Episode 1

Chapter 01 – Eleonor

The darkness envelops me again. I'm locked in, the doors won't open, my screams are lost in the void. No one hears me. No one comes. The darkness seems to swallow me… Until a distant sound cuts through the silence. An insistent beep, echoing louder and louder, pulling me back.

My alarm clock.

I open my eyes slowly, feeling my heart hammering inside my chest. My breathing is still heavy, fear clinging to my body like a persistent shadow. Another nightmare. I take a deep breath, trying to dispel the tightness in my chest, and look at the clock on the bedside table.

5:30 in the morning.

I force myself out of the sheets and place my feet on the cold floor, shivering at the icy contact. Winter is relentless. I go to the bathroom and turn on the shower, letting the hot water run over my skin, trying to wash away the suffocating feeling of a sleepless night.

When I get out, I wipe the fogged-up mirror with my hand. My reflection appears gradually, and what I see makes me sigh. Deep dark circles, pale skin, tired eyes. I look as worn out as I feel.

I go back to the bedroom and put on my usual clothes: worn-out jeans, a baggy sweatshirt, and the same old sneakers that should have been retired long ago. As I put on my shoes, I glance out the window. Snow is falling in soft flakes, covering the city in a white blanket. Beautiful… but not at all practical when you depend on public transport to cross the city.

In the kitchen, I make a quick coffee, feeling the warm, bitter aroma fill the small apartment. I grab my lunchbox from the fridge – food prepared over the weekend, since time and money are luxuries I can't afford.

I check my phone. 1% battery. Great. I stuff the charger into my backpack along with the phone, and when I look at the clock, I realize I've dallied too long.

Damn it.

I grab my jacket in a hurry and run to the door, feeling the cold air invade the apartment when I open it. Another day beginning. Another day of work that seems to never end.

Rushing down the stairs, I feel each step echo through the narrow corridors of the building. The elevator is out of order – as usual – and I'm already late.

Damn it, Eleonor, you can't be late again.

But then, halfway down, I see Mrs. Gusmao struggling to carry her baby stroller up the stairs. The other residents pass her by without even a glance, too hurried to notice her difficulty.

I close my eyes for a second, fighting against the urgency of my own lateness. You can't be late, you can't be late...

I sigh. But I can't ignore it either.

“Good morning, Mrs. Gusmao. Do you need help?” my voice comes out rushed, but gentle.

She sighs in relief, her face marked by exhaustion.

“Oh, Eleonor, thank you! This weight is killing me.”

I take the front of the stroller and help her up the steps, feeling the small jolts of effort. When we reach the top, little Sophia looks at me with bright eyes and gives a toothless smile.

My heart tightens slightly.

I return the smile without even thinking.

Few things in the world make me truly smile. But children... I just can't resist them.

I gently run my hand through her soft little hair before saying goodbye.

“Thank you, Eleonor, you’re an angel,” she smiles, clearly grateful.

“Have a good day, Mrs. Gusmao.”

And then I start running again, descending the last steps as quickly as possible. Tardiness awaits me, but for some reason, my chest feels a little lighter.

I run to the bus stop, the biting cold hitting me hard, but the wind doesn't seem to matter. I only think about getting to work. When I look down the street, my heart sinks as I see the bus pulling away. Damn it.

I take the next one, which drops me off a bit further away. Now I'll have to walk to the office. I look at my watch with a hint of desperation. 7:30.

I'm 30 minutes late.

And that means it's over. My boss, Ethan, is not going to like this at all.

I hurry through the streets, trying my best to ignore the anxiety growing inside me. Each step I take seems longer, heavier, as if the sidewalks stretch on endlessly.

I finally reach the building and, without wasting time, get into the elevator.

Soon, I hear quick footsteps behind me.

“Hold the door!” a female voice shouts.

My hand presses the button, and the door opens again. A woman enters. I recognize her. It's Sarah, a friend of my boss. She's always elegant and well-dressed, while I barely have time to look in the mirror in the morning.

She gives me a quick glance, a forced smile, and I'm quick to look away, trying not to care. I have enough to worry about.

The elevator starts to go up, but soon the sound of the overload bell echoes. The number of people exceeds the maximum allowed limit. The tension is palpable.

“Someone needs to get out for the elevator to go up,” the doorman's voice echoes through the sound system.

The atmosphere in the elevator becomes heavy. Sarah starts talking loudly, in her shrill voice.

“You, sir, can wait for the next one.”

I look at the elderly gentleman standing next to her, a small man with glasses, who is clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He says nothing, but his tense body is enough to show his irritation.

She can't possibly be doing this.

And then, my mouth starts talking without thinking.

“The one who should get out is you, who got in last. Leave the gentleman alone.”

Everyone in the elevator looks in my direction, some with surprised expressions, others with a smile of approval. But Sarah doesn't like this at all. She turns to me, her gaze cold and challenging.

“Who do you think you are?” She approaches me, her voice lower, but full of venom. “Behave yourself or this could cost you your job.”

And, in an abrupt movement, she pushes the little old man aside, without any respect. I can't contain my anger.

No, she's not going to do that.

I turn, ready to argue, but the gentleman is falling backward, and all I can do is lunge towards him.

“Are you all right, sir?” I ask, my hands touching his shoulder to make sure he stays balanced.

He seems a little dizzy, but nods, forcing a smile.

“Yes, yes, thank you, young lady.”

As the elevator starts to go up again, Sarah casts a disdainful look at me.

Soon the elevator doors close, and I stand there, next to the gentleman, waiting for the next one, making sure he'll be okay.

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