unseen truths.

footsteps echo behind her, heavy, deliberate, chasing— panic claws at her throat. she glances over her shoulder and sees him: the killer, masked in that same pale mask julian owned. the same one that he used to scare mateo in.

amara's heart lurched to her throat, pounding like a war drum.. julian?

blood drips from his blade, painting the ground red. she stumbles, slipping on the trail that stains her hands, her robe, and her skin. it’s everywhere—too much, too thick, it's suffocating her. she feels her stomach turn, bile rising in her throat. the mess clings to her hands, no matter how hard she tries to wipe it away.

the killer approaches, slow and deliberate, his mask reflecting nothing but the emptiness. her body is frozen though every part of her screams to move, to run.

but there’s nowhere left to go. there was no escape.

the knife rises, gleaming with fresh blood, and she flinches as it cuts through the air.

in a final, desperate move, her trembling fingers reach for the mask— she tears it away.

her breath catches.

it’s him.

her brother. the boy she left behind. his eyes— dark, hollow, accusing—lock onto hers, his face pale and streaked with blood. blood she recognizes. blood from their past.

he speaks no words, but the weight of his silent blame is heavier than anything she’s ever felt. his lips curl into a smile, cold and cruel— the knife glistens in his hand. the world around her fades to black, and the last sound she hears is his whisper, echoing in the dark..

“you left me.”

nightmare. a frightening or unpleasant dream.

A U R A

soft rustling of silk as she walks through her home, a mixture of grace and purpose in every step. shadows cast by flickering candlelight during late-night reading sessions, a glass of red wine untouched beside her. scent of aged wood and books in her study, a space where she finds peace amidst the chaos of her life. quiet moments after a playful argument with her husband, his words still lingering in the air as she considers what it would mean to give up teaching. sound of her children playing in the background, their laughter a reminder of the family she’s built, though she longs for more. sharp click of her heels as she leaves the school after a long day, knowing her husband would prefer her home, but feeling too attached to the life she’s created for herself. late nights curled up with a book, one hand absentmindedly resting on her stomach, thinking about the possibility of another child. classical music echoing through the house while she cooks dinner for her family, an elegant façade hiding the fear underneath.

P R O F I L E

birth name: ana maria rojas, amara morales (given when she entered witness protection), amara morales cortez (she took the last name cortez after marrying victor).

nicknames: the first lady (a nickname among locals, acknowledging her position as the mayor’s wife), the mayor's mistress.

date of birth: april 30, 1988.

age: 36.

height: 5'6" / 167 cm.

gender: cis-female.

pronouns: she/her.

sexuality: bisexual heterosexual.

relationship status: married to victor cortez (the mayor).

birthplace: havana, cuba.

currently resides: cloyne, ontario.

husband: victor cortez, the mayor of cloyne.

children: 7-year-old twins (mateo and clara cortez).

step-children: emilio (21 y/o) and julian cortez (22 y/o) from victor’s previous marriage.

religion: catholic (non-practicing, more out of habit than faith)

education: undergraduate degree (history+ english literature), teaching certificate

languages: spanish (native), english (fluent), french (basic).

occupation: history + social studies teacher at cloyne high school.

A T T R I B U T E S

preferred hand: left-handed

blood type: O+ (universal donor, think the giving tree)

allergies: none

physical health: maintains an active lifestyle, balancing the demands of motherhood with self-care. practices yoga when she has time, but isn’t rigid about it.

mental health: occasional bouts of paranoia. deals with suppressed fear of her past catching up to her (especially regarding the safety of her family). compartmentalizes emotions and stress to maintain control. haunted by memories of her early life causes her sleepless nights or vivid flashbacks

P E R S O N A

taurus sun. intj. melancholic. 6w5 (the loyalist).

graceful (maintains her composure in every situation). intelligent (planning ahead to stay in control of her life). compassionate (deeply cares for her husband, children, students, and those closest to her). self-controlled (rarely acts impulsively).

secretive (she guards her past carefully). mistrustful (years of hiding have made her wary of others). perfectionist (she strives for flawlessness in everything she does, mistakes could unravel her life).

R E L A T I O N S

her husband: amara calls victor "mi sol," a term of endearment that signifies the steady, grounding force he is in her life. despite their deep connection, there is ongoing tension between them.

children: her relationship with her twins is loving, and she is a dedicated mother. however, her relationship with her step-sons is more strained. they remain wary of her, knowing she was once their father’s mistress. while she tries to play the role of a nurturing stepmother, there is a distance between them, and amara senses they don’t fully trust her.

students: as a teacher at cloyne high school, amara is respected for her compassion. she’s known for being firm but fair.

reputation in cloyne: amara is known for her composure, even in the face of scandal. despite being the mayor’s wife, many in town still refer to her as “the mayor’s mistress,” a label that follows her due to the circumstances of her marriage. she’s both admired for her elegance and whispered about for her past. her reputation as a home-wrecker hasn’t faded over the years, but she carries herself with dignity, never reacting to the gossip.

public persona: amara is the epitome of grace. she dresses impeccably and speaks carefully, always conscious of how she is perceived. while the town still gossips about her past, she never gives them fuel for new rumours. she attends town events as the mayor’s wife, playing the part of the supportive spouse.

