Morning came quietly.
Amaya stirred awoke before her alarm, eyes snapping open as if something had pulled her out of sleep. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the ceiling. Her breathing uneven.
The dream lingered longer than necessary. But none of it was clear. Only the heavy and suffocating feeling. It felt like she had been running... or hiding.
Intuitively, she pressed her lips together. Turning onto her side, as she pulled the thin blanket closer around her.
"It's just a dream," she murmured, though her voice sounded unconvinced even to herself.
At that moment, the phone buzzed on the bedside table. 6:12 AM, the alarmed displayed.
It was too early, but she had to get her day going. With a small groan, Aria pushed herself upright, running a hand through her slightly tangled hair.
The room was still dim, the soft gray light of morning filtering through the curtains. She swung her legs off the bed, stretching slowly as she stood. Her body felt stiff, like she hadn't rested at all.
Her daily routine had always been her go to.
It never disappointments. Standing at the kitchen, the kettle whistled softly. Amaya leaned against the counter, scrolling through her phone.
Job listings displayed once again.
She had been doing this every morning for the past three weeks. It had become part of her routine. She had expenses to cover. And her part-time shift at the convenience store barely covered rent. She needed something stable-something better.
After a few minutes, her thumb paused mid-scroll.
Blooms Global – Administrative Assistant (Entry Level)
A slight frown swept her face. That name again.
It had shown up more than once throughout her search.
It was a big company, corporate and competitive. Definitely out of her league. But Amaya tapped on the listing anyway. The Requirements, Responsibilities, Long hours and High expectations came to view.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah... no." She exited the page once again, and set the phone down just as the kettle clicked off.
But as she poured the hot water into her cup, something nagged at her. That name, Blooms Global. It felt... familiar. Not in a clear way, nor something she could place her hand on.
It was just a faint tug at the back of her mind. Like a word on the tip of her tongue. Amaya shook her head, stirring her tea.
"You're imagining things," she muttered. Yet still, she picked up her phone again and saved the listing.
By 8:30 AM, the city was alive and buzzing with activities. Amaya stepped onto the bus, gripping the overhead rail as it lurched forward. The usual crowd filled the space. Students, office workers, and people half-awake and glued to their phones.
The ride roughly took twenty minutes. Just enough time for her to zone out. Watching buildings pass by the window in a blur.
As she got to her stop, she rang the bell and stepped off. Amaya walked the rest of the way to the convenience store. The moment she oushed the glass door opened, the bell chimed as she entered.
"You're early," the cashier from last night said, glancing up from behind the counter.
Amaya smiled. "Couldn't sleep."
He hummed. "Join the club."
He said, as Amaya moved behind the counter, tying her apron as she got to work. Restocking shelves, to organizing the drinks, and down to wiping down surfaces. It was a simple repetitive and grounding work.
For a while, the strange feeling from the morning had faded. Until the door chimed again. Instinctively, Amaya looked up.
Only to see a well dressed man, looking totally out of place as he stepped in. He sure wasn't here for snacks. That much was obvious.
His gaze slowly and deliberately swept the store and finally landed on her.
Amaya's fingers stilled on the shelf. She felt something tightened in her chest. The man smiled. But for some reason, it didn't reach his eyes.
"Good morning," he said casually, walking toward the counter.
"Morning," Amaya replied, forcing her voice steady.
He stopped in front of her, resting one hand lightly against the counter. "Do you work here every day?"
Amaya hesitated. "Most days."
His eyes flickered sharp, more like assessing. "Long shifts?" He asked.
" It depends." She muttered.
For the next two minutes, silence stretched between them. Then, he softly chuckled. "You must get tired."
"I manage." Amaya shrugged.
His gaze lingered on her face for a second longer than necessary. Then, just like that, he straightened. "I'll take a coffee."
Relief flickered briefly through her. "Sure."
She turned, focusing on the machine, as awareness of his presence hit from behind her. He was watching, and she knew that.
As she handed him the cup, their fingers brushed. Amaya flinched. The contact, somehow, spark something cold from within.
It came as a flash; a hand. A gold ring. Her breath hitched. And the cup slipped slightly in her grip.
"Careful," the man smoothly said, catching it before it fell.
In that moment, their eyes met. Just for a split second. And something dark flickered in his expression. Like recognition.
On an impulse, Amaya quickly pulled her hand back, her heart pounding heavily against her chest.
"Sorry," she murmured.
"No need." He paid, still watching her. Just like that, he turned and walked out.
He was gone in the next minute but the air he left behind felt... wrong.
"You okay?" her coworker asked.
Amaya blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
"You went pale."He explained.
"I'm fine," she quickly answered. But she clearly wasn't. The rest of her shift continued but she couldn't shake out the feeling that something had just changed.
Apart from that unusual encounter, the day dragged by with no special happening. That evening, Amaya retired home earlier than usual.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop open in front of her. The Blooms Global listing stared back at her. She had no reason to apply.
No qualifications that stood out. And no connections.
Yet, her fingers hovered over the keyboard. "Just give it a try," she whispered to herself. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Rejection was a normal thing to her. She exhaled slowly. Then, started typing.
·
.
.
~ ~ ~
The company had retired but Jake was still seated behind his desk. It was a sleek office bathed in cool light.
He flipped through a report. His expression unfazed. But the air around him felt heavy enough to suffocate.
"Run it again," he said.
His assistant stiffened. "Sir, we already-"
"I don't care." He cut him short, his voice still calm and controlled. "Run. It. Again."
There was a brief silence. "Yes, sir." He answered.
Jake leaned back in his chair. His gaze drifting briefly to the city beyond the glass. Something was off. He couldn't explain it, but he could sense it
And his instincts...were never wrong.
.
.
.
Meanwhole, the man from the convenience store stepped into a dimly lit office. He loosened his tie, his expression no longer pleasant. But cold and calculating.
He pulled out his phone. And a photo filled the screen. It was a blurry image from Two years ago. The girl looked young, frightened and covered in shadows. He stared at it. Then, a smile slowly spread through his face.
"I found you."
Amaya on the other hand, hit the submit button.
Sending out her application on an instant.
