Chapter 4 Second Chance

• "Taylor... wake up!"
• Taylor’s eyes flew open. She sat up with a violent gasp, clutching her chest.
• No agonizing pain. No blood. No twisted, crushing metal.
• Instead, her nose was filled with the familiar scent of the tiny room she had lived in for years.
• Standing in the doorway was her stepmother. Taylor scrambled backward on the bed.
• Mrs. Ess rolled her eyes. "Hey, get up. I’m having guests over tonight. Go prepare dinner for them." Without waiting for a response, Ess turned and left the room.
• Taylor looked around the room in confusion. She ran her hands through her hair, then over her arms and chest. Nothing. She was completely unharmed, wearing a pair of night pajamas.
• "Move it!" Ess’s voice boomed from the hallway.
• Taylor's trembling legs slid out of the bed,
• "What is happening?" she whispered as she slowly opened the door and walked down the living room.
• There sat Mira, tapping away on her phone, smiling happily as if nothing had happened.
• Her stepmother, casually getting her pedicure done.
• Taylor’s gaze drifted past them, falling onto the calendar hanging on the wall.
• January 12.
• Her pupils shrank.
• That was one week before her wedding to Stan.
• What is really happening here?
• "Hey, move faster!" Mrs. Ess snapped, glaring at Taylor. "The guests will arrive soon. You better be careful. Don't disgrace me with that cooking."
• These words. This exact scene. It had happened before.
• Taylor's hands tightened into fists.
• "Mom," Mira called out, whining as she slid over to her mother's couch. "Mr. Knox isn't replying to my messages."
• Whatever this crazy, impossible thing was, Taylor realized she had to figure it out fast. She was back.
• Beep.
• The front door chime rang.
• "Oh, welcome!" Ess smiled, welcoming the guests.
• Taylor quickly slipped into the kitchen. On the counter sat a large bowl of marinated chicken.
• A trap set by Ess
• They had accused her of poisoning the guests in the past.
• She lifted the chicken bowl slowly.
• A cold smile spread across her face.
• Right now, she needed a clean excuse to escape this setup before the food was served.
• Her eyes fell on the kitchen knife in her hand.
• "Ahhh!" she cried out, slicing the palm of her hand.
• "What's wrong with you?!" Mrs. Ess hissed, pushing the kitchen door open in irritation. Her eyes fell on the blood rushing from Taylor's hand, staining the counter. "What the heck are you doing?!"
• "I'm sorry, Mom... I... I slipped. I didn't mean to," Taylor's voice trembled.
• "Gosh, this girl is so useless..." Ess muttered, casting an anxious glance toward the living room where the guests were sitting.
• "I'm so sorry, Mom," Taylor said loudly. "I will still cook, don't worry about me or this little cut. I don't want this to be spoiled because of me."
• Hearing the commotion, one of the guests peered into the kitchen. "How is that a little cut? She's bleeding everywhere!"
• "Leave it, it's fine," Ess said quickly, giving Taylor a hard shove. "Go tend to your cut," Ess ordered through clenched teeth.
• Taylor lowered her head, hiding the victorious smile spreading across her lips. "I'm so sorry, Mom." she turned...
• As she neared Mira’s bedroom door, she heard her step-sister’s muffled voice from inside.
• "Stan, hey... don't come here right now. I'm going to visit someone."
• Stan.
• Hearing his name made Taylor’s blood run cold.
• She pulled out her phone.
• Taylor: Don't contact me again. Our relationship is over.
• She hit send.
• Almost instantly, a sharp, outraged gasp echoed from inside the room.
• "What?!" Mira shrieked.
• "What do you mean " Mira opened the door her gaze locked with Taylor standing in front of her.