She looked around, but the square was deserted, only the night breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. Maybe it was just paranoia, or maybe she really was being watched. Either way, she couldn't afford to hesitate.

Elena entered the hotel and was greeted by a friendly receptionist who promptly checked her in. After receiving the room key, she took the old elevator, which creaked as it ascended to the third floor. The room was small but comfortable, with a window overlooking the main street.

She threw her bag onto the armchair and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. The last few hours had been an emotional rollercoaster, and now she needed a plan. Evan had promised to cover her mother's treatment expenses, but the price was too high.

She thought about the document he had mentioned. Silverbook was a small town, which meant there were only a few places where something so important could be kept. She suspected she would need to infiltrate some local institution, perhaps a bank or a law office.

As her thoughts raced, Elena's phone vibrated. It was a message from Clara:

"I hope you found a good place to stay. We need to talk. Love you."

She sighed, recalling her sister's coldness at the hospital. Despite everything, Clara was her family and the only person in Silverbook she could count on, even if only to a limited extent. She quickly replied:

"I did. We'll talk more tomorrow. Good night."

After sending the message, she lay back down, trying to calm her thoughts. She needed a good night's sleep to be ready for the next day and to face Evan and whatever he wanted from her.

The next morning, she woke up early, the first rays of sunlight streaming through the window. She had a quick meal at the hotel and then waited in the lobby, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. At nine o'clock sharp, as promised, Evan arrived. He got out of the car with his usual confidence and approached her.

"Good morning, pet. Ready for your mission?"

"Yes," Elena replied, trying to sound more resolute than she felt.

Evan handed her an envelope.

"Here is the information you need. The address, the names of the people involved, and a layout of the location."

Biting her lip, Elena quickly glanced at the papers.

"There will be someone there waiting for you."

She started at this. "Someone? Who?"

Evan didn't seem interested in giving many details.

"Someone trustworthy. Just follow the instructions and everything will go smoothly."

With a curt nod, he walked away, leaving Elena alone with the envelope. She felt a mix of relief and nervousness. Having someone to help meant fewer risks but also less control over the situation.

Determined not to waste any time, she left the hotel and walked to the indicated address. The sun was not yet high, and the streets of Silverbook were quiet. She arrived at the small municipal library, a discreet but well-maintained building.

Elena took a deep breath and entered, the smell of old books and polished wood greeting her. In the lobby, a young librarian looked at her curiously.

"Good morning. Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for someone."

The librarian smiled and nodded, as if she had been expecting this question.

"Of course, please follow me."

She led Elena down a narrow corridor to a back door. Opening it, she revealed a small reading room where a man was sitting, reading a newspaper.

Upon seeing her, he stood up, revealing a tall, thin figure with piercing eyes and a serious expression. He extended his hand.

"Elena, I presume. I'm Noah. Evan asked me to help you."

Elena shook his hand, trying to decipher the man before her.

"Thank you, Noah. What's the plan?"

He invited her to sit and pulled out a layout of the town hall from the folder he carried. "The room you need to access is in the basement. There is a rarely used service entrance. I will distract them while you enter and do what you need."

She carefully examined the layout.

"And what about security? Will anyone see me?"

Noah smiled slightly.

"I've taken care of that. There will be a small window of time when the cameras will be inactive. You need to be quick and precise."

Elena nodded, feeling adrenaline start to course through her veins.

"And if something goes wrong?"

Noah looked at her seriously.

"It won't. Just trust me."

The following hours were spent in meticulous preparation. Noah equipped her with tools to disable the electronic lock and gave her detailed instructions on how to avoid the camera blind spots. They rehearsed the plan multiple times until every move was perfectly synchronized.

Elena was an investigative journalist; sneaking in and out of places she didn't belong was the soul of her profession. But even so, this went beyond all her previous limits. It was her mother's life at stake, and she couldn't fail.

When night fell, Elena was ready. With Noah by her side, they went to the service entrance of the town hall. Noah looked at his watch and nodded.

"It's time. Good luck, Elena."

She took a deep breath and, with a nod, slipped through the entrance. Her heart pounded as she moved through the dark corridors, following Noah's instructions. Upon reaching the door to the records room, she used the tools to disable the lock and quickly entered.

Inside, the files were organized on tall shelves. Elena found the indicated section and began searching for the document. Each second felt like an eternity, but she finally found it, stored in a leather folder.

With the document in hand, she exited the room and started the journey back. Everything was going according to plan until she heard footsteps echoing in the corridor. She froze, trying to hide in the shadows.

A firm male voice echoed down the hallway.

"Who's there?"

Elena held her breath, trying to remain still. The footsteps approached, and she felt sweat trickle down her forehead. But before she could be discovered, Noah appeared, drawing the guard's attention.

