ERABA RETA 1 - Beyond the Pedestal

"Let them leave, please. I beg you," Eula pleaded with the young man assigned by Katarina to watch over them.

They had been brought to a remote vacation house nestled in the quiet countryside of Bordeaux by Katarina's operatives. It was a picturesque place, surrounded by tall trees and rolling hills, but to Eula, it felt more like a gilded cage.

"They are free to leave if they wish, madame," Eros replied calmly. His tone was polite but unyielding.

Eula couldn't hold back her tears. His words confirmed what she feared most: Alfred, Marie, and Layla had chosen to stay. They had once again decided to remain by her side, even when they had the chance to walk away and build their own lives.

The night Katarina had visited them, Eula had left the three of them the money she had painstakingly saved. It was meant to be the foundation of her new life in the Philippines, far away from the chaos of her husband's world. But deep down, she had known that dream was no longer within reach. She wanted the money to serve as a parting gift, a token of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty.

Yet, when Katarina's people had come to take her and Hao, Alfred, Marie, and Layla had refused to leave. They had boarded the vehicle without hesitation, ignoring Eula's desperate pleas for them to stay behind and save themselves.

Three days had passed since they arrived at the vacation house, and still, they showed no signs of leaving.

Eula would often watch them through the large glass windows of the living room. Alfred and Marie would be outside with Hao, playing tag in the garden or helping him build sandcastles in the small sandbox that had been set up. Layla, always the quiet one, spent her time baking treats in the kitchen, filling the house with the comforting aroma of bread and pastries.

Hao, blissfully unaware of the gravity of their situation, laughed and played as though they were on a real vacation. Eula envied his innocence, even as it broke her heart. He had no idea that their lives hung in the balance, that their fate was being decided by forces beyond their control.

Eros, ever watchful but unobtrusive, allowed them to do as they pleased—so long as they didn't try to leave the high walls surrounding the property. Within those walls, they were free to move about as they wished.

It was as though Alfred, Marie, and Layla had accepted whatever destiny awaited them. They made the most of each day, cooking extravagant meals, sharing stories with Eula, and ensuring Hao never felt the weight of the situation.

Eula sat at the edge of the garden, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she watched Alfred chase Hao around a tree. Layla emerged from the house with a tray of freshly baked cookies, offering them to everyone with a warm smile. Marie handed Hao a cookie, laughing as he stuffed it into his mouth with childish enthusiasm.

The scene was almost too perfect, like a fleeting dream. But Eula couldn't shake the heavy sense of foreboding that lingered in her chest. She wanted to scream at them to leave, to run far away while they still could.

But their steadfast loyalty kept them rooted in place, and Eula's heart ached with both gratitude and despair. These were the people who had stood by her through everything, and now they were willingly sharing her uncertain fate.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Eula sat alone on the porch steps. Eros stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable as he kept his silent watch.

"Why won't they leave?" she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

Eros didn't answer immediately. His gaze shifted briefly to the trio laughing with Hao in the distance before returning to Eula. "Perhaps they see something worth staying for, madame."

Eula looked down, tears spilling onto her hands. She didn't know whether to feel comforted or burdened by his words. All she knew was that time was running out, and every moment with the people she loved felt like a gift—and a curse.