The room was a swirling haze of shadows and whispers, the air thick with tension. ire stood in the center, her once-powerful stance shrinking under the weight of unseen eyes. Theughter started as a low rumble, growing louder, sharper, like shards of ss piercing her confidence.


    Her gaze darted around frantically, trying to locate the source of theughter. Shapes blurred into a faceless crowd, their silhouettes looming taller, more menacing.


    Why do I feel so small?


    She wondered, panic wing at her chest. She was ire Peterson-she didn''t crumble, she didn''t break. But right now, she felt like a fragile porcin doll, teetering on the edge of shattering.


    A voice, mocking and cold, rose above theughter. "Look at her. Not so fearless now, are you?"


    Moreughter, harsher this time. ire''s heart pounded against her ribs. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her legs felt weak like they might give way beneath her. She clenched her fists, trying to summon the steel resolve she was known for, but her fingers trembled.


    Then, from the crowd, a figure began to move. Slowly, deliberately. The sea of faceless shadows parted, and the figure stepped forward. ire''s breath caught in her throat. She knew who it was before she could even see his face.


    Eligos.


    His tall frame exuded an air of cold authority, his dark clothes blending seamlessly with the shadows. His face, as always, was obscured by a mask. ire had never seen the man behind it, had never seen his eyes, and yet she felt his gaze bore into her soul.


    He stopped in front of her, his presence suffocating.


    "Expect the unexpected," he whispered, his voice dripping with malicious amusement.


    The words sliced through her, chilling her to the bone. She wanted to move, to scream, to fight back, but her feet were rooted to the ground. She was trapped, helpless, vulnerable a feeling she despised. Theughter rose to a deafening roar.


    Then she jolted awake.


    Her eyes snapped open, the darkness of her bedroom a stark contrast to the chaos of her nightmare. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat like a drum echoing through her ribcage. She gasped for air, her breaths shallow and ragged. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her fingers trembling. Eligos.


    Even in her dreams, he haunted her. Taunted her. She clenched her jaw, teeth grinding together. He was nning something. She didn''t know what, but she knew it wasing. The dread coiled tightly in her stomach.


    ire swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touching the cold floor. She buried her face in her hands and took deep breaths, willing herself to calm down. The dream was a warning, a psychological attack from the man who thrived on maniption. She wasn''t about to let him win.


    The morning sun was a pale glow against the steel-gray sky as ire entered her office building. She moved with purpose, her heels clicking against the marble floor of the Metacortex lobby. Her mind was still tangled in the threads ofst night''s nightmare, but she pushed it aside. She had work to do, and work was the only thing that kept the darkness at bay.


    Sandra greeted her at the door with her usual bright smile. "Good morning, Ms. Peterson!"


    "Morning, Sandra," ire said, offering a tight nod. She stepped into her office, her eyes already scanning the desk for the day''s schedule.


    But something caught her attention immediately.


    A basket.


    It sat in the middle of her desk, adorned with a neatly tied ribbon. The contents were a variety of food- delicately arranged fruits, gourmet cheeses, and pastries. ire''s brows knitted together. She approached cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she took in the unexpected gift.


    Who sent this?


    Her first thought was Adrian. He had a habit of surprising her with thoughtful gestures. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but it vanished when she realized there was no note bearing his name. Instead, a single slip of paper rested at the centre of the basket.


    Be ready for something that''s about toe.


    Her stomach dropped. She stared at


    the words, the paper trembling slightly in her grip as her fist


    tightened around it. The calm veneer she fought to maintain cracked, and anger red in her chest, burning away thest of her hesitation.


    Eligos.


    She crumpled the note in her fist, her knuckles going white. Her jaw clenched so hard it ached. The audacity of it. He was ying games again, taunting her in broad daylight, sending threats wrapped in pretty ribbons and pastries.


    She took a deep breath, her eyes zing with fury. If this is the game you want to y, Eligos, then fine. But you''ll regret it.


    Her phone buzzed on her desk, snapping her out of her thoughts. She nced at the screen.


    Talia: Hey, are you okay? Haven''t heard from you since yesterday.


    ire exhaled sharply, her anger softening slightly. She quickly typed back:


    ire: I''m fine. Just dealing with... stuff.


    The three little dots popped up immediately.


    Talia: You want me toe over? We can yell at the universe together.


    A small smile ghosted over ire''s lips.


    ire: Thanks, but I''ve got it handled. I''ll call youter.


    She set the phone down and leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting back to the basket. She would not let Eligos rattle her. She had too much to lose, too many people depending on her. Matthew needed her strength. Metacortex needed her leadership.


    She pushed the basket to the side, her mind racing. If Eligos was nning something, she needed to to be ten steps ahead. She needed to strategize, to anticipate his moves. He thought he could break her, that his little mind games would chip away at her confidence.


    But before she could dwell further on her strategy, her phone buzzed on her desk. She nced at the


    screen. Adrian. Her expression softened slightly.


    She took a steadying breath and answered, her voice carefully controlled. "Good morning, Adrian."


    "Good morning, ire," his warm voice came through the line. "I hope I didn''t wake you."


    She smiled faintly. "No, I was already at the office."


    "Of course you were," he said with a light chuckle. "Listen, my mother wanted me to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner. She felt bad for not inviting you to the family reunion the other day. She''s hoping you can join us tonight."


    ire''s heart softened a little. The warmth in Adrian''s voice was a much-needed balm to the chaos in her mind. For a moment, the shadows that loomed so heavily around her felt a little less suffocating. "Tell your mother I''d be happy toe," ire replied. "It''s really sweet of her to invite me."


    "I''ll let her know," Adrian said, his voice tinged with happiness.


    ire''s lips curled into a genuine smile. "I look forward to it. I need a distraction anyway."


    There was a brief pause. "Is everything okay, ire?"


    There was a slight pause on ire''s side as she was thinking should she tell Adrian about her dream or


    let it slide. She chose thetter besides it''s only a dream. It really doesn''t mean anything.


    "Yeah, everything is okay. Don''t worry. I will be there tonight.''