"This is me, alright." Paul muttered to himself.
His reflection stared back from the full-body mirror, slightly warped at the edges, as though even the glass was reluctant to present him honestly.
He adjusted the collar of his jacket–plain, clean, nothing extravagant.
He wasn't even sure why he bothered checking. Was it for her? For Mia? Or for the version of himself that still believed there was something to fix, something worth presenting?
He exhaled slowly.That was the third time he had examined himself.
His hands traced down the front of his shirt, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. Did he really care? Who knows. The question fell into the mirror like a pebble into still water, ripples forming, but no answer returned.
He checked his phone's battery, then his pockets–keys, lighter, wallet, phone again. A cycle, ritualistic. Like if he stopped checking, something terrible would happen.
Finally, he stepped out of his bedroom, then out of the apartment.
The late morning light hit his face, pale but sharp. He started down the street toward the place they had agreed upon. The city was alive in its ordinary way: horns in the distance, the same stores, the chatter of children.
Don't go.
He froze. His steps stopped mid-motion. The sound had been clear, and low. Commanding, not quite external, not quite inside either. His gaze snapped upward, searching for the source.
Only the empty blue sky.
He tried to shrug it off, as he continued walking, but his gaze moved like a scalpel. He scanned left, then right–across storefronts, parked cars, passers-by carrying bags of groceries. Nothing out of place.
The world moved as it always did. The only thing wrong here was him.
"Overthinking," he whispered, forcing air through his teeth. "That's all."
But his body betrayed him. He hadn't moved an inch from there, his feet refused to move. He stood there, anchored in place, five minutes passing without him realizing it.
Why? Why couldn't he move?
The nervousness crawled inside his chest like nails against glass. Did you hear that? The sound, the voice. Who was it? What's happening to me?
He squeezed his eyes shut. This is just another normal day, isn't it? Mia….
Not just the name, but the whole memory, drawn out in perfect detail. The beautiful face, the warm smile, her hair catching light in a way no photograph could hold.
She was standing just a few steps ahead, waiting. For Pa— for him .
Paul's breath hitched.
He should've walked forward, should've closed the distance, but his legs rooted themselves deeper into the pavement. His chest felt heavy, like walking toward her would mean crossing a line he couldn't return from.
His phone rang.
Paul blinked, clearing his mind, trying to erase the useless thoughts. He fumbled the phone from his pocket, screen glowing too bright against the daylight.
No name saved.
The call rattled in his palm. For a second, he thought of letting it ring out, of pretending it wasn't meant for him. But he pressed answer, almost mechanically, as though another hand guided him.
"Why's she calling all of sudden?" Paul tried to guess.
"Yeah?"
"Just outside the apartment ."
"But why?"
"Alright ."
Something important, but what could it be? He has some guesses but for now he kept his mouth closed.
He walked down at a normal pace. If he keeps going like this for five-six minutes then he'll reach the crossroad, or Sara will reach him first ?
Pandora Hotel.
Just outside the room 404.
Paul and Sara stood there like monolith guarding the room from entering anyone, some people walked by them, but Sara and Paul acted as they see nothing .
"When they gonna reach ?" Sara cried out in a low voice, and checked the time "What !! It's only been ten minutes? I'll die."
"Hey, hey" Sara poked Paul's arm .
"Yeah, I'm listening ." Paul zoned out from mind Abyss.
"Listening what? Say something will you, ain't you getting all bored?"
"Well yeah, but what can we do ?" He looked at her, and Sara nodded her head in agreement . "That's why you should call him now ."
"Wht—no, why?"
"Didn't you just say you were bored." His voice was flat.
"Yeah… but I'm not gonna call just for this, when he clearly told me wait ."
"See, you got it ."
"Got what ?" Sara replied back with confusion . And only saw Paul smiled faintly, and didn't say anything .
Sara went silent for a few minutes and observed Paul.
He was wearing something different, something not very Paul-like, though it wasn't hers to think but she can't wrap it around her mind. Paul was outside his apartment, when she called him .
"Just say it." Paul stopped her from thinking any deeper .
"Wha—" Sara felt surprised that her feet went backwards.
Was her observation too obvious? But she quickly brushed that thought aside. This was a Paul like thing.
"Nothing, I'm just thinking like, I really did call you at the wrong time." She leaned against the wall .
"Guess so." Paul played along.
"Hem…. Then where were you going ?"
"Just for a walk."
"Really?" Sara eyed him suspiciously, "in those clothes."
"I can't?"
"Nah, I just don't buy it." She tried to shrug it off.
"I was going to the supermarket."
"You?? Not anyone but you?" She can't believe what she just heard, but everyone makes progress in their life, and this time… it's him.
"What happens if you get lost?"
"I'm not five, unlike you."
"Yeah, sure-sure ." She chuckled and asked, "what were you going to buy ?"
"Food."
"Food ? What happened to the ones I bought it for you? That was enough for the whole two weeks."
"Yeah, they are still there, but I was looking for something different?"
"Different?"
"Fish."
"….Fish ?" She went into the sea of thoughts and realised, "He is lying."
"Yeah…"
She heard Paul's faint response, and sank into the sea of thoughts.
Everyone was making progress in their life, some way or another, they are changing, but what about her?
Did she change, even a little bit?
She can't recall anything new inside her. She was the same as yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before, and before, and—
"He didn't mention anything more specific?"
"Ha?" She pulled back herself from the sea of thoughts, "No, he just told me to keep watch on room 404, but don't enter before they arrive and pick you up one the way."
Paul nodded his head.
"Wait. Didn't I tell you the same exact thing, after I picked you up?"
"You did?" Paul questioned her, in a teasing tone.
"I di—" her words stuck in her throat as she saw them exiting the elevator's door.
Simon walked in front and Julian followed close behind. When he saw Sara and Paul he raised hand slightly and weaved at them .
"Did you check inside?" Simon was the first to ask, as he looked towards Sara and then Paul .
"No. We just waited outside, just like you've instructed." Sara assured him.
"How long?"
"Around ten minutes maybe. There's no sound from inside of anything, but we've heard from the receptionist that he's still here, and hasn't left the room." Sara took out her hand, "and here is the key ."
Simon nodded faintly, and all four of them turned towards the door 404. What secrets does this room hold?
Sara inserted the key, and turned the handle slightly. Then Julian's mind filled with their previous visit.
He hoped this wasn't going to be the same as before.
As the door creaked open slowly, the smell of danger hidden inside the room started running outside. They all knew this scent clearly.
Their body stood frozen for a second, until Simon moved his foot forward. Then one by one all entered the room, Sara then Julian and last was Paul .
Simon closed the door shut, and stood still, watching and observing those three, not saying anything.