Do you believe me?

Molly walked into the apartment building, still with the blank look on her face, taken aback by what that woman who came out of nowhere told her. Her life being in grave danger and that the thing that was after her would always catch her, why would she say such things to her? How would she even? The words she said were hugely related to what she was going through but how would she know that? Because her life was in grave danger and something was after her, it was the strange thing she had been going through for the past few days but how could she possibly know about it? Unprovocked the woman just walked up to her and said those things to her and she was genuinely shaken over the words that were coming out of her mouth, why? What did she know about what Molly was going through that she didn't.

"Good morning Miss Anderson," the man behind the desk greeted. His name was Billy and he was around his mid-thirties.

"Huh?" Molly said and turned to him; coming back down from the dark clouds her thoughts had taken her to. She heard him speak but she didn't hear exactly what he said.

"Good morning."

"Oh uh hello, good morning Billy," she said and subtly gave herself a look; she didn't know him and yet his name just flowed out of her mouth like she did.

"How are you?"

"Good how are you."

"It's gorgeous lovely day I am awesome," Billy responded and chuckled, grinning from ear to ear, it was obvious he had feelings for her. The way his face lit up when she walked in was like a kid in a candy store.

"Good." She carried on walking and he ran out from behind his desk to her.

"Um if you um . . . If there's anything you need at all Miss Anderson please just call the front desk, I am here to help however and wherever I can."

"That's so nice of you thank you."

"You're very most absolutely welcome," Billy said and Molly walked on to the elevator and pushed the button.

A moment later it arrived and Molly walked in and pushed the eight button; the floor on which her apartment was. Again something she didn't know but know.

"Anything at all," Billy said as the elevator doors began to close.

"Thank you Billy."

"Alright." The elevator doors closed and he gave out a huge hearty sigh. "What a fox," he then said and returned to his post.

Upstairs, Molly reached her door and pulling her keys out of her hand bag she then got the front door open and walked in.

It was neat and cozy and walking in a strange feeling immediately came over her; like she was completely out of place and yet at the same time she wasn't. The place felt so familiar and a calmness suddenly came upon her, as her new body started to convince her soul that this was its life. And for a moment it did.

Molly stood there and felt so at home her heart stopped racing. She put her bag on the table and just stood there looking around at this place she had never been in before but had a sweetness about it, so sweet it was like honey in her mouth.

It was only when she went and looked at the wall that had framed photos on it that she realized that it wasn't her life and pulled herself out of the trance she was beginning to fall into, and like a switch her heart went back to racing as her mind came to and reminded her of the messed up situation she was in.

Molly began to hyperventilate as tears immediately started to build in her eyes. She was staring at a whole wall of photos that had her in them but not one of the memories in them came to her. She was Molly Anderson but she wasn't Molly Anderson and the more she looked at the face of this strange woman that was now hers, the more she freaked out.

She ran to the window and quickly opened it and when the cool fresh breeze blew in she breathed it in heavily. Once, twice and then a third time, trying to catch her breath and when she did she wiped her tears away and walked to the bedroom to get her clothes packed.

Molly walked into the small walk-in closet and grabbed a good few of her home clothes and threw them into a medium sized designer bag she pulled off one of the shelves, as well as a pair of home slippers, flat pumps and some toiletries.

Also, she got changed out of her office clothes and into a short loose dress and when she was done zipped the bag up and headed for the door grabbing her hand bag off the table. She took one last look around the apartment and then left; locking the door behind her and heading for the elevator.

Downstairs she met with Billy, who again did not miss the opportunity to throw himself at her.

"Oh hey Miss Anderson, you're back down," he said, coming out from behind his desk.

"Yes, I just went up to pack a few things," Molly said.

"Right, do you need me to carry the bag for you?"

"Oh no it's fine I got it."

"Are you sure? Because I don't mind at all," Billy said.

"Thank you so much but I got it."

"Alright. Wait, let me get that for you." He ran to the door and opened it for her.

"Thank you Billy."

"You are very most absolutely welcome," he said and she walked out and headed to her car as he just stood there watching her go. "Ugh man such a fox." Molly got into her car and drove off with Billy even walking out of the apartment building to watch her car go. He watched it up until it turned and disappeared down another road and then gave out another hearty sigh; much heavier than the last. "I love you Miss Anderson . . . I love you so much."

The end of the work day came and walking into his apartment Det. Brighton found Molly lying down on the long couch with a wholly blanket over her watching a movie.

"Hey," he greeted and she sat up.

"Hey," she said.

"How was the day?"

"It was o.k. Better than yesterday."

"Good," Det. Brighton said taking his coat off and hanged it on the hook.

"I made dinner."

"Oh o.k."

"I hope you like mac n cheese," Molly said standing up.

"I love mac n cheese."

"Awesome," she said and walked to the kitchen as Det. Brighton looked closely at her and noticed what she was wearing.

"Hey?"

"Yeah."

"Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Get what?"

"The dress you're wearing."

"Oh uh it's Molly Anderson's. I went to her place and got it, along with a few other things," Molly answered served the mac n cheese onto two plates.

"You left the apartment?"

"Yes I did."

"No Molly, I told you not to go anywhere. I told you to stay in here and lock yourself in," Det. Brighton said.

"I know."

"So why did you leave?"

"Because I needed some stuff," she answered.

"Like what?"

