"The mind is its own worst enemy, turning shadows into specters and whispers into warnings."
-Rhodaverse

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The sun was setting behind the hills, casting long shadows through the window of Maya's room. She dropped her shopping bags onto the bed, the excitement from the day still buzzing in her veins. Her mind, though, kept wandering back to the strange figure from earlier. She shook her head, trying to push it away, but a lingering unease clung to her like a shadow.

Maya emptied her bags, laying out the dresses, shoes, and accessories for the summer dance. The anticipation of it all brought a small smile to her lips. Tomorrow, they'd finalize everything, but tonight, her thoughts were split between the excitement and that unsettling encounter.

Maya's body sank into her bed, the soft warmth of her blankets barely soothing the tension in her muscles. She had unpacked the shopping bags, dresses, and shoes, but the thrill of the dance felt distant now, overshadowed by the eerie encounter with the stranger. Her eyes fluttered shut as the weight of the day pulled her into a shallow, uneasy sleep.

The world shifted.

In her dream, the setting sun painted the sky in deep reds and purples, casting long shadows across the city streets. Maya was standing in front of the store again. The same mannequins gazed out at her, motionless, but their eyes... their eyes were alive this time. She couldn't move, her feet glued to the pavement, as she watched the reflection of a figure slowly approaching from behind her in the store window.

Maya tried to turn, to scream, but her voice was trapped. The man was closer now, his shadow swallowing hers, like a looming specter that absorbed the light.

She wasn't sure if he was a man, he looked neutral but..

"You'll be alone," his voice echoed, hollow and distant. The words reverberated in her mind like a broken record, louder each time until they consumed her.

She jolted awake, heart hammering in her chest. The room was dark, save for the moonlight slipping through the blinds. Her breathing was shallow, her body slick with sweat. The blankets felt suffocating now. Maya kicked them off and sat up, hands gripping the edge of the bed as she tried to steady herself.

"It's just a dream," she muttered to herself, pushing a hand through her damp hair. "It's just a stupid dream."

But something felt off. Her room was too quiet, the silence too thick. She reached for her phone, needing the distraction of her group chat, but as her fingers grazed the screen, she froze.

Something was out of place. A small envelope, tucked just beneath her jewelry box. She didn't remember putting it there. Slowly, she reached for it and turned it over in her hands. There was no name, no stamp. Just plain, old parchment.

She hesitated before tearing it open.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Maya dropped the letter onto the bed, her fingers trembling. She glanced around the room as if expecting to see someone there, watching her, but she was alone.

"Dinner in ten!" her mom's voice echoed from downstairs.

Maya stared at the cryptic message for another moment before stuffing it into her drawer. Whatever this was, she couldn't deal with it right now.

But there, on her dresser, was an envelope.

Her pulse quickened. Hadn't she seen that earlier, before dinner? No, that wasn't possible-she would've remembered. Yet, there it was, a plain, unmarked envelope, just like in her dream. Maya's hand trembled as she reached for it, tearing the flap open with shaking fingers.

"You're getting closer, but time is running out. The dance will bring more than celebration-prepare yourself."

Her stomach churned as a cold wave of fear washed over her. Maya dropped the letter like it burned her and stumbled back. This was real. It wasn't just a dream.

Her mother's voice echoed from downstairs. "Dinner's ready, Maya!" She called again as a reminder.

"Got it!" Maya called back. She ran her fingers over the soft fabric of a new dress and let out a sigh. She was supposed to be excited-hell, her best friends were buzzing with energy about the summer dance and their vacation plans-but that encounter outside the store gnawed at her.

Maya's door creaked open, and her younger brother, Jake, poked his head in.

"Hey, Maya," he said, tossing a ball up and down in his hand. "You ready for the big family vacation yet?"

"Yeah," she replied, distracted. "I guess so."

"You're acting weird," he pointed out, eyeing her like he always did when he was about to get on her nerves.

"Shut up," she laughed, throwing a pillow at him. "It's nothing. Just thinking about the dance."

Yeah the dance.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but retreated before Maya could say anything else. When the door closed, she sat back on her bed and stared at her reflection in the mirror. What did the man mean when he said she would be alone?

Dinner was a blur. Maya sat at the table, nodding and giving vague responses as her family buzzed around her, talking about the vacation. Her mind was miles away, haunted by the note, the dream, the man's words. Jake was going on about the hotel pool, and her parents were discussing dinner reservations. Kylie and Mila were going through the vacation magazine. Her dad rambled on about the best hiking spots, her mom was already discussing where they'd eat. Maya though could barely focus.

"Maya, what do you think?" her mother asked suddenly, snapping her back to reality.

"Uh, sorry, what?" she blinked, realizing she hadn't been paying attention.

"Earth to Maya?" her dad teased, waving a hand in front of her face. "You with us?"

"Huh? Yeah, sorry, just... thinking about the dance," she said, forcing a smile.

"Must be one hell of a dance," her mom chuckled, but there was a glint of concern in her eyes. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, just a lot on my mind. I'm good, promise," Maya replied, taking a sip of water to hide her nerves.

