Unable to endure that suffocating stillness, she began tapping her fingers against the surface of the table, an irregular, nervous rhythm, just to create some noise, any sound at all that might break the uneasy feeling spreading through the room like an invisible, slow, persistent cloud.
Emily kept her full attention on the monitors in front of her. Even so, for several minutes now, ever since the response team had crossed the garden, leaving behind only the [Angel of Death], Victor, Rupert, and the new anomaly, nothing of note had happened.
The only noticeable change was the gradual darkening of a few strands of the [Angel of Death]’s hair. Other than that, there was no movement. Emily sighed in resignation, feeling the tension build in her shoulders. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift away from the silent room, from the constant hum of the equipment.
It lasted only a second. A sudden chill ran down her spine, cold, instinctive, making her body react before her mind could. Emily nearly jumped out of her chair, her heart racing.
Her eyes snapped open, sharp and alert, as she urgently scanned the room, trying to pinpoint whatever had triggered that unsettling sensation, the unmistakable feeling that something, somewhere, was watching her.
However, all she found was the apparition bearing her sister’s appearance, casually sprawled across one of the tables, wearing a bored expression. The angelic anomaly remained motionless, watching the monitor with a thoughtful look.
Laura and the few team members who were still able to function in the room stayed at their respective stations, carrying out their tasks almost on autopilot, casting only brief, cautious glances toward the monitor.
On the rare occasions when their eyes lingered on the screen for more than a moment, their reactions were immediate, silent fear, poorly concealed revulsion, or any other expression that betrayed the deep discomfort caused by what they were seeing.
Emily frowned. There was nothing there that justified the unease she had felt moments earlier, nothing she could immediately identify. At least, not until she looked back at the monitor.
The “image” remained unchanged: the team was discussing something in the garden, gesturing as they spoke. Still, something felt off. The figure of Emily on the other side of the screen, that version of herself that felt foreign, alien, held her gaze.
It was so disturbing she would have preferred not to look at it at all. But it was looking back. Emily was certain of it. It wasn’t an illusion or a trick of perspective. That other Emily was staring directly at her, motionless, aware. Her eyes were dark, but not in any ordinary way.
They were like two black holes set into her face, completely devoid of light, tenderness, or any trace of human warmth. They reflected nothing. Expressed nothing. They were simply... two orbs of pure darkness, deep and silent, like bottomless wells staring back at her.
Emily’s heart lurched, and she squeezed her eyes shut, silently begging for it not to be real. It couldn’t be real. When she opened them again, the “thing” wearing her appearance was no longer looking at her.
In fact, it seemed distracted, watching the butterflies fluttering over the area with childlike interest, their colorful wings blending naturally with the rest of the environment.
Emily let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, feeling her body slowly relax. Still, the strange sensation lingered, like a persistent chill at the back of her neck, an invisible whisper telling her that something was wrong.
She shook her head, forcing herself to push aside what she had seen, at least for now. Maybe she was just hallucinating from exhaustion, her overworked mind playing tricks on her. It had to be that. There was no other explanation.
Emily remained at the monitors for a few more minutes, eyes focused as she followed every line of data on the screen. Even so, nothing serious happened, no alerts, no abnormal readings, nothing that truly warranted attention.
With a restrained sigh, she stood up and walked over to Laura, who was only a few steps away. As she approached, Emily’s gaze instinctively swept across the room. Something was different. Her eyebrows lifted in confusion as she searched, unsuccessfully, for the exact spot that had drawn her attention before.
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“Where did the anomaly go?” Emily asked, her voice low but tinged with unease, as she stopped beside Laura.
Laura lifted her eyes from the glowing tablet display and looked at Emily. Then she tilted her head slightly and glanced over Emily’s shoulder, scanning the room. Laura’s brow furrowed, confusion clear in her expression.
“That’s strange...” she murmured, her voice quiet and uncertain: “She was right here a few seconds ago”
Emily sighed in resignation. She had noticed the apparition’s disappearance as well, but it didn’t concern her much. It wasn’t the first time it had happened. Emily assumed the apparition was simply wandering the facility aimlessly, bored, after all, that was exactly what it had told her the last time Emily asked about its sudden disappearance.