"Like a proper change of clothes."

"There are clothes in the closet right there," he said pointing to where his closet was.

"I said a proper change of clothes. There's nothing good in there."

"It's not supposed to look good, it's just supposed to clothe you. Molly there's something out there after you you can't just be leaving the apartment."

"I know," she said.

"And without even telling me."

"If I told you you were going to tell me not to go."

"And for good reason, there is something out there after your life," Det. Brighton said.

"I just needed some stuff."

"Well next time you need some stuff you tell me alright? Tell me and I'll go and get it for you. I'm trying to keep you safe here."

"I know. I'm sorry," Molly said. "I'm not myself. A thought came to me and I just went with it. I'm sorry."

"It's o.k. just don't do it again alright? Just stay here and don't go anywhere, please."

"O.k."

"O.k.," he gave out a sigh of relief and said.

A moment later they were sitting by the dining table having dinner; him with a bottle of beer on the side and her a glass of wine.

"How are you holding up?" Det. Brighton asked.

"O.k. I guess," Molly responded. "Did you find anything?"

"No I didn't. Forensics swept the crime scenes and the bodies but nothing was found. No prints, nothing."

"Great."

"Don't worry we'll find something," he said.

"What exactly are we finding? We don't even know what's after me."

"We'll keep looking, I'm sure something is going to come up."

"But you didn't find any evidence," she said.

"No we didn't but just because we didn't find anything doesn't mean there's nothing there, if it's out there somewhere we'll find it."

"Do you believe me?" she asked and Det. Brighton hesitated for a moment.

"Why would you lie to me about something like this?"

"I wouldn't."

"I do," he said. "I believe you and I am going to do everything I can to keep you safe."

"I appreciate that because I am really really scared."

"I know."

"Oh gosh I'm sorry," Molly said and put her fork down to wipe her tears away.

"It's o.k."

"I don't want that thing to get me again. I don't want to die again."

"You won't, Molly I'm going to do everything I can to protect you," he said.

"It sucks my soul out and I remain empty and cold and dead and I don't want to feel like that again." She broke down and Det. Brighton got off his chair and went to her side. He knelt down next to her and hugged her and she hugged him back. "I don't want to go through that again."

"You won't, I'm right here and I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you safe. You hear me, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm so scared."

"I know you are, but everything is going to be o.k. I promise," he said and Molly cried on as Det. Brighton warmly embraced her in his strong arms and even stroked her hair, assuring her that as crazy as what was happening to her was, he was there for her and that he was going to do his best to protect her from what was after her, whatever it was.

A new day came and as Det. Brighton left for work Molly remained locked up in his apartment. She was lying down on the long couch watching a movie but had her mind wandering over what happened the day before with that strange woman who came out of nowhere and said those things to her; things that fit like a glove to what she was dealing with. How could she have known that? What Molly was going through was so unique it was impossible, how then did this strange woman come and speak words that were so on point with what she was going through? Who was she?

Just then Molly threw the wholly blanket off of her and got off the couch. She walked into the bedroom and when she walked out a moment later she had a sweater coat over her t shirt and skinny jeans and her flat pumps on her feet. She then grabbed her hand bag off the welcome table and left the apartment.

Downstairs Molly got into her car and drove to Molly Anderson's apartment building; running inside and going straight to the front desk where Billy was and like the day before seeing her walk in his face lit up as the widest smile grew on his face.

"Miss Anderson good morning," he greeted.

"Good morning Billy," Molly greeted back.

"You look as ravishing as you do everyday."

"Thank you Billy."

"You're very most absolutely welcome," Billy said. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I hope so."

"What can I do for you?"

"I need to find someone, a woman," Molly said.

"O.k."

"I don't know her name, I don't know anything about her but she was outside when I came by yesterday. She was about sixty, a little chubby and was African American and she was wearing these thick dark glasses I don't know if she has a problem with her eyes or she's blind."

"Uh Vera," he said.

"Vera?"

"Yes Vera. Big hair and has a deep voice?"

"Yes that's her," she said. "Do you know where I can find her?"

"Uh actually I do."

"Oh my gosh where?"

"She owns a shop on 35th street," Billy said.

"O.k."

"It's called Madam Vera's and it's on the left hand side you can't miss it."

"O.k. and if I go there right now I'll find her?" Molly asked.

"Yes, it's her shop and she's been running it for almost twenty years."

"O.k. awesome perfect, thank you so much Billy."

"You're very most absolutely welcome," he said as Molly ran out. "Ugh that woman perfection personified," he then said to himself and gave out yet another hearty sigh.

Molly got back into her car and drove to 35th street to find Vera's shop and she did. She pulled her car up right in front of it and ran to open the front door but it was locked.

"Seriously," she said to herself and just then noticed that the sign was on closed. "Oh come on." She went to look into the window and it was dark inside. She then stepped back and finally paid attention to what kind of a shop it was. Madam Vera was a seer and her shop was where people would go if they wanted to have their futures read, had strange dreams that needed interpretation or wanted to communicate with lost loved ones, and drawn on the glass was a flower made out of rose quartz seer stones, the ones she used to channel her power.

This was the place and it made all the sense in the world that Vera would just come out of nowhere and say the things she said to her, it was because she was a seer and probably saw something about her but she wasn't there. Vera was now the key to help Molly understand what was happening to her and she wasn't there. What next?