Nia’s legs felt leaden as she entered her room, closing the door quietly behind her. The comfort of her bed called to her, and she sank into it, her body heavy with exhaustion. She tossed her backpack somewhere near her study table, letting it slump to the floor.
So much had happened today, and her mind buzzed with questions, each one spiraling into the next without answers. Every time she thought she’d found a lead, it faded into yet another dead end. She reached out to turn on the light, its soft glow filling the space as she leaned against the door, letting out a long, quiet sigh.
Crossing the room, Nia dropped her bag on her bed and glanced around, taking in the small details of her new reality. Everything still felt surreal, as though she were watching someone else’s life play out before her. She ran her fingers over a stack of books on her desk and paused when she spotted a small picture frame. Inside was a photo of the “old Nia” with her family, all smiles and joy. The scene felt both foreign and oddly familiar.
She picked up the frame, staring at the face that was both hers and yet… not hers. How had her life spiraled into this bizarre alternate reality? And why? The questions gnawed at her, just as they had since her first waking moment in this world.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Nia? Can I come in?" It was Mavin's voice, sounding unusually soft.
“Yeah, come in,” she called, quickly setting the frame back in its place.
Mavin peeked in before stepping into her room, his expression shifting from his usual teasing smile to one of genuine concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You seemed off the whole way back."
Nia forced a small smile, trying to shrug off his concern. “Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot to process, you know?”
“Yeah, I get it,” Mavin replied, though he didn’t sound convinced. He hesitated before he added, "You know, you can talk to me if something’s bothering you. I mean… I’m still your annoying little brother, but I can listen.”
Nia let out a soft laugh, appreciating his attempt to comfort her. “Thanks, Mavin. I might just take you up on that offer.”
He nodded, giving her a small, reassuring smile before he left, closing the door gently behind him. As soon as he was gone, Nia let her facade drop, feeling a pang of loneliness despite her family’s support.
Before she knew it, she found herself pulling out her journal and starting to write, letting the words flow as a way to make sense of her tangled emotions:
"Every day here feels like a dream I can’t wake up from. I remember my old life so clearly, yet everyone here thinks they know me as this other person, this Nia who has her own friends, her own past—none of which I understand. And then there’s Emery. Every time I look at him, it’s like he sees something in me I can’t figure out. Maybe he knows more than he lets on... or maybe he's just as confused as I am."
Her pen hovered over the page, unsure how to end her thought. Finally, she closed her journal. Her gaze settling on the bed. 
The comfort of her bed called to her, and she sank into it, her body heavy with exhaustion. So much had happened today, and her mind buzzed with questions, each one spiraling into the next without answers. Every time she thought she’d found a lead, it faded into yet another dead end.
Staring at the ceiling, Nia exhaled deeply, her thoughts like a storm within her. She rolled onto her side, her gaze falling on Young Nia’s diary on the nightstand. She’d been reading it earlier, trying to make sense of the life she now inhabited, hoping for some piece of insight that might guide her. But now, something looked different. She furrowed her brow, noticing a thin piece of paper sticking out between the pages.
“Was this here before?” she murmured, propping herself up. Her fingers hesitated, hovering over the edge of the diary before flipping it open. As she did, a small slip of paper fell out, landing softly on the bed. She reached for it, her pulse quickening as she read the words:
YOU’VE BITTEN MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW.
Nia’s heart skipped a beat. “This… this sounds like a threat,” she whispered, her mind racing. “Who would write this?” Her fingers trembled as she turned the page, only for three more pieces of paper to flutter out.
She knelt, reaching for them, her stomach knotting with dread as she unfolded each one:
YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK.
I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU.
I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.
Her face drained of color. “What does this mean?” Her voice shook, her mind spinning with fear and confusion. Just then, her phone rang, startling her so badly that she nearly dropped it. She glanced down, her heart pounding, only to see it was an unknown number. She swallowed, her fingers hovering over the answer button.
With a deep breath, she pressed it to her ear. “Hello?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. She waited, but only silence filled the other end of the line. She glanced at the clock; it was past 9 p.m.—not exactly the hour for prank calls. She shivered, feeling her skin prickle with unease. “Hello?” she repeated, a little louder this time, but the line clicked, going dead.
A noise outside her window jolted her from her thoughts. Her heart thundered as she cautiously made her way to the window, pulling the curtain aside to peer out into the dimly lit yard. She searched for any sign of movement, any shadow in the dark, but everything seemed still. Then, she felt it—that prickling feeling that someone was watching her.
Just as she was about to close the curtains, a face appeared in the window. She screamed, stumbling back and nearly falling as the figure pulled the window open and slipped inside.
“Hey, it’s me!” the intruder said quickly, lifting her hands in surrender.
Nia blinked, her heart still racing. “Iris?” she gasped, recognizing her friend. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her erratic breathing. “You scared the hell out of me!”
Iris grinned sheepishly, stepping further into the room. “Sorry! I tried calling, but you didn’t pick up. Are you okay?” Her eyes scanned Nia’s face, concern etched into her expression as she took in Nia’s pale features.
Nia nodded, but she was still shaken, the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She sank back onto the bed, and Iris sat beside her, studying her intently. “You still look a bit… rattled,” Iris pointed out gently.
“Can you blame me?” Nia said with a huff, managing a shaky laugh. “You practically scared me to death. What are you even doing here?”
“Thought I’d stay over tonight,” Iris replied casually, plopping down beside her. “You know, just a classic sleepover.”
Nia rolled her eyes, managing a small smile despite herself. “Well, thanks for the heads-up,” she muttered, heading over to her wardrobe to grab her nightwear. As she reached for a soft, oversized T-shirt, she heard Iris’s voice drift over from the bed.
“So… where did you and Emery go today?” Iris asked, her voice curious.
Nia paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Emery and I?” She raised an eyebrow, pulling the shirt over her head as she headed for the bathroom. “We just went to the hospital.” She paused, catching Iris’s surprised expression. “To visit Emerald,” she clarified before stepping inside to change.
When she returned, Iris was lounging on the bed, flipping through a novel she’d picked up from the nightstand. “You went to see Emerald?” she asked, sounding more curious than ever as she looked up. “That’s… surprising.”
“What’s so surprising about it?” Nia asked, settling down beside her.
Iris shrugged, glancing back at her book. “No reason, I guess.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, with Nia lost in thought. After a few minutes, she shifted to face Iris, propping her head on her hand. “Hey, were you with us the night of the accident?” she asked, her voice soft yet probing.
Iris looked up, her expression guarded. She hesitated, her fingers idly fidgeting with the corner of the book. “Um… I don’t really remember,” she murmured, glancing away.
Nia watched her carefully, sensing something beneath her friend’s reply, something that didn’t sit right. But she didn’t press further. There were already too many questions clouding her mind, and the whole situation was beginning to feel like a labyrinth with no way out. She just needed to find the answers, and quickly, if she was going to make it through this without losing her mind.
With a sigh, she lay back on the bed, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on her. For now, all she knew was that she had an enemy—Cassie.