grape into her mouth, trying to distract herself by skimming the "Employee Rights" poster on the wall.


    ¡°Elara! Did you see the lady with the cat in her cart? She had the poor thing wrapped up like a burrito in blankets! I thought it was a baby at first!¡± Thomas¡¯s voice broke the quiet and pulled Elara from her swirling thoughts as he burst into the breakroom, his excitement bubbling over.


    Elara jumped surprised, but smiled when she realized it was just Thomas. Thomas had been around more lately, picking up extra shifts during school break. She didn¡¯t fully understand why he¡¯d choose to work more with a stable home and financial support, but his company was welcome, especially with how unavailable Ben had been.


    ¡°No way! Did you get a picture? I can¡¯t believe she has a cat that is that well-behaved,¡± she said, savoring a juicy bite of watermelon.


    ¡°Nah, my phone¡¯s in my locker. Got written up the other day for ¡®excessive phone usage,¡¯ apparently some customers complained.¡± Thomas rolled his eyes but shrugged with a grin.


    Elara frowned. Thomas was one of the hardest-working teenagers she knew, and at only 17, she felt he deserved more leniency. Whoever wrote him up could¡¯ve given him a warning, right?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I got you guys covered,¡± came a voice from behind, raspy but warm, with a slight Southern twang. It was one of the deli workers¡ªeither Sasha or Samantha. Elara could never tell them apart.


    The older blonde woman pulled out her phone¡ªan iPhone 11 with a neon pink glitter case¡ªshowing off pictures of a small black cat bundled in red and navy blue blankets, just as Thomas had described, inside a grocery cart.


    ¡°Aww! That¡¯s adorable! It makes me want to get a cat,¡± Elara said wistfully, briefly wondering if her landlord would approve, it was something she hadn¡¯t even looked into upon moving to Redwood Haven.


    ¡°I used to have a brown tabby, but he ran away a few months ago. My sister says he¡¯s in a better place,¡± Thomas said softly.


    Before Elara could respond, Levi¡¯s sharp voice cut through the room. ¡°Thomas! Why do I have angry, cartless customers? We¡¯ve gone over this! Is this the kind of customer service we aim to provide?¡±


    Thomas¡¯s shoulders sagged, his hopeful expression fading into frustration.  ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it, sorry,¡± he muttered, grabbing his water bottle and quickly leaving the room.


    Elara¡¯s appetite vanished, her heart sinking at Levi¡¯s harshness. She wanted to stand up for Thomas, argue that he¡¯d only been there for a second, but Levi¡¯s tone made her too nervous to speak.


    Instead, she stared down at her fruit, trying to muster the will to finish it. Ben had gotten it for her, after all.


    ¡°And Sam! You¡¯ve got an hour left of your shift. Why are you in the breakroom?¡± Levi added, his voice eerily calm but dripping with authority.


    Sam, visibly irritated, stormed out, muttering something that sounded like ¡°asshole¡± under her breath. Elara couldn¡¯t catch it fully, but she silently agreed¡ªLevi had been too harsh. Neither of them had been there long enough to deserve such a reprimand.


    Elara pushed her fruit around in the bowl, her appetite gone. She tried to force herself to eat for Ben¡¯s sake, but the tension in the room made it difficult.


    Levi grabbed a soda from the gray breakroom fridge, barely sparing her a glance before leaving, irritation clear on his face.


    A few moments later, Ben appeared in the doorway of the manager¡¯s office, his presence catching her off guard. She had nearly forgotten he was in another meeting with Levi.


    ¡°Levi¡¯s gone, right?¡± Ben¡¯s tone softened, eagerness barely concealed beneath his words as his gaze settled on Elara. His eyes flickered with longing¡ªhe had been waiting for this moment, hoping for a private second with her, away from Levi¡¯s watchful eye. He stepped into the room, leaning casually against the doorway of the manager¡¯s office. He¡¯d barely seen her all week, and now, standing just a few feet away, he wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them.


    Elara, still feeling anxious, nodded. His presence caught her off guard¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d followed Levi out moments before, too wrapped up in her own thoughts.


