Elara's breath hitched as she tore her gaze away from Eva and back to the figure of herself. A blood-curdling scream ripped through the space, the scream of her figure. The air itself seemed to tremble with it, yet it was as if the sound didn't truly exist, as if it belonged to something far away, something unreachable
Her eyes followed the terrified gaze of her other self, drawn to the dining room beyond.
There, seated at the table, was a man. The newspaper in his hands rustled softly as he turned the page, his movements slow, methodical, unnaturally detached.
A woman stood by the stove, a pot simmering before her. She hummed a soft tune, her body swaying slightly, as if lost in a rhythm only she could hear.
Neither of them moved in response to the girl's scream.
Neither of them reacted to the sheer terror in her voice.
"Mom? Dad?" the girl's voice wavered, thick with panic, her hands trembling as she reached toward them.
Elara's chest tightened.
This scene, impossible, horrifying , like an echo from a time she had never lived.
Then why did it feel like she had been here before?
At the same moment, Jian stood in the corner, his gaze fixed on Eva, who refused to meet his eyes. She looked away, her small hands clenched tightly at her sides.
"Why me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why do I have to be in a child's body? I'm the same age as you… why?"
Jian's expression remained serious, unreadable. "What did Raven do to you minutes ago?" he asked, his voice low but firm.
Eva hesitated, then swallowed hard. "He asked for the bathroom, and Lucas told me to show him the way. But when we got upstairs… he locked me in my room and injected me with something." Her voice wavered as she placed a hand over her side, wincing. "That needle…"
Jian's jaw tightened. "It will take time to adjust," he muttered. His gaze sharpened as he took a step closer. "So listen carefully. If you mess up again, you know what Raven and Damien can do .Your grave is already ready for you if you step out of line."
Eva finally looked up at him, meeting his gaze. Then, slowly, she looked down again, her face falling with quiet sorrow.
Jian exhaled, his expression unreadable as he pulled a small cup from his coat pocket. The liquid inside had a pale purple-yellow hue, swirling slightly as he handed it to Eva.
"Here," he said, his voice flat.
Eva hesitated, her small fingers trembling as she took the cup from his hand. She stared at the liquid, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
"What is this?" she asked quietly.
Jian's gaze remained cold, unwavering. "The usual drink," he said simply. "But enhanced ."
Eva's grip tightened around the cup. She knew better than to question further.
Jian's voice softened just slightly. "You know your turn . Stay alert."
Eva paused, her eyes locking onto him for a moment before she spoke.
"You fell in love with her, didn't you?"
Jian's expression didn't change. He just stared at her, offering no response.
Eva let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. "You know who I'm talking about . Elara… 2001."
Jian's gaze sharpened as he gave her a warning look, but Eva ignored it.
"She's the same age as you. There are others, more Elaras, but this one… this one caught you the most, didn't she?" She studied him closely. "Besides, this Elara… she's older now. She's married."
Suddenly, Eva stopped talking, her eyes widening as she turned sharply in the same direction, her breath catching.
Jian followed her gaze before closing his eyes. He whispered under his breath, "Now you're adjusting. It's time to forget about all of this, Eva."
But Eva wasn't listening anymore. Her lips parted as she took a shaky step forward.
Then she abruptly ran toward elara
"Mama!"
Elara, still struggling with the strange weight in her chest, flinched at the sudden sound of her daughter's innocent voice. She turned her head sharply, her pulse skipping as she watched Eva approach with a small cup in her hands.
Eva held it up to her. "Daddy said I should give this to you. He's waiting for you to come back."
Elara took the cup hesitantly, staring at the deep purple liquid inside. A strange sense of familiarity washed over her. She had seen this before. Smelled it before.
Before she could dwell on the thought, Eva's voice cut through. "Drink it, Mama."
Elara blinked, then forced a smile. She brought the cup to her lips, inhaling slightly. It smelled like grape juice… but there was something else. A sharpness, a bitterness lingering beneath.
