Mara didn't sleep the next night.
Or the night after that.
Every creak of the apartment sounded like footsteps. Every flicker of shadow felt like someone watching.
Leo's words kept repeating in her head.
The other you was the one in my room.
Children had imaginations.
That had to be it.
Still, she found herself checking the security camera footage again and again. The clip hadn't changed.
The second version of her was still there in the recording.. standing beside Leo's bed.
Smiling.
By the third night, exhaustion had hollowed out Mara's thoughts.
She almost skipped work.
But rent didn't care about sleep deprivation.
So she dragged herself through another shift at the community center.
And tried not to think about Adrian Vale.
But he found her first.
"Rough night?"
His voice came from behind the reception desk.
Mara jumped.
"Jesus."
Adrian stood there calmly, holding two coffees.
"You look like you haven't slept in days," he said.
"That's because I haven't."
He placed one cup in front of her.
"Insomnia?"
"Something like that."
Adrian studied her face carefully.
"You saw something," he said quietly.
The words made her chest tighten.
"Why would you say that?"
"You have the expression of someone who is questioning their perception of reality."
She stared at him.
"You're really good at ruining small talk."
He ignored the comment.
"Nightmares?"
"No."
"Sleepwalking?"
She hesitated.
That tiny pause didn't escape him.
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
"Mara," he said gently, "sleep disorders can create extremely convincing hallucinations."
"I'm not hallucinating."
"I didn't say you were."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
Almost soothing.
For a moment Mara felt her tension ease.
"Maybe you should come by my clinic," he said. "Just to rule things out."
"That sounds suspiciously like a therapy pitch."
"It's a free consultation."
She laughed softly.
"You're persistent."
"I'm curious."
Mara opened her mouth to respond..
When the glass doors behind Adrian slid open.
A woman entered.
Tall.
Elegant.
Dark hair flowing over a cream-colored coat.
Her presence seemed to quiet the entire room.
Adrian turned.
For the first time since Mara had met him, something like discomfort flickered across his face.
"Mara," he said carefully, "this is my wife."
The woman approached with calm, measured steps.
Her eyes were striking.
Not bright.
Not cold.
Just… observant.
As if she had already learned everything about Mara in the few seconds since entering the building.
"Elena Vale," she said softly.
She extended her hand.
Mara shook it.
Her grip was surprisingly warm.
"It's nice to meet you," Elena said.
Her voice carried a faint accent Mara couldn't place.
Adrian cleared his throat slightly.
"Elena, this is.."
"Mara Ellison," Elena finished.
Mara blinked.
"How did you.."
"Adrian mentioned you."
Something in Adrian's posture stiffened.
But Elena simply smiled.
"I hope he behaved himself."
Mara smirked.
"Mostly."
Elena laughed quietly.
The sound was soft.
But something about it felt… strange.
Almost rehearsed.
Elena glanced at Mara's coffee.
"You look exhausted."
"It's been a long week."
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"Do you dream often?"
The question landed like a stone in Mara's chest.
"Why?"
Elena's smile remained calm.
"No reason. I just find dreams fascinating."
Adrian suddenly stood.
"We should go," he said quickly.
Elena didn't move.
Instead she looked directly at Mara.
Her gaze was intense now.
Studying.
Searching.
Then she said something that made Mara's stomach twist.
"You look like someone who has seen the door."
Mara frowned.
"The door?"
Elena held her gaze.
"The one that appears when you're almost asleep."
Adrian's voice cut sharply through the air.
"Elena."
She blinked slowly.
Then smiled again.
"Oh, forgive me. I'm being strange."
Adrian placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
"We have an appointment."
Elena nodded.
But before leaving, she leaned slightly closer to Mara.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"If the door appears again…"
Mara felt her breath catch.
"…don't open it."
The couple walked out together.
The glass doors closed behind them.
Mara stared at the empty entrance.
Her pulse raced.
Because Elena had just described the exact door Mara had seen in her dream.
The glowing one.
With the mirror.
And the figure behind her.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Twenty minutes later, Mara checked the security cameras again.
And discovered something impossible.
The camera at the front entrance had recorded Adrian arriving alone.
There was no footage of Elena entering the building.
No footage of her leaving.
According to the cameras..
Adrian had come…
And gone.
Completely by himself.