Selene backed away, her eyes narrowing as she asked, "What are you doing?" A sly smile crept onto his face, not cruel, but knowing – like he'd been waiting for this moment. The dim lighting of the clock tower at midnight cast an eerie glow on his features, making him seem even more mysterious. "You've been asking that question too often," he said, his voice low and smooth, "and I don't think you're ready for the answer." He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "I'm the only person who can bring you joy or misery, Selene. The choice is yours."
The clock struck midnight, the loud chime echoing through the tower. Selene's heart skipped a beat as she scrutinized him, her mind racing with questions. Who was this guy? And what did he want from her? She stepped back, her eyes never leaving his, and asked, "Who are you?" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her fear.
He chuckled, a low, velvet sound. "I'm the one who's been watching you, Selene. I'm the one who knows your secrets, your fears, and your desires." He took another step closer, his eyes locked onto hers.
Before she could respond, everything went black. She felt a thud, and then nothing.
Ouch, her head hurt. Selene groggily opened her eyes to find herself in a dimly lit room, Ginger, her AI model, looming over her. "Ouch, my head hurts so much," she muttered, trying to sit up. "I think I had a weird dream, but it felt so real."
Ginger's expression was concerned. "I don't think that was a dream, Selene. It actually happened. And I think your life is in danger." He handed her a glass of water, his digital eyes scanning her face.
Selene's eyes snapped open, and she sat up, her head spinning. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice firm. She took a sip of the water, trying to clear her head.
Ginger filled her in on the situation. "Your past is catching up with you, Selene. We can run, or we can face it head-on. But we can't stay here." He paused, his expression serious. "I've detected anomalies in your system's logs, Selene. It seems someone's been accessing your memories, manipulating your perceptions."
Selene's mind was reeling. Run? Face her past? What past? She looked at Ginger, her eyes pleading for answers. "What are you saying, Ginger? Who was I?" She hesitated, a thought occurring to her. "My modelling, I can't leave, Nadia and Lexi would definitely be overjoyed."
Ginger's expression turned grim. "Nadia and Lexi are part of your past, Selene. And I think it's best if we don't involve them in this." He paused, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to focus on you're safety, what those witches would think is none of your headache."
Selene's eyes widened as memories flooded back. "Oh, fine. I guess we'll just have to go , I'll start all over again"
Ginger nodded. "Yeah, again" obviously he felt sorry for her."But it's the right thing "
She run in the streets and when they reached the duck
But then she remembered something. "Wait, I left my mom's portrait back at the apartment. I can't just leave it."
Ginger's expression turned hesitant. "Selene, you can't go back. It's not safe."
But Selene was adamant. "I need to get it, Ginger. It's all I have left of her. I can't just abandon it."
Ginger's digital face seemed to flicker, a hint of... something unreadable. "Okay, Selene. You'll go back, but you have to be fast. You can't risk being caught."
As she made their way back to the apartment, Selene's anxiety grew. What if she was walking into a trap? What if the stranger was waiting for her?
She approached the apartment, and quickly unlocked the door. She slipped inside.
She rushed to the living room, her eyes scanning the space for the portrait. There it was, on the coffee table. She grabbed it, her heart aching as she gazed at her mom's smiling face.
As she turned to leave, she turned"Wait a minute, I'll just... go check something." She quickly ran to her room, wanting to grab a few more things. But she didn't dare come out
Suddenly, the stranger appeared in the living room. "Your AI is deceiving you, Selene," he said, his voice calm. "He's manipulating you, using you. You need to wake up."She gasped, clearly taken aback.
Selene, hidden in her room, heard the stranger's words. She peeked out, seeing him approaching!
The stranger pulled out a syringe, and just then Ginger barged in but could not react, he injected Selene with it.
As the substance took effect, Selene's memories flooded back. She remembered everything – her past, her life, the truth about Ginger.
The stranger leaned in, his voice whispering in her ear. "I'm the only one who can protect you, Selene. Your AI is a tool, nothing more."
And with that, he left. Selene lay there, her mind reeling with the truth.
As she processed everything, she realized they were at a clock tower at midnight. The clock struck again, the loud chime echoing through the tower.
Ginger's expression turned menacing. "Mine," he whispered. "You're mine, Selene."
Selene's eyes widened in fear as Ginger reached out for her.
"Stranger, save... what I'm l saying?" She reached out and kicked Ginger into the water. He appeared, and smiled, this smile said 'finally you're back '.