Still, she drank.
The taste was off, just slightly. A bitterness that mixed with the sweetness.
"Your daddy mixed it with something," she murmured, lowering the empty glass. "It tastes almost like lemon juice."
She reached out, gently taking Eva's hand. "Come on, let's go to Daddy."
Eva nodded innocently, but as they began to walk, a sudden, splitting pain shot through Elara's head.
She gasped, staggering slightly, pressing a hand to her temple.
"Mama? Are you okay?" Eva's voice was soft, concerned.
Elara forced a breath, blinking through the sharp ache. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I think I just need to rest after this long day."
She gripped Eva's hand a little tighter as they continued forward.
But behind them, Jian remained in the shadows, hidden in the dim corner of the hall. His eyes darkened as he watched Elara walk away, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
He should have done more.
He should have protected her.
As the weight of his failure settled in, silent tears welled in his eyes, slipping down his face.
He had only one thought in his mind.
2001.
She was the only one who truly captivated him, the only one who filled his world with meaning. But now, his heart was heavy with guilt and regret.
No way to bring her back. No way to undo what had already been done. He had shut her out forever.
Jian exhaled shakily, his fists trembling at his sides. 2001. That number haunted him, an unspoken promise, a memory carved too deep to fade.
His gaze flickered toward the dimly lit hallway where Elara had disappeared, unaware of the truth, unaware of how much he wished prayed that things could have been different. But it was too late.
He blamed himself for what had happened, but the truth was, he had been under Raven and Damien's control. A puppet bound by their will, forced to obey.
He wasn't supposed to remember any of this. He shouldn't have. But he did.
Because, deep down, he had already returned to being the same Jian that Elara had known in 2001 the caring, protective Jian who had once stood by her side. The one who had wanted to keep her safe.
But now, he had to hide that part of himself. He had to bury it beneath the mask he wore, keeping his reality hidden from Raven and Damien.
<
And now, all he could do was watch from the shadows, a silent witness to a fate that had already been sealed.
After dinner, they spent some time with the family, exchanging quiet conversation and laughter, the warmth of the room contrasting with the coldness outside. It was a rare moment of peace, where the tension of the day seemed to soften, if only for a while. But eventually, it was time to leave.
Raven, Damien, and Jian stood up to head out, preparing to make their way back to their respective homes. As they walked out into the cool night, the moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the empty streets. The wind was sharp, cutting through the stillness.
Raven glanced sideways at Jian, his expression thoughtful. "Why do you look so serious?" he asked with a teasing tone, his eyes lingering on Jian's face for a moment.
Jian remained silent, his thoughts elsewhere.
Raven's curiosity didn't die down. He paused for a second, staring at Jian as they walked. "When did you become so... distant?" he muttered, his voice almost to himself. Then, with a tilt of his head, he whispered to Damien, "Don't you think Jian looks different?"
Damien gave Jian a quick, uninterested look. "Stop joking around. I'm tired," he replied with a sigh.
Jian didn't respond, continuing to walk with his usual serious expression, his mind racing, but his face showing no signs of it.
Raven, unfazed, continued. "Finally, we've got that little thing, Eva, under control."
Damien nodded slowly. "She messed up once, but it won't happen again."
Raven's voice dropped lower, his tone almost grim. "That creepy look she gave Elara… it's happened more than once. If it happens again, we'll have to deal with her permanently."
Damien didn't react to that. Instead, he asked, "And what about Elara?"
Raven's lips curled into a smirk. "She's fixed. No more errors."
Turning to Jian, Raven's tone softened just a bit. "What do you think?"
Jian didn't answer. He simply kept walking, his eyes focused ahead.
Raven sighed, muttering, "He's always like this. Doesn't like to share."
Jian's steps slowed slightly as he clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling of longing, the desire to change everything, to make things right. But it was too late for that now. Too late for any kind of redemption.
If only things had been different.
To be continue ...