    Ben stepped closer, noticing the tension in her brow. His hands rested gently on her shoulders, his touch soft but grounding. He pressed a light kiss to her forehead, his voice low and filled with concern. ¡°Elara, you alright?¡±


    Elara shook her head, frowning as her thoughts whirled. Should she tell him about what happened with Thomas? Ben was her boyfriend, always so fair, so just. He¡¯d take her side, wouldn¡¯t he?


    ¡°Does Levi have something against Thomas?¡± she asked quietly, fidgeting with her cross necklace, her eyes dropping to his white sneakers.


    ¡°Kinda,¡± Ben replied, his expression steady but firm. He gently lifted her chin, guiding her gaze back to his. ¡°We¡¯ve spoken to Thomas privately a few times, but there¡¯s more to it than I can tell you. Levi shouldn¡¯t have handled it that way, but we¡¯re giving Thomas another chance. Levi¡¯s not thrilled, but I pushed for it. I honestly should¡¯ve told you sooner, and I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just been so hectic, especially this week. But there¡¯s more to him than you realize, and it¡¯s best if you keep your distance.¡±


    Ben felt a pang of guilt, though technically, it wasn¡¯t a complete lie. The truth was more complicated.


    He had been simmering with frustration all week, watching how Thomas seemed to linger around Elara, always finding reasons to be near her. The audacity of him, thinking he had any right to be that close. The way her eyes softened with concern for him now only deepened the irritation simmering inside Ben. Why was she even defending him? Elara wasn¡¯t just some coworker¡ªshe was his.


    Ben clenched his jaw at the thought. No one else should be hovering around her like that.


    Still, as much as Ben despised Thomas, the boy fit perfectly into their plans for the Cena Sacra. His youth, his innocence¡ªhe was the ideal candidate, and Levi had agreed. Ben knew he wasn¡¯t supposed to let personal feelings influence the choice¡ªthe Cena Sacra demanded emotional detachment. But the idea of removing Thomas from Elara¡¯s life,  ensuring he wouldn¡¯t be a problem anymore, and saving Elara, made it all too tempting.


    Elara¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯ve barely seen you all week, and now you¡¯re asking me to distance myself from the only coworker I talk to. And you can¡¯t even tell me why?¡±


    A sharp spike of annoyance ran through Ben. Her concern for Thomas, of all people, irritated him more than he¡¯d expected. His grip tightened ever so slightly, his expression unreadable. He needed her to trust him, and yet her doubt was creeping in.


    ¡°I did tell you, Elara. I just can¡¯t give you the specifics until it¡¯s been handled. You know I love you, but I can¡¯t abuse my manager privileges. Just trust me on this one, okay? I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡±


    Elara hesitated, a wave of guilt washing over her for pressing him. Ben always had her best interests at heart, didn¡¯t he? But something still felt off about keeping her distance from Thomas. Then again, as her mother had always liked to remind her while she was alive, Elara could be rather gullible.


    ¡°Ben, is Thomas dangerous?¡± she asked, her voice anxious as she searched his eyes¡ªdeep hazel, flecked with blue.


    Ben¡¯s jaw tightened as he met her gaze. He hadn¡¯t intended to push this far, but the frustration and jealousy swirling inside him drove him forward. ¡°Yes, Elara,¡± he said, his tone firm but laced with concern. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to scare you, but trust me, Thomas isn¡¯t as harmless as he looks. It¡¯s best if you keep your distance. I¡¯ll always be here to protect you, but you need to listen to me¡ªyou know I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.¡±


    Elara nodded, leaning into Ben for a comforting embrace. She felt a bit frightened and wished Ben could just tell her more, but she trusted him. As her mind raced, she felt the familiar warmth of Ben¡¯s presence calming her, though unease still lingered.


    ¡°Could you... maybe take me home?¡± she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The idea of being alone after everything unsettled her.


    Ben''s eyes softened, and a small smile touched his lips. ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, his tone gentle but protective. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want you walking home by yourself, anyway. Perhaps tomorrow I can come by for dinner?¡±


    Elara squealed with joy, feeling an immediate sense of relief. The thought of going home with Ben rather than walking through the dark streets of Redwood-Haven alone brought her comfort she hadn¡¯t realized she needed.


    Even more, she was excited to have him over for dinner the following night¡ªshe had missed both his company and his cooking.