"Excuse me, I'm lost. Can you help me find the exit?"

The guard seemed confused for a moment but then led Noah away. Elena seized the opportunity and moved quickly, exiting through the same service entrance.

Outside, Noah was waiting, a relieved smile on his face.

"Did you get it?"

She showed him the document, and he nodded.

"Good job."

Elena cordially said goodbye to Evan's accomplice and headed back to the hotel. The black car was parked right at the entrance, with both headlights on.

The young woman tapped on the window to get his attention.

"You did it," he said, taking the folder from Elena's hands. "Well done, pet."

Elena took a deep breath, feeling the tension ease.

"And my mother?"

Evan looked at her, the shadow of a smile playing on his lips.

"As promised, the treatment will start tomorrow. You did your part, now it's my turn to fulfill mine."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Elena knew she was dreaming.

She knew because it wasn't the first time she had seen that place, those people. The brick ceiling with the smell of mold, the peeling walls, and the floor dirty with dust and grease stains also remained identical.

Standing in the middle of the old house's living room, Elena watched the scene unfold before her.

Her mother was once again yelling at her. Or rather, at the child Elena once was.

Little Elena, no more than seven years old, crouched in a corner, eyes wide and tears streaming down her face. Her mother's harsh words reverberated in the room, each syllable filled with frustration and fatigue.

"You never do anything right! Why can't you be like your sister?" The voice echoed, cruel and relentless, while the child cowered even more.

Elena, the adult, knew it was just a dream. A distorted memory amplified by the pain of a childhood marked by unattainable expectations. She tried to move, but her feet seemed glued to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Mommy... I'm sorry..." The child's voice was a desperate whisper, a lament that repeated incessantly in her nightmares.

"The worst thing I ever did was get pregnant with you. You only bring me disappointment. There's not a single day that I don't see you as a burden, as something that shouldn't exist!"

Hurt, the little girl could only whimper and curl up in a corner. Clara, with her ten years of age, watched discreetly while pretending to be focused on her homework.

The mother's shrill voice sounded again, increasingly cruel:

"When I die, you'll regret all the disappointment you give me. God is just and sees everything you do to me!"

Elena, the adult, felt the weight of the words traverse time and hit her heart, as if she were that seven-year-old girl again. Tears rolled silently down her face, but she couldn't move, couldn't intervene.

The mother turned and left the room, leaving little Elena alone in her despair. The child looked around, seeking refuge, but everything seemed oppressive and without escape. She got up, trembling, and walked to Clara, who was still pretending to do her homework.

"Clara..." whispered little Elena, her voice choked. "Why does she hate me so much?"

Clara looked at her younger sister with an expression that mixed pity and resignation.

"It's not you, Elena. It's her. She's unhappy with her life and takes it out on you. Don't take it seriously, okay?"

But little Elena couldn't understand. She couldn't comprehend how her mother's words could not be true. The feeling of being inadequate and unwanted took deep root in her being.

The scene changed again. Now, Elena was in a long, dark corridor. The walls seemed to close in around her, and the shadows took on grotesque forms that whispered words of despair and doubt. She walked, each

step heavy as lead, trying to find an exit.

Suddenly, she saw a door at the end of the corridor. Running towards it, she felt the air become lighter and hope begin to bloom in her chest. She opened the door forcefully, only to find herself in a cemetery. Tombstones were scattered across a foggy field, and the sound of crickets and owls filled the air.

She walked among the tombstones, feeling a growing chill. She stopped in front of a specific gravestone, where her mother's name was engraved. Her words in the dream echoed in her mind:

"When I die, you'll regret all the disappointment you give me. God is just and sees everything you do to me!"

Elena fell to her knees, feeling an overwhelming weight of guilt and regret. The tears now were of a deep and ancient pain, a pain that never seemed to completely disappear.

"Please, Mommy... Forgive me..." she whispered, knowing there would be no answer.

Suddenly, she heard a soft sound behind her. She turned and saw Clara, not as the child she knew in the dream, but as an adult. Clara approached slowly, with a look of understanding and sadness.

"Elena, you need to forgive yourself. It's not your fault."

Elena felt a mix of anger and relief.

"How can I forgive myself, Clara? I never managed to make her love me."

Clara knelt beside Elena and hugged her tightly. A sob broke free from Elena's chest.

The cemetery began to fade, as did all the sounds around. Darkness took over her mind, and then...

Elena woke up with a start, panting. The first light of morning was entering through the hotel room window. She sat up in bed, feeling the dried tears on her face and a strange sensation in her chest.

Her mother wasn't dead. She was alive, being well-treated in the hospital despite her grave condition.

But the young woman couldn't shake the feeling that this nightmare was more than just a dream.

It felt more like a premonition.