"I said, do you want to do the trail hike on the first day or maybe hit the beach first?" her mom asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've been kind of spacey all evening."

"Oh, um, yeah, the beach sounds nice," Maya replied, forcing a smile. Her mother watched her for a moment longer before turning back to the conversation with her dad.

Her father leaned over, smirking. "You're not getting nervous about the big dance, are you?"

Maya let out a short laugh, trying to play it off. "Yeah, maybe a little. You know how it is."

Her dad chuckled, and the conversation shifted, but Maya couldn't shake the tension coiling in her stomach. Even Kylie seemed to sense something was off. She kept glancing at her from across the table, her usual teasing replaced with quiet concern.

"Everything okay?" she whispered when their parents weren't looking.

Maya swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Yeah, just tired."

"You know you can talk to me", Kylie added.

Her mom and dad exchanged a glance but didn't push. After all, it was normal for teenagers to get caught up in their own world.

But it was more than that. Something deeper. The feeling that she wasn't alone, even in her own home, gnawed at her.

Later that night, after retreating to her room, she tried to distract herself by texting her friends in the group chat. They were all buzzing about their summer plans and the upcoming dance, and for a moment, Maya found herself lost in their excitement. Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was Ava, sending a message in their group chat.

Ava: "Who's ready for the summer of our lives?! 🥳"

Layla: "You literally say this every summer. I'm dying 😭"

Jayda: "Literally counting down the minutes."

Eleanor: "I'm so excited! Can't believe school's almost over!"

Maya smiled and typed a quick reply, trying to shake off the weirdness of the day.

Maya: "Same! I can't wait! 🛍️💃"

Maya's fingers hovered over the keyboard, her other response sitting half-typed. But her mind wandered again, back to the letter, back to the way her stomach had twisted when she read it. Should she tell her friends about it? Would they even believe her?

Before she could decide, her phone buzzed with another notification. It wasn't from the group chat this time. A new message had appeared.

Unknown Number: "The clock is ticking, Maya. Don't let the night catch you off guard."

Her blood ran cold. How did they get her number? Maya's hands shook as she locked her phone and tossed it onto her bed. She stood quickly, pacing, trying to calm the panic rising in her chest. What was it with the cryptic messages? Did they want her scared?

Something wasn't right. She could feel it now, deeper than ever before. Maya lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The letter replayed in her mind over and over again. What did it mean? Why was someone warning her about the dance? The person she saw at store what did they want? The text?

She turned on her side, glancing at the shopping bags piled neatly in the corner. It was supposed to be a night of fun with her friends, not a cryptic warning.

But somewhere deep down, she knew-nothing would be normal after that night.

*******

Far from the comfort of Maya's suburban world, the night air crackled with tension in a shadowy, candlelit room. The dim light flickered as though it, too, sensed the heavy anticipation hanging in the air. Krane paced back and forth, the soft thud of his boots muffled by the worn wooden floor. His sharp, calculating eyes darted toward the windows every few seconds, as if expecting an intruder or a sign of the future they were waiting for.

Beside him, Elena stood like a statue-tall, still, and unnervingly calm. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her long, black coat brushing the floor as she shifted her weight ever so slightly. Her face, bathed in half-light, was unreadable, like a mask that revealed nothing of her thoughts or emotions. Only her eyes-cold, distant-betrayed the depth of her calculations.

"She finally received the message," Elena spoke finally, her voice soft and low, as though the very air around them was fragile. Her words seemed meant for herself as much as for Krane, who stopped mid-step and turned to face her.

Krane's jaw clenched. "Good. But it's too soon. She's not ready yet." His tone was edged with frustration, but also something else-fear? Worry? He masked it well, but the tightening of his fists at his sides gave him away.

Elena's gaze remained fixed, not on Krane, but on the darkened horizon beyond the small window. Her expression didn't change as she replied, her voice a monotone of certainty. "She doesn't have to be ready," she said with a calmness that bordered on eerie. "She just has to survive."

Krane let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Survive?" He moved closer to her, his steps heavy and deliberate. "You're gambling everything on this girl. And if she doesn't make it? What then, Elena? What happens to all of this?" His hand gestured to the dimly lit room, though they both knew he meant much more-the plan, their mission, the entire future they were betting on.

Elena finally turned, her dark eyes locking onto Krane's. There was a flicker of something in her gaze-conviction, perhaps, or something more dangerous. "I'm not gambling, Krane," she said, her voice quiet but laced with a confidence that chilled the room. "I'm betting everything on fate."

Krane stood still, his brow furrowing. The word "fate" lingered in the air between them, thick with meaning. He wanted to argue, to push back, but the certainty in Elena's tone made it difficult. She wasn't one to be swayed once her mind was made up.

"The dance is just the beginning," Elena continued, her eyes distant again as though she were seeing a future Krane couldn't. "We both know that. When the stars align-when the pieces fall into place-she'll either rise, or she'll fall." She paused, letting her words sink in. "And when that happens, everything will change."

