2 Chapter One

Another morning in the office, and once again, Aranya found herself on the receiving end of her boss's unrelenting tirades. She could feel the collective annoyance in the room as he vented his frustrations over the slightest of errors. It was a puzzling spectacle; none of us could fathom what had him so agitated.

Over the past few weeks, we had all been walking on eggshells, desperate to avoid his wrath. Five of our colleagues had already been shown the door, and Aranya was determined not to be the next in line.

This job held immense significance to me, and i couldn't afford to lose it. I stared at the pile of files on my desk, attempting to summon every ounce of concentration. Despite downing three cups of coffee, my eyelids drooped, and focus remained elusive.

I sat up straight, forcing myself to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Just a few more hours until lunch, and I aimed to have everything in order.

Lunchtime arrived swiftly, and I had completed most of my tasks. I headed to the nearby cafe, where I found Kat, who shared my frustration with the new atmosphere in the office. She seemed so exasperated that I feared she might devour her food.

"I can't wait to go home," Kat muttered as she sipped her juice. They exchanged stories of recent workplace experiences, and it was clear neither of us was having an enjoyable time.

As I left for home after a long, tiring day, I decided to pick up some takeout because I was too exhausted to cook. Struggling with my bag, I collided with a stranger.

"Sorry," he apologized, helping me collect my belongings, including the takeout that miraculously remained intact.

"It's fine," I replied, taking back my items.

"It's just that this is my first time here, and I'm having trouble finding my way," he explained, a friendly smile on his face.

She hesitated for a moment, feeling uneasy about helping a stranger. But since he was new to the area and it was close to my apartment, Aranya decided to assist him, pushing aside any nagging doubts. They chatted as they walked, sharing some stories, and then, suddenly, I felt dizzy and blacked out.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, trying to regain my bearings. I couldn't recall the last time I'd had such a restful sleep. The bed I was lying on was far more comfortable than my own, larger and softer.

It was then that I realized I was in an unfamiliar place. I scanned the room, which was significantly more spacious than my own.

The door creaked open, and I tensed up. A woman entered, and I squinted against the sudden burst of sunlight as she drew back the curtains.

Her chestnut hair and sparkling baby blue eyes greeted me with a smile. I clutched the covers tightly, unsure of what to say.

"Hello, I'm Elara," she introduced herself with a warm smile.

I was at a loss for words, grappling with the confusion of how I'd ended up here. All I could remember was walking with that guy, but I didn't recall him knocking me out.

"Where am I? How did I get here?" I inquired, my gaze locked on Elara. "And what about him?"

"He's downstairs, occupied with something. You'll find out soon. You've been asleep almost the entire day," Elara replied before heading into another room, presumably the bathroom.

"The entire day!" I almost exclaimed. She nodded, pulling out towels.

"I didn't realize I was this tired," I muttered to myself.

Elara handed me some clothes, different from what I typically wore. She hesitated for a moment, my mind racing with questions about the guy who had brought me here. Why had he done this, and why had I allowed him to accompany me home?

I quickly dismissed the negative thoughts and decided to freshen up first. However, I noticed that my hair was a different color, a striking silver, which bewildered me. I hadn't dyed it myself. Frustration and anger swelled within me as I realized that the guy had a lot of explaining to do.

I wondered about his intentions and feared the worst. What if they had sinister plans for me? My mind raced with anxiety as I contemplated the uncertain future.