Emily decided to simply ignore it for now. She had no idea what was going on inside either of their heads and, if she was being honest with herself, she didn’t feel particularly interested in finding out. There were more pressing things to worry about.
“Keep an eye on things here” Emily said, absentmindedly running her fingers through her long hair, as if she were trying to organize not only the unruly strands but her thoughts as well. After a brief pause, she let out a soft sigh before adding: “I need... some energy drink”
Laura nodded. And just like that, Emily headed toward the vending machine where the energy drinks were sold, located barely two minutes away from the operations area. When she arrived, she found the machine set up in a sort of lobby, quiet, and currently with very little foot traffic.
The space felt like a small refuge within the facility. A few well-kept plants broke up the dominant gray, cozy chairs invited people to rest, and several vending machines offered a variety of leisure items, from snacks to small time-killers.
The area wasn’t exactly new. It had been built around eight months earlier, as an attempt to ease the constant pressure of working at the facility.
And even if it didn’t seem that way at first glance, dealing with dangerous things on a daily basis was far more stressful than anyone might imagine. After all, you never knew when something could go very, very wrong.
Still somewhat lost in thought, Emily stepped up to the machine and selected her drink. A fairly popular energy drink, lightly sweet in flavor, her favorite. In fact, she hardly drank anything else.
Call it routine, a harmless addiction, or simple necessity: Emily usually went through at least three of those a day. They tasted good and, according to the label, were packed with nutrients that helped sustain her through long workdays that often stretched late into the night.
Even though the drinks and snacks had to be paid for, despite nearly every employee grabbing several of them daily, the cost barely made a dent in anyone’s wallet. That was the level of pay for people working at the organization... though most hadn’t joined for the money.
Emily popped the can open with a soft hiss and took a distracted sip, feeling the artificial chill slide down her throat as her mind, still distant, drifted through loose, aimless thoughts. That was when she heard noises coming from somewhere nearby.
She froze mid-motion, holding the can close to her mouth for a moment before slowly lowering it. Her eyes scanned the area carefully, alert for any new sound, until she managed to pinpoint the direction the voice seemed to be coming from.
It was near the lobby, an area almost always ignored by everyone, since there was nothing of interest there. If you’re wondering why that space even existed, the answer was simple: there had been unused space in that part of the building and, well... why not build another area?
Emily moved forward slowly, approaching the sound with caution. Even she didn’t fully understand why she was sneaking around like that, controlling her breathing and avoiding any unnecessary noise.
Still, she could no longer simply announce her presence. Now that the voices were clearly audible, it was obvious they were talking about something specific, and interrupting them felt inappropriate, especially considering she was already listening in, uninvited, on a clearly private conversation.
“Please, Mom, I just... I need a little more time!” the voice exclaimed, heavy with a distinctly pleading tone, almost breaking at the end: “I’ll make her understand. I need to...” it continued, now quieter, trembling: “She saw herself when her aunt showed up. She feels guilty, even if she thinks and says otherwise” the voice said, taking a deep breath before going on: “I feel like I’m close. She’s less guarded around me, she’s starting to accept me... If I just had a few more days”
Emily frowned in confusion. She knew that voice, she was absolutely certain it belonged to the apparition. Even so, something didn’t add up. What was she doing in such a deserted place? And even stranger... talking? As far as Emily knew, she was the only one who could see and hear the apparition.
“I know, and I understand how important this is to you, my dear... but I can’t grant you that much time” another voice replied, this one calmer, sweet, almost angelic, carrying a gentle maternal touch that wrapped around each word like a delicate caress: “The only reason I can still bend the established laws right now is because Tenebrya is manifesting other beings that should never exist. While that continues, you’re able to remain concealed... for now” There was a brief pause: “But when my sister seals her completely... not even I will be able to keep you here for long. Not when it interferes with her mission. Not when it threatens the balance”
Emily’s eyes widened slightly, disbelief creeping into her expression the instant she heard the second voice. She knew it, she knew it far too well. And yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t grasp the meaning of the conversation. What, exactly, were the two of them talking about in secret?
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