Mara told herself she wouldn't think about Elena Vale.
Yet all morning, the woman's words echoed in her mind.
You look like someone who has seen the door.
And worse..
Don't open it.
The sentence carried a strange kind of certainty. As if Elena wasn't guessing.
As if she knew.
Mara tried to shake it off while walking Leo to school.
Greyhaven's sky hung low and gray, the ocean wind carrying a cold bite through the streets.
Leo kicked a pebble along the sidewalk.
"Mama?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you still seeing the other you?"
Mara almost tripped.
"I told you that was just the camera glitching."
Leo didn't look convinced.
He kept kicking the pebble.
"She looked like you," he said quietly.
Mara forced a smile.
"Kids imagine things."
Leo stopped walking.
"No."
She turned.
His small face looked unusually serious.
"She didn't blink."
A chill moved through her chest.
But before she could respond, the school bell rang.
Leo ran toward the building.
Mara stood on the sidewalk for a moment longer than necessary.
Trying to steady herself.
Then she turned toward the bus stop.
And froze.
Across the street..
Elena Vale stood beside a small café.
Watching her.
The café smelled of cinnamon and roasted coffee beans.
Elena sat across from Mara like they were old friends.
Elegant posture.
Calm expression.
Too calm.
"I hope you don't mind me approaching you," Elena said gently.
Mara folded her arms.
"Your husband already did that."
"Yes."
Elena smiled faintly.
"He's not very subtle."
"What do you want?"
Instead of answering, Elena asked:
"Did you dream last night?"
Mara sighed.
"This again?"
"Just answer."
"Yes."
"The hallway?"
Mara's breath caught.
"How do you know about that?"
Elena leaned forward slightly.
"Because I've seen it too."
Silence stretched between them.
"You're joking," Mara said.
"I wish I were."
Elena stirred her tea slowly.
"There's a phase of sleep where the brain becomes aware that it's dreaming."
"Lucid dreaming," Mara said.
"Exactly."
Mara shrugged.
"Lots of people do that."
Elena shook her head.
"Not like this."
Her eyes lifted.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Tell me exactly what you saw."
Mara hesitated.
Part of her wanted to leave.
Another part wanted answers.
So she spoke.
"The hallway," she said slowly.
"Long. Dark."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
"And there was a door."
Elena's hand tightened slightly around her teacup.
"Did you open it?"
"No."
"Good."
Mara frowned.
"Why?"
Elena exhaled softly.
Then leaned closer.
"Because that door is not a dream."
Mara laughed.
"Okay, now you sound crazy."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
Elena didn't seem offended.
Instead she reached into her purse and pulled out a small notebook.
She slid it across the table.
"Tonight," Elena said, "when you fall asleep, do exactly what this says."
Mara glanced at the notebook.
"What is it?"
"Instructions."
"For what?"
Elena's eyes held hers.
"To prove I'm not crazy."
Mara hesitated.
"You're asking me to trust you."
"I'm asking you to test something."
Mara opened the notebook.
The first page contained simple handwritten steps:
1. When you realize you're dreaming, do not wake up.2. Look at your hands.3. Focus on breathing slowly.4. When the hallway appears… walk to the door.
Mara looked up.
"You literally just told me not to open it."
"Correct."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Elena's voice dropped slightly.
"Listen."
"Listen to what?"
Elena leaned back.
"The other dreamers."
Mara stared at her.
"The other what?"
But Elena suddenly stood.
"I have to go."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"You just gave me a dream manual and you're leaving?"
Elena smiled gently.
"You'll understand tonight."
She turned toward the exit.
But before leaving, she paused beside Mara.
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
Elena's voice became almost a whisper.
"If someone appears behind you in the hallway…"
Mara felt her pulse rise.
"…do not turn around."
The door closed behind her.
Leaving Mara alone with the notebook.
And the uneasy feeling that she had just agreed to something she didn't understand.
That night, Mara followed the instructions.
She lay in bed.
Breathed slowly.
And waited.
Sleep came faster than expected.
The dream arrived instantly.
The hallway.
Exactly the same.
Dark walls.
Endless floor.
The glowing door at the end.
Mara looked down at her hands like the notebook instructed.
They shimmered slightly.
Dream hands.
Her heart pounded.
Okay… this is real.
Step by step she walked toward the door.
Her breathing echoed in the corridor.
Then she heard it.
Whispers.
Faint.
Coming from the other side of the door.
Dozens of voices.
Maybe hundreds.
Mara leaned closer.
Trying to hear the words.
And that's when she felt it.
Breathing.
Right behind her.
Slow.
Cold.
Exactly like Elena warned.
Mara's muscles locked.
Every instinct screamed at her to turn around.
To see what was standing there.
But Elena's voice echoed in her memory.
Do not turn around.
The breathing grew closer.
Almost against her ear now.
Then a voice whispered softly behind her.
"Mara…"
Her blood ran cold.
Because she recognized that voice.
It was Adrian Vale.
But Adrian had never told her about this dream.
Which meant only one thing.
He was here.
Inside the dream with her.
And he had just said something even more terrifying.
"Don't open the door."