Krane swallowed hard, the weight of what she was saying pressing down on him. The silence between them grew heavy, almost suffocating. He stared at Elena, his voice low, full of a quiet desperation he rarely allowed himself to show. "You really believe she'll survive this?"

Elena's lips barely moved as she answered, "I don't believe, Krane. I know." Her voice was soft, but her words held a steely finality.

Krane's eyes darkened as he took a slow step back, his arms folding across his chest in a gesture of reluctant acceptance. He didn't like this-putting so much faith in someone who, as far as he was concerned, had no idea what she was about to face. But he had no choice. They had no choice.

The door creaked open softly, and Lisbeth entered the room. She was draped in her usual deep crimson cloak, her presence as sharp and unsettling as a blade in the night. Her eyes, always watchful, flicked between Krane and Elena, gauging the tension in the air.

"It's done," Lisbeth said in her usual measured tone, glancing at Elena. She walked further into the room, the soft click of her boots breaking the silence. "The letter arrived exactly as planned."

Krane turned to face her, his expression darkening with a mix of curiosity and caution. "How?" he asked, his voice low, though there was an edge to it that hinted at his frustration.

Lisbeth gave him a small smile-one that never quite reached her eyes. "A courier, unsuspecting as ever. Slipped right through the security. No one batted an eye. By the time she read it, the seeds had already been planted." She paused, her gaze flicking to Elena, her smile fading. "But... she hesitated."

Krane's fists tightened. "Hesitated?" he repeated, the word bitter on his tongue. "That wasn't part of the plan."

Lisbeth raised an eyebrow, unphased. "No. But it was expected. She has doubts, but it won't matter soon. The pressure will force her hand. And once that happens, she'll have no choice but to step forward."

This was all psychology, wasn't it?

Krane shook his head slightly, his frustration bubbling over. "This needs to be flawless, Lisbeth. Everything depends on it. There can't be any room for mistakes, for hesitation." His voice hardened, betraying the obsession that drove him-his need for perfection.

Lisbeth's smile was gone now, her expression sharpening. "This is the final piece of the Genesis Project, Krane," she reminded him, her tone almost chastising. "We're past the point of perfection. This was always going to be messy. You knew that."

Krane's eyes flickered with something-anxiety, perhaps. The Genesis Project was his life's work, and the thought of it faltering at the last hurdle gnawed at him.

Elena stepped in before the tension could mount further. "The letters, the texts-it's all just a game, Krane," she said, her voice coldly practical. "The real work begins when she's taken during the vacation. This is just the prelude, making her uneasy, rattling her cage."

"Yes," Lisbeth added smoothly, "the real deal starts then. We're not expecting her to crack now. This is all about making her scared enough to fall right into our hands when the time comes."

Krane's tension didn't completely ease, but he nodded. "Fine," he muttered. "But we can't afford any missteps. The Genesis Project can't fail."

A faint creak echoed through the room, so subtle it might have gone unnoticed. But Krane's ears were sharp, and his head snapped toward the door. Roselyn, Kendall's roommate, had been standing just outside, listening, frozen in place.

Her eyes widened in horror as she realized she had been overheard, and before she could back away, Krane was already moving toward her, his presence like a shadow in the darkness.

"Elena," he said, his voice low and commanding.

But Elena was already ahead of him. "Roselyn rather C-003," she called out softly, her tone almost soothing. "Why don't you come inside? There's no need to be afraid."

Roselyn hesitated, every fiber of her being screaming at her to run, but her legs felt like lead, rooted to the spot. She could only stare as Elena's gaze bore into her, icy and unyielding.

Krane stopped just short of her, his voice calm but dangerous. "It's rude to eavesdrop."

Roselyn swallowed hard, her mind racing, but she couldn't find any words. All she knew was that whatever she had just overheard wasn't meant for her-and it was far, far bigger than she had ever imagined.

********

Back in Maya's room, she moved to the window, looking out into the dark street. Everything looked normal-quiet, peaceful. But it didn't feel that way. There was an itch at the back of her mind, a sensation like someone was watching, waiting. Every shadow seemed to move, and every creak of the house sent shivers down her spine.

Her gaze drifted toward the woods behind her house. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly. But there, just at the edge of the woods, something shifted. A silhouette, barely visible, stood among the trees.

Maya's breath caught in her throat. Was it him? The man from the store?

No... no, it couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her, surely. But the figure remained, unmoving, staring. It was as if it was waiting for her to do something-anything.

Maya swallowed hard and stepped away from the window, heart pounding in her chest. She needed to tell someone-her friends, her parents, anyone. But how could she explain this without sounding crazy?

Taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone again. But before she could unlock it, there was a soft tap at her window.

Her heart stopped.

----

And that's it a wrap for chapter 5!

I hope you all are enjoying the story so far? What do you think? What's going to happen to Roselyn a.k.a C-003? Who tapped or what tapped Maya's window? Who was the person at the mall? Why did Krane, Elena and Lisbeth play games? Want to find out. Stay tuned and red more to find out!

I want to hear your thoughts and what you think so far in the comments!

Don't forget to vote and share!

Have a good day!

Bye for now!

Muah!💋
~Rhoda