H A B I T S

sips her coffee slowly, savouring it.

never rushing through mornings.

organizes her desk meticulously.

taps her nails against her glass or on her desk when she is deep in thought.

L I K E S

vintage perfume (prefers the scent of jasmine, sandalwood, and leather—her signature fragrance).

books (historical fiction and mystery novels and erotica).

fine cigars (especially if they're cuban).

rare, vintage jewelry

away from her children and husband's eyes: bourbon (prefers it neat, a reminder of her power and control).

hunting (another sport she does not like to indulge in around her children nor her husband).

D I S L I K E S

discussing her past or her family in cuba.

invasion of her personal space.

unannounced visits.

public scrutiny.

messes. especially bloody messes.

A P P E A R A N C E

so strikingly beautiful that her presence that commands attention, her features are soft but strong at the same time. light eyes, full lips, dark hair. her body is lean and tone, she walks with the grace of royalty.

S T Y L E

often wears tailored dresses, fitted blouses and slacks. at home she favours soft, comfortable fabrics like cashmere sweaters and silk robes but her wardrobe has always been stocked with elegance.

T A T T O O S

a small delicate sun tattoo on her ribcage just beneath her heart (mi sol). a delicate constellation on the inside of her right wrist with two stars representing her twins-- below each star are their birthdates in roman numerals.

S T O R I E S U N T O L D

1988: ana maria rojas was born in havana, cuba. her father was deeply involved in organized crime. despite this, he loved his children deeply, and when his criminal ties put them at risk, he made a deal with the united states government to become an informant.

1999: by age of 11, ana maria witnessed several heinous crimes due to her father’s criminal involvement. these experiences deeply affected her, making her develop a strong aversion to messes and blood. as the danger grew, her father arranged for her to be smuggled out of cuba to miami for her safety. ana had to leave her brother behind, who was only 9 years old because he had already been pulled into the gang, which has haunted her ever since.

2003: by the time she turned 15, ana maria was placed in the witness protection program and moved to canada, under the new identity of amara morales. the increased risk to her life prompted this move.

2003 - 2012: during her years in vancouver, canada amara lived with foster parents who gave her stability, but she always carried the trauma of leaving her brother behind in cuba. she feared that the criminal organizations her father betrayed might find her, so she stayed vigilant and distant from others. the memories of the crimes she witnessed in cuba continued to shape her, causing her deep discomfort with anything bloody or messy.

2012: after the mysterious death of her foster parents, amara felt the need to leave vancouver and start fresh. she relocated to cloyne, ontario, seeking a quiet, hidden life.

2013: amara met victor cortez, the mayor of cloyne, at a time when she was desperate for stability and security. she viewed him as her safety net in a world that constantly felt unstable. that is how their scandal began. though the town gossiped and even labeled her as “the mayor’s mistress," she clung to victor, seeing him as the foundation to the new life she had always longed for.

2017: amara and victor married, and she became amara morales cortez. they had twins, and amara found some peace in motherhood. perhaps this is why she longs for another child. she wants the peace and distraction of a baby's cry. or maybe it's because the rumours the town spreads have a deeper effect on her psyche than she cares to show.

present: amara lives a life of constant vigilance, even though she outwardly seems to have it all—a family, a husband, and a career. she is haunted by memories of her brother and the crimes she witnessed, forever torn between the life she’s built and the past she’s tried to bury.

W A N T E D C O N N E C T I O N S

THE JOURNALIST – there’s a local reporter who has always been suspicious of amara's past. they’ve been quietly investigating her for years, convinced there’s more to her than just being the mayor’s wife.

THE EX-LOVER - before marrying victor, amara had a brief but intense relationship with someone in cloyne. though the affair ended, there’s still a flicker of unresolved tension whenever they see each other.

THE STEP-SON - one of victor’s adult sons still harbours deep resentment toward amara for breaking up his parents’ marriage. their interactions are cold and hostile, but there’s an underlying tension of unresolved conflict between them.

THE BEST FRIEND – amara’s closest confidante in cloyne is a fellow teacher at the high school. they bond over their shared love of history and their ability to keep each other’s secrets, providing emotional support when needed.

THE FORMER STUDENT - amara remains close to a former student who has grown up and is now friends with her step-sons. despite their friendship with her step-sons, this person maintains a special bond with amara, often turning to her for advice and guidance.

the mess gnawed at her open wounds.

she dropped her bags to the floor, watching as dust rose and swirled around her. with a sigh, she knelt down and opened the duffle, revealing wads of cash she had grabbed before she fled from her family home in los angeles.

this wasn’t just money—it was survival.

there was plenty of it, but it would run out.. eventually. and that’s why she’d taken the job in town. yoga instructor. it was laughable, really, but it kept her out of the public eye. help her fit in

she glanced outside. the light was still hanging in the sky, a dim reminder that soon, darkness would claim the town. she had to take advantage of it while she could. who knew what lurked in the shadows here, waiting for nightfall to take it's chance?

it was her first night in the house, and the thought of being swallowed by its darkness unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

to her, the grime in the house wasn’t just filth—it felt like it had seeped into her life, scrubbing away at the dirt, she let out a bitter laugh. here she was, cleaning up someone else’s abandoned mess, trying to pretend that teaching yoga to make ends meet wasn’t a far cry from the life she once had.

the daylight was fading fast, and as the shadows grew longer, naya felt the tension in